What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5471460 about?

The tribunal order states: Thomas Levi King and Haley Violet Kiritea Brown owe [The landlord/s]

How much money was awarded in case 5471460?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $13,915.00 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $3,956.72 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5471460?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5471460?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13509541-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5471460 about?

The tribunal order states: Thomas Levi King and Haley Violet Kiritea Brown owe [The landlord/s]

How much money was awarded in case 5471460?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $13,915.00 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $3,956.72 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5471460?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5471460?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13509541-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5471460 — Rent arrears

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5471460 — net $17,899.72 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 28 April 2026	$13,915.00	Rent arrears to 28 April 2026
Water rates	$3,956.72	Water rates
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$17,899.72
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$17,899.72

Order

Thomas Levi King and Haley Violet Kiritea Brown owe [The landlord/s] $17,899.72 (“the debt”).
Thomas Levi King and Haley Violet Kiritea Brown must pay current rent and the debt as follows: a. By 119 weekly payments of $900.00, being $750.00 for current rent and $150.00 for the debt. b. A final payment of $799.72, being $750.00 for current rent and $49.72 for the debt. c. Payments will be every Tuesday, with the first payment on 05/05/2026 and continuing until 15/08/2028.
Payments will be allocated in the following order: current rent, rent arrears, and the filing fee.
If the tenants fail to pay rent and rent arrears within 2 working days of the due dates: a. The tenancy at [Tenancy address suppressed] will terminate and the landlord will have immediate possession of the premises. b. The balance of the debt will be payable immediately.
If the tenants fail to pay the filing fee within 2 working days of the due date, the filing fee will be payable immediately. DescriptionLandlord Rent arrears to 28 April 2026$13,915.00 Water rates$3,956.72 Filing fee reimbursement$28.00 Total award$17,899.72 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord$17,899.72

Reasons

The hearing was conducted via video conference.
Ms Brown attended. Mr King, her partner and co-tenant, did not attend as he was at work. The landlord was represented by [The landlord’s representative], who attended the hearing by teleconference.
Before [The landlord’s representative] joined the hearing, Ms Brown indicated she wished to bring a counterclaim relating to the condition of the property, including alleged mould, lack of insulation, infestation, and disrepair. She advised she was still gathering evidence, including bank statements and reports, and was not in a position to proceed with those claims at this hearing. I advised those matters would need to be filed separately
[The landlord’s representative] confirmed that, despite a prior agreement for the tenants to pay $900 per week (being $750 current rent plus $150 toward arrears), payments have been sporadic and insufficient.
The landlord has applied for termination of the tenancy, rent arrears and refund of the bond. The tenant wants to repay the debt to avoid immediate termination.

Should a conditional termination order be made?

Where rent is at least 21 days in arrears on the date the application was filed, the Tribunal must make either a final or a conditional termination order. See section 55(1)(a) and (1A) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
Ms Brown accepted that rent arrears exist but disputed the amount claimed. She stated: a. Payments had been made from multiple bank accounts, as she and Mr King operate a small business together, and she believes some payments may not have been recorded by the landlord. b. She is currently reviewing bank statements and tax records to reconcile payments made. c. She estimated arrears may be approximately $6,000, but was uncertain as Mr King primarily managed the finances.
In terms of income, Ms Brown explained that: a. She and her partner recently started a small business involving moving furniture, rubbish removal, and transport services. b. Their income had been unstable as they transitioned from government assistance into self-employment, contributing to arrears. c. She is now attempting to take control of the financial situation and organise repayments.
In relation to water charges, Ms Brown suggested high usage may be due to leaking pipes at the property, although she had not yet provided supporting evidence.
Ms Brown confirmed she is able to resume payments and agreed she could pay $900 per week going forward.
Based on the evidence before me, substantial rent arrears exist. Even allowing for the possibility that some payments may not yet be reconciled, the arrears are significant.
While Ms Brown raised concerns regarding property condition and possible unrecorded payments, these matters are not substantiated at this hearing and can be pursued separately.
I accept Ms Brown’s evidence that: a. She and Mr King now operate a small business generating income; and b. She is willing and able to recommence regular payments.
Despite earlier non-compliance with the private repayment arrangement, I am satisfied that the tenants have the present ability to meet ongoing rent and contribute to arrears, provided they adhere strictly to a structured payment plan.
However, the level of arrears is such that it would be unreasonable for the landlord to continue the tenancy without enforceable conditions.
Accordingly, I have granted a conditional termination order.
The conditional termination order will lapse if it is fully complied with. If the tenant breaches the order, the possession order may be enforced for 90 days from the first breach. See section 64(4)(b) Residential Tenancies Act 1986. Filing fee
Because [The landlord/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee. Name suppression
Because [The landlord/s] has wholly succeeded with the application, I have granted the name suppression application.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5471460 — net $17,899.72 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 28 April 2026	$13,915.00	Rent arrears to 28 April 2026
Water rates	$3,956.72	Water rates
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$17,899.72
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$17,899.72

