What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5465653 about?

The tribunal order states: The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,000.00 (BN-25121809) to [The tenant/s] and [The tenant/s] immediately.

How much money was awarded in case 5465653?

Verified claim lines are listed on this page.

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5465653?

The primary dispute was Exemplary damages.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5465653?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13850407-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5465653 about?

The tribunal order states: The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,000.00 (BN-25121809) to [The tenant/s] and [The tenant/s] immediately.

How much money was awarded in case 5465653?

Verified claim lines are listed on this page.

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5465653?

The primary dispute was Exemplary damages.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5465653?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13850407-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

5A Magnolia Grove, Maungaraki, Lower Hutt 5010 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5465653 — Exemplary damages

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Reasons

The landlord failed to make themselves available for the hearing. I attempted to call them but there was no response.

The tenant has applied for a refund of the bond. The landlord has not filed a counterclaim with Tenancy Services.

This tenancy commenced on 14 April 2026 and ended on the 4 th March 2026.

Section 22B(2) Residential Tenancies Act 1986 provides that, where a tenant applies for refund of the bond, and the landlord seeks payment from the bond, the landlord must file an application setting out the details of the counterclaim. Because the landlord has not filed a counterclaim the bond is refunded in full to the tenant.

[The tenant/s] and [The tenant/s] claims the landlord has not lodged the bond with the Bond Centre within the required time.

A landlord must send any bond payment to the Bond Centre within 23 working days after the payment is received. See section 19(1) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

Breaching this obligation is an unlawful act for which the Tribunal may award exemplary damages up to a maximum of $1,500.00. See section 19(2) and Schedule 1A Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

The tenant has contacted the landlord numerous times to have the bond refunded but has received no response. The tenant contacted the bond centre to be advised that the bond was not lodged.

The landlord subsequently filed the bond on the 13 March 2026.

This is a significant breach of the landlords obligations and has caused the tenant significant distress.

The landlords actions clearly show they have committed an unlawful act.

Where a party has committed an unlawful act intentionally, the Tribunal may award exemplary damages where it is satisfied it would be just to do so, having regard to the party’s intent, the effect of the unlawful act, the interests of the other party, and the public interest. See section 109(3) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

On the evidence there is no explanation as to why this occurred. The landlord having lodged the bond after the tenant filed this application is concerning.

An award for exemplary damages is appropriate. The lodgement of a bond is to protect both parties, it is not for the landlord to chose when to lodge the bond, this tenant should have had it returned at the end of the tenancy, not four months later.

Because [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.

Reasons