Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5429701 — Rent arrears at 10 Cuba Street, Marton, Marton 4710
Decided 21 April 2026 · Published 21 April 2026 · Application 5429701
- Rent arrears
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Marton
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
T Prowse
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $4,014.86
- Bond payment as ordered
- −$2,040.00
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $1,974.86
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent arrears to 25/2/26 | $3,472.86 | Rent arrears to 25/2/26 | |
| break lease costs | $514.00 | break lease costs | |
| Filing fee reimbursement | $28.00 | Filing fee reimbursement | |
| Net award | $1,974.86 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $1,974.86 |
Claims and awards for application 5429701 — net $1,974.86 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Rent arrears to 25/2/26
- Amount
- $3,472.86
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rent arrears to 25/2/26
break lease costs
- Amount
- $514.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- break lease costs
Filing fee reimbursement
- Amount
- $28.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Filing fee reimbursement
Net award
Landlord $1,974.86
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $1,974.86
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Laki Taunoa must pay New Zealand Property Buyers Limited As Agent For Mary-Lou & Jonny Duder $1,974.86 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,040.00 (BN-00154686) to New Zealand Property Buyers Limited As Agent For Mary-Lou & Jonny Duder immediately.
Reasons
- Only the landlord attended today’s hearing. The tenant did not attend. The Tribunal also rang the tenant on the number in the application, but the tenant did not answer that call.
- I am satisfied that the tenant was given notice of today’s hearing and have proceeded in her absence.
- When the landlord applied to the Tribunal on the 22 January, they were seeking termination of the tenancy and rent arrears. Since filing the parties have agreed to end the tenancy on the 25 February and the landlord now seeks rent up until that date as well as costs for reducing the fixed term tenancy and the filing fee.
- I am satisfied that the tenant was aware of the landlord’s amended claims as the tenant was sent the additional claims and evidence on the 10 April 2026.
- I am satisfied that the tenant agreed with the landlord to end the tenancy early on the 25 February 2026, because the landlord provided me with correspondence showing the discussion between the parties and it is clear that the landlord offered the tenant to leave her fixed term on the 25 February on the proviso that the tenant would pay rent until that day and pay the ‘break fee’ costs incurred by the landlord.
- The tenant acted in reliance of this agreement by moving out on the 25 February 2026.
- I award rent owing to the 25 February 2026 as proven by the rent ledger provided by the landlord.
- The landlord also seeks the break fee. It is seeking $129.00 for advertising costs, $220 for advertising, responding to enquiries and time spent on viewings, $185 for background checks and $220 for liaising with tenant and landlord, preparing tenancy documentation, completing onboarding for the new tenant, completing exit & entry inspections.
- Landlords can only charge reasonable break fees; the costs must be incurred and they cannot be a penalty.
- In determining what is reasonable the Tribunal will look at the tasks that have been undertaken and consider whether they were ‘additional’ tasks, that is caused by the tenant leaving early, or a natural consequence of re-tenanting the property. The Tribunal will also bear in mind how close to the fixed term date that the tenancy ended.
- The landlord advises that it has readvertised the property (it did so on the 10 February when the tenant agreed to the proposal). I consider that this is a reasonable cost incurred by the landlord as a result of the tenancy ending early and award the landlord the Trade Me advertising costs of $129.00.
- I am also satisfied that the landlord conducted 11 viewings in the time between 25 February and the 31 March, when the tenancy was due to end. I consider it reasonable to grant the $220 for enquiries and viewings. The landlord had one person apply during this time and I consider it reasonable to grant a further cost of $185 for the checks and application fees.
- I am not satisfied that the tenant should pay the $220 for the preparation of new tenancy agreements, the onboarding of new tenants and the exit inspection fees. These costs occur in every tenancy and are a landlord’s responsibility. I do not consider that the landlord has been put to any additional cost than they otherwise would have incurred at the end of the tenancy and therefore do not award costs for the new tenancy agreements onboarding and the exit inspections.
- As the landlord has been mostly successful in its claims, I award the filing fee.
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Key findings
- Dispute theme: rent arrears
Property management
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5429701?
The tribunal order states: Laki Taunoa must pay New Zealand Property Buyers Limited As Agent For
How much money was awarded in case 5429701?
Break Lease Costs: $514.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $3,472.86 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5429701?
The primary dispute was Rent arrears.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5429701?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13480789-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.