Order

Thomas Levi King and Haley Violet Kiritea Brown owe [The landlord/s] $17,899.72 (“the debt”).
Thomas Levi King and Haley Violet Kiritea Brown must pay current rent and the debt as follows: a. By 119 weekly payments of $900.00, being $750.00 for current rent and $150.00 for the debt. b. A final payment of $799.72, being $750.00 for current rent and $49.72 for the debt. c. Payments will be every Tuesday, with the first payment on 05/05/2026 and continuing until 15/08/2028.
Payments will be allocated in the following order: current rent, rent arrears, and the filing fee.
If the tenants fail to pay rent and rent arrears within 2 working days of the due dates: a. The tenancy at [Tenancy address suppressed] will terminate and the landlord will have immediate possession of the premises. b. The balance of the debt will be payable immediately.
If the tenants fail to pay the filing fee within 2 working days of the due date, the filing fee will be payable immediately. DescriptionLandlord Rent arrears to 28 April 2026$13,915.00 Water rates$3,956.72 Filing fee reimbursement$28.00 Total award$17,899.72 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord$17,899.72

Reasons

The hearing was conducted via video conference.
Ms Brown attended. Mr King, her partner and co-tenant, did not attend as he was at work. The landlord was represented by [The landlord’s representative], who attended the hearing by teleconference.
Before [The landlord’s representative] joined the hearing, Ms Brown indicated she wished to bring a counterclaim relating to the condition of the property, including alleged mould, lack of insulation, infestation, and disrepair. She advised she was still gathering evidence, including bank statements and reports, and was not in a position to proceed with those claims at this hearing. I advised those matters would need to be filed separately
[The landlord’s representative] confirmed that, despite a prior agreement for the tenants to pay $900 per week (being $750 current rent plus $150 toward arrears), payments have been sporadic and insufficient.
The landlord has applied for termination of the tenancy, rent arrears and refund of the bond. The tenant wants to repay the debt to avoid immediate termination.

Should a conditional termination order be made?

Where rent is at least 21 days in arrears on the date the application was filed, the Tribunal must make either a final or a conditional termination order. See section 55(1)(a) and (1A) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
Ms Brown accepted that rent arrears exist but disputed the amount claimed. She stated: a. Payments had been made from multiple bank accounts, as she and Mr King operate a small business together, and she believes some payments may not have been recorded by the landlord. b. She is currently reviewing bank statements and tax records to reconcile payments made. c. She estimated arrears may be approximately $6,000, but was uncertain as Mr King primarily managed the finances.
In terms of income, Ms Brown explained that: a. She and her partner recently started a small business involving moving furniture, rubbish removal, and transport services. b. Their income had been unstable as they transitioned from government assistance into self-employment, contributing to arrears. c. She is now attempting to take control of the financial situation and organise repayments.
In relation to water charges, Ms Brown suggested high usage may be due to leaking pipes at the property, although she had not yet provided supporting evidence.
Ms Brown confirmed she is able to resume payments and agreed she could pay $900 per week going forward.
Based on the evidence before me, substantial rent arrears exist. Even allowing for the possibility that some payments may not yet be reconciled, the arrears are significant.
While Ms Brown raised concerns regarding property condition and possible unrecorded payments, these matters are not substantiated at this hearing and can be pursued separately.
I accept Ms Brown’s evidence that: a. She and Mr King now operate a small business generating income; and b. She is willing and able to recommence regular payments.
Despite earlier non-compliance with the private repayment arrangement, I am satisfied that the tenants have the present ability to meet ongoing rent and contribute to arrears, provided they adhere strictly to a structured payment plan.
However, the level of arrears is such that it would be unreasonable for the landlord to continue the tenancy without enforceable conditions.
Accordingly, I have granted a conditional termination order.
The conditional termination order will lapse if it is fully complied with. If the tenant breaches the order, the possession order may be enforced for 90 days from the first breach. See section 64(4)(b) Residential Tenancies Act 1986. Filing fee
Because [The landlord/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee. Name suppression
Because [The landlord/s] has wholly succeeded with the application, I have granted the name suppression application.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5471460 — Rent arrears

At a glance

Award balance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5471460 — Rent arrears

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Should a conditional termination order be made?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Should a conditional termination order be made?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions