Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 5437971 — Rent arrears
Decided 17 Jun 2026 · Published 17 Jun 2026 · Application 5437971
- Rent arrears
Party names are redacted in the official published order.
Order
- An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlord’s name and identifying details and the names and identifying details of [Tenant 1], [Tenant 2] and [Tenant 3].
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $4,800.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.
- [The tenant/s] must pay [The landlord/s] $11,027.19 immediately, calculated as shown in table below: DescriptionLandlord Rent arrears$14,107.14 Water rates Tribunal Application Fee $1,692.05 $28.00 Total award$15,827.19 Bond$4,800.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord$11,027.19
- [The landlord/s] must pay [Tenant 3] $230.00 immediately being a “pet bond” he paid to the Landlord.
Reasons
- A representative of the landlord attended the hearing by video.
- Three of the tenants also attended. Those tenants were [Tenant 3], [Tenant 1] and [Tenant 2].
- Mr Tepania did not attend, but the Tribunal received an email from his sister during the hearing. The email confirmed that he would not attend and made submissions on his behalf. Mr Hubbard did not attend the hearing, but I have viewed correspondence he sent to the landlord.
- This tenancy was for a fixed term to 28 March 2026. There were some changes to the tenant group during the tenancy, with a variation of tenancy form completed and signed by all relevant parties in September 2025.
- The respondents were the collective tenant group at the time the arrears accrued. Some did not live at the property throughout the entire relevant period, but all remained “tenants”, and no other variation was executed or agreed to by all parties.
- The landlord has applied for rent arrears and water rates and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
- Some of the tenants maintain that they should not be liable because they paid their share of the rent, to one of the other tenants. Others claim that they should not be liable because they moved out and the remaining tenants found other occupants, who should have been paying rent but did not.
- The arrears have arisen because of a dispute or falling out between flatmates. This Tribunal cannot consider claims between flatmates. It cannot apportion the rent payable to each tenant. This was a joint tenancy 1 . Each of the tenants is jointly and severally liable to the landlord until the end of the fixed term, on 28 March 2026.
- The landlord has proved its claims. I also have awarded reimbursement of the Tribunal application fee and granted the landlord’s request for suppression of its details.
- I have also granted suppression of [Tenant 3], [Tenant 2] and [Tenant 1]’s names. They attended the hearing and provided evidence in support of their positions. While they are liable for the debt and have been naïve regarding the arrangements with the landlord, I am satisfied that the debt has not arisen because of any deliberate action on their part. I make no finding or comment on the other tenants as I did not hear from them.
- The landlord must reimburse [Tenant 3] $230.00 being an amount it improperly charged and held for a “pet bond” 2 1 It was not a room by room tenancy where each tenant individually contracted with the landlord for their room and use of the common areas. 2 The “pet bond” was charged before legislation regarding pet bonds came into force and there is no claim for pet damage.