Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5491633 — Rent arrears at Unit/Flat 2, 414 Hereford Street, Linwood, Christchurch
Decided 1 May 2026 · Published 1 May 2026 · Application 5491633
- Rent arrears
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Mixed / unclear
From published order
Location
Christchurch
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
K Koller
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
No individual claim amounts were reconciled for this order. View the official Ministry of Justice PDF for full detail.
Order
- The tenancy of Sasha Cathryn Belcher at Unit/Flat 2, 414 Hereford Street, Linwood, Christchurch 8011 is terminated, and possession is granted to Kāinga Ora–Homes And Communities, immediately.
- Sasha Cathryn Belcher must pay Kāinga Ora–Homes And Communities $732.83 immediately, calculated as rent and rent in lieu of notice to 1 May 2026.
Reasons
- The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant did not answer the call I made to her phone.
- The landlord has applied for termination of the tenancy for abandonment and rent arrears.
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 13 April 2026 the landlord became aware (or ought to have been aware) that the tenant had abandoned the premises. They conducted an inspection on 31 March 2026 and found some belongings and a mattress in the unit, but the power had not been connected. A breach notice was issued asking the tenant to return to the property. When the landlord checked again on 13 April nothing in the unit had changed, and there was still no power. No rent has been paid since the tenancy started in March 2026. The landlord cannot contact the tenant. Taken together, it seems most likely to me that the tenancy has been abandoned.
- Because the premises have been abandoned, and rent is in arrear, the tenancy is terminated immediately.
How much does the tenant owe?
- The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy. The amount ordered includes rent in lieu of notice.
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Residential Tenancies Act sections
s61
Key findings
- Dispute theme: rent arrears
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5491633?
The tribunal order states: The tenancy of Sasha Cathryn Belcher at Unit/Flat 2, 414 Hereford Street,
How much money was awarded in case 5491633?
Verified claim lines are listed on this page.
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5491633?
The primary dispute was Rent arrears.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5491633?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13527675-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.