Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 5464990 — Rent arrears at 210 High Street, Blenheim, Blenheim 7201
Published 20 April 2026 · Application 5464990
Mixed / unclear
- Rent arrears
Order
- The tenancy of Chelsea Hook at 210 High Street, Blenheim, Blenheim 7201 is terminated, and possession is granted to the Landlord immediately.
- Chelsea Hook is to pay Jennifer Mary Robinson $3,508.00 immediately, being lost rent to 13 March 2026 (six weeks from the abandonment date), and the application filing fee ($28.00).
Reasons
- The landlord attended the hearing.
- The landlord has applied for termination of the tenancy for abandonment, rent arrears and refund of the bond.
Should the tenancy be terminated?
- The Tribunal may terminate the tenancy where the premises have been abandoned and rent is in arrear at the hearing date. See section 61 Residential Tenancies Act 1986. A tenancy is abandoned where the tenant leaves the premises without reasonable excuse, not intending to return or to meet their obligations, and fails to notify the landlord.
- On 1 February 2026 the landlord became aware (or ought to have been aware) that the tenant had abandoned the premises. The landlord lived next door, saw the curtains drawn on 31 January 2026, and from then on observed no sign of occupation: no tenant, no vehicles, an unemptied letterbox, and no other indicia of anyone living there. Her own later note records that, when she inspected on 5 February 2026, the note left in the letterbox had not been collected and the house was “totally vacant” apart from a cardboard box in the recycle bin. Those circumstances point to abandonment having already occurred by 1 February 2026, not only by the later inspection date.
- Because the premises have been abandoned, and rent is in arrear, the tenancy is terminated immediately.
How much does the tenant owe?
- I consider six weeks is an appropriate amount for the Tenant to pay for breaking the fixed-term tenancy early; this account for 4 weeks’ rent in lieu of notice, and additional 2 weeks which recognises the Tenant’s total lack of communication and the Landlord being left with all responsibility to find a new tenant, which she proactively did do.
- Because the Landlord has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.