What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5479609 about?

The tribunal order states: An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal

How much money was awarded in case 5479609?

Lease Break Fee: $424.09 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5479609?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5479609?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13461864-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5479609 about?

The tribunal order states: An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal

How much money was awarded in case 5479609?

Lease Break Fee: $424.09 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5479609?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5479609?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13461864-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

14 Lovelock Avenue, Rolleston, Rolleston 7615 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5479609 — Rent arrears

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5479609. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Tenant	Reason
Lease break fee	$424.09		Lease break fee
Bond		$2,480.00

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Tenant and Landlord name and identifying details.
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,480.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) immediately apportioned as follows: [The landlord/s]: $424.09 [The tenant/s]: $2,055.91

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing held on 17 April 2026 by video. The tenants were represented by [the tenant’s representative].
The tenancy began on 31 August 2024 and was for a fixed term until 30 August 2025. In May 2025 the fixed term was extended by agreement to 30 August 2026.
The landlord has applied for rent arrears, the lease break fee and for compensation for lawn mowing.
The tenant has applied for refund of the bond. End of tenancy
On 14 November 2025 the tenants emailed the landlord asking to end the fixed term tenancy early due to a change in circumstances.
On 17 November 2025 the landlord emailed the tenants advising of the lease break procedure. A lease break form was provided and the email states in relation to the tenancy end date: “Once a new tenancy agreement is signed, you will be notified of the final day of your tenancy. For example, if the new tenancy begins on 6 March, your tenancy will officially end on 5 March.”
The tenants advised that they would like to vacate the property on 5 December 2025, and they signed the lease break form on 18 November 2025.
On 20 November 2025 the tenants received an email from the landlord advising that the tenancy end date is 5 December 2025, an outgoing inspection will be conducted on 8 December 2025 and rent of $1,240.00 needed to be paid before the move out date.
During December 2025 the tenants emailed the landlord several times asking about the bond refund and the advertising costs due to breaking the lease.
The tenants received the outgoing inspection report on 23 December 2025 which did not identify any issues. The landlord advised that the report would be sent to the owner and the bond would be refunded once confirmation was received from the owner.
The landlord responded to a follow up email from the tenant on 13 January 2026. The landlord advised that the bond refund would be applied once a new tenancy agreement has commenced. They also advised that new tenants had been found and rent would be payable for the period up to and including 22 January 2026.
On 13 January 2026 the tenants replied to the landlord advising that they were issued with a formal vacating tenancy statement which confirmed the move out date, the last rent date and the total payment required to vacate. The tenants had relied on the advice that the tenancy had ended on 5 December 2025.
During the tenancy the tenants were provided with weekly rent invoices. The last invoice that they received was for rent up to 5 December 2025. They also did not receive any arrears notices or missed payment reminders.
On 15 January 2026 the landlord advised the tenants that there was a system technical error which resulted in the outgoing inspection notice being issued with incorrect content and stating an end date for the tenancy. Due to this error the tenancy was marked as ended in the system and no further rent invoices were issued.
The landlord secured a new tenancy which commenced on 23 January 2026. Due to the fixed term the landlord seeks rent arrears for the period from 6 December to 22 January 2026 which amounts to $4,251.43. Analysis
The tenants requested to end their fixed term tenancy early and signed a lease break form. They vacated the premises on 5 December 2025. On 20 November 2025, the landlord emailed the tenants confirming that the tenancy end date was 5 December 2025, advising that the final inspection would be held on 8 December 2025, and specifying the amount of rent required up to 5 December 2025. The tenants relied on this information when making arrangements to vacate.
No weekly rent invoices were provided to the tenants after they vacated. It was not until 13 January 2026—over a month after the tenants had vacated—that the landlord advised a new tenant had been found and claimed the tenants would need to pay rent until 22 January 2026.
The Tribunal expects landlords to communicate clearly and promptly with tenants regarding their obligations when ending a fixed term tenancy early, including any ongoing liability for rent until a new tenant is found. In this case, the landlord’s email of 20 November 2025 confirmed the end date as 5 December 2025 and did not advise the tenants of any further liability for rent beyond that date. The tenants were entitled to rely on this information in planning their move and finalising their tenancy. The absence of weekly rent invoices after the tenants vacated further supports the tenants’ understanding that their liability for rent ended on 5 December 2025.
It would not be fair or reasonable to require the tenants to pay additional rent up to 22 January 2026 when they were not informed of this possibility before vacating. The landlord’s failure to communicate the ongoing liability in a timely manner means the claim for additional rent is declined.
For the same reason, the landlord’s claim for lawn mowing is declined. Break lease fee
The tenants were aware that a break lease fee was required. I note in email communication that the tenants had asked what this cost was but did not receive the invoice until 21 January 2026.
Despite the delay in providing the tenants with the invoice, the Tribunal considers it reasonable that the tenants are liable for this fee, and this was acknowledged by the tenants. The break lease fee is awarded.
The bond is released after taking account of the break lease fee award.
As both parties have had some success with the applications I make no award for reimbursement of the filing fee. For the same reason I award suppression of the names of both parties.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5479609. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Tenant	Reason
Lease break fee	$424.09		Lease break fee
Bond		$2,480.00

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Tenant and Landlord name and identifying details.
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,480.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) immediately apportioned as follows: [The landlord/s]: $424.09 [The tenant/s]: $2,055.91

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing held on 17 April 2026 by video. The tenants were represented by [the tenant’s representative].
The tenancy began on 31 August 2024 and was for a fixed term until 30 August 2025. In May 2025 the fixed term was extended by agreement to 30 August 2026.
The landlord has applied for rent arrears, the lease break fee and for compensation for lawn mowing.
The tenant has applied for refund of the bond. End of tenancy
On 14 November 2025 the tenants emailed the landlord asking to end the fixed term tenancy early due to a change in circumstances.
On 17 November 2025 the landlord emailed the tenants advising of the lease break procedure. A lease break form was provided and the email states in relation to the tenancy end date: “Once a new tenancy agreement is signed, you will be notified of the final day of your tenancy. For example, if the new tenancy begins on 6 March, your tenancy will officially end on 5 March.”
The tenants advised that they would like to vacate the property on 5 December 2025, and they signed the lease break form on 18 November 2025.
On 20 November 2025 the tenants received an email from the landlord advising that the tenancy end date is 5 December 2025, an outgoing inspection will be conducted on 8 December 2025 and rent of $1,240.00 needed to be paid before the move out date.
During December 2025 the tenants emailed the landlord several times asking about the bond refund and the advertising costs due to breaking the lease.
The tenants received the outgoing inspection report on 23 December 2025 which did not identify any issues. The landlord advised that the report would be sent to the owner and the bond would be refunded once confirmation was received from the owner.
The landlord responded to a follow up email from the tenant on 13 January 2026. The landlord advised that the bond refund would be applied once a new tenancy agreement has commenced. They also advised that new tenants had been found and rent would be payable for the period up to and including 22 January 2026.
On 13 January 2026 the tenants replied to the landlord advising that they were issued with a formal vacating tenancy statement which confirmed the move out date, the last rent date and the total payment required to vacate. The tenants had relied on the advice that the tenancy had ended on 5 December 2025.
During the tenancy the tenants were provided with weekly rent invoices. The last invoice that they received was for rent up to 5 December 2025. They also did not receive any arrears notices or missed payment reminders.
On 15 January 2026 the landlord advised the tenants that there was a system technical error which resulted in the outgoing inspection notice being issued with incorrect content and stating an end date for the tenancy. Due to this error the tenancy was marked as ended in the system and no further rent invoices were issued.
The landlord secured a new tenancy which commenced on 23 January 2026. Due to the fixed term the landlord seeks rent arrears for the period from 6 December to 22 January 2026 which amounts to $4,251.43. Analysis
The tenants requested to end their fixed term tenancy early and signed a lease break form. They vacated the premises on 5 December 2025. On 20 November 2025, the landlord emailed the tenants confirming that the tenancy end date was 5 December 2025, advising that the final inspection would be held on 8 December 2025, and specifying the amount of rent required up to 5 December 2025. The tenants relied on this information when making arrangements to vacate.
No weekly rent invoices were provided to the tenants after they vacated. It was not until 13 January 2026—over a month after the tenants had vacated—that the landlord advised a new tenant had been found and claimed the tenants would need to pay rent until 22 January 2026.
The Tribunal expects landlords to communicate clearly and promptly with tenants regarding their obligations when ending a fixed term tenancy early, including any ongoing liability for rent until a new tenant is found. In this case, the landlord’s email of 20 November 2025 confirmed the end date as 5 December 2025 and did not advise the tenants of any further liability for rent beyond that date. The tenants were entitled to rely on this information in planning their move and finalising their tenancy. The absence of weekly rent invoices after the tenants vacated further supports the tenants’ understanding that their liability for rent ended on 5 December 2025.
It would not be fair or reasonable to require the tenants to pay additional rent up to 22 January 2026 when they were not informed of this possibility before vacating. The landlord’s failure to communicate the ongoing liability in a timely manner means the claim for additional rent is declined.
For the same reason, the landlord’s claim for lawn mowing is declined. Break lease fee
The tenants were aware that a break lease fee was required. I note in email communication that the tenants had asked what this cost was but did not receive the invoice until 21 January 2026.
Despite the delay in providing the tenants with the invoice, the Tribunal considers it reasonable that the tenants are liable for this fee, and this was acknowledged by the tenants. The break lease fee is awarded.
The bond is released after taking account of the break lease fee award.
As both parties have had some success with the applications I make no award for reimbursement of the filing fee. For the same reason I award suppression of the names of both parties.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5479609 — Rent arrears at 14 Lovelock Avenue, Rolleston, Rolleston 7615

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5479609 — Rent arrears at 14 Lovelock Avenue, Rolleston, Rolleston 7615

At a glance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions