What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5503630 about?

The tribunal order states: 3. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of ()

How much money was awarded in case 5503630?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $1,214.26 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $51.68 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5503630?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5503630?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/14110616-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5503630 about?

The tribunal order states: 3. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of ()

How much money was awarded in case 5503630?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $1,214.26 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $51.68 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5503630?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5503630?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/14110616-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

ORDER Tenancy Tribunal Case 5503630 — Rent arrears

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5503630 — net $1,293.94 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 13 April 2026 (includes rent in lieu of notice	$1,214.26	Rent arrears to 13 April 2026 (includes rent in lieu of notice
Water rates	$51.68	Water rates
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	31. The landlord was substantially successful in the proceedings.
Net award	$1,293.94
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,293.94

Order

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of () immediately apportioned as follows: [The landlord/s]: :

Reasons

The tenancy began on 14 March 2026. It was a periodic tenancy. The rent was $500.00 per week.
Mr Viotu paid the bond ($2000) and two weeks’ rent in advance ($1,000) on 13 March.
Mr Viotu had very few belongings when he first moved in. He said that his belongings were still in [City], where he had moved from. He said that [The landlord/s] harassed him about the fact that he had no belongings, saying that the unit “looked like a squatters pad”. [The landlord/s] said that she helped Mr Viotu by loaning him some of her own belongings.
On 23 March, less than 10 days after the start of the tenancy, [The landlord/s] sent Mr Viotu a message stating: I would like to meet with you tomorrow some time please to discuss the termination of your tenancy. We have received numerous complaints from various residential and commercial neighbours and it seems to me that you are not the right fit for the property
Mr Viotu replied: I am the perfect fit for this property [The landlord/s] I am just asking for a warning for anti social behaviour at least, you won’t hear anymore complaints.
It seems that [The landlord/s] dropped in at the property and spoke with Mr Viotu over this period, but I have limited and conflicting information about this.
Mr Viotu said that he accepted [The landlord/s]’s request for the tenancy to end and he began packing up to leave.
On or around 27 March, [The landlord/s] told Mr Viotu that she was prepared to give him a second chance. [The landlord/s] said that this was because Mr Viotu told her that they (he and his partner) had nowhere else to go, and she felt sorry for them. Mr Viotu said that it was [The landlord/s] acting in an arbitrary way “telling him what to do”. Mr Viotu said that [The landlord/s] simply told them that she had decided that the tenancy would carry on.
Mr Viotu said that he had packed up to leave and rent payments had stopped. He moved out on 1 April.
[The landlord/s] did not find out that he had left until 6 April.
The landlord’s claim in the Tenancy Tribunal seeks rent arrears to 29 April, water rates, and end of tenancy cleaning.
The hearing took place in [Event location suppressed] on 24 August 2026. Both parties attended the hearing. Rent Law
A tenant can terminate a periodic tenancy by giving the landlord at least 21- days’ notice in writing. 1
If a tenant leaves a property without giving notice, they have abandoned the tenancy. If a tenant abandons a tenancy, they are liable for rent to the day that is 21-days from the date that the landlord discovered the abandonment. 2
A landlord can waive the requirement for notice, and the landlord and tenant may agree to end a tenancy at any time.
The Tenancy Tribunal must determine disputes between landlords and tenants “having regard to the general principles of the law relating to the matter and the substantial merits and justice of the case, but [is] not bound to give effect to strict legal rights or obligations”. 3 Findings - rent
Mr Viotu left the tenancy without giving notice to the landlord. Mr Viotu said he attempted to message [The landlord/s] on 1 April (the day that he left), but there was a fault with this phone. Of course, even if Mr Viotu had sent the message on that day, he needed to give 21-days’ notice, not one day, to end the tenancy.
Although Mr Viotu technically abandoned the tenancy, in the circumstances I do not think it would be just and fair to require him to pay rent through to 29 April.
[The landlord/s] clearly indicated to Mr Viotu that she wanted him to leave the tenancy, shortcutting any process involving breach notices or a 90-day termination notice. Mr Viotu reasonably understood that he could leave, because the landlord wanted him to leave.
It seems that [The landlord/s] then changed her mind, but Mr Viotu had already taken steps to move out based on the previous communications, and [The landlord/s] made this decision unilaterally.
I agree (in part) with Mr Viotu’s complaint that it would be unjust to allow [The landlord/s] to take advantage of trying to terminate the tenancy without notice when she wanted it to end but then insisting on formal notice from Mr Viotu after she changed her mind.
That does not, of course, excuse the rent arrears or anti-social behaviour.
Having regard to these factors my finding is that Mr Viotu is liable for rent to 13 April, which is one week after the landlord discovered the abandonment. 1 Section 51(2A) Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (“RTA”) 2 Section 61(3)(a)(i) RTA 3 Section 85 RTA
There are rent arrears (including rent in lieu of notice) of $1,214.26 to that date. Water
Tenants must pay for water that they consume during the tenancy. 4
The landlord read the water meter before the end of the tenancy and when Mr Viotu vacated.
The amount of water used during the tenancy is proven. Mr Viotu must pay $51.68 for water. Cleaning
Tenants must leave the premises “reasonably clean and tidy” at the end of the tenancy. 5
Because people can have genuinely different subjective views about what amounts to “reasonably clean”, the Tribunal is heavily reliant on photographs or video evidence when determining cleaning claims.
The landlord did not provide any photographs or video or any other evidence establishing the condition of the premises at the end of the tenancy. The landlord has the burden of proof. This part of the claim is not proven. Filing fee, bond, name suppression
The landlord was substantially successful in the proceedings. I will award the landlord the filing fee for the application ($28.00). 6 Name suppression is granted to the landlord. 7
The landlord will receive $1,293.94 from the bond, calculated per the table above. The balance will be released to the tenant. N Blake, 24 August 2026 4 Section 39(3) RTA 5 Section 40(1)(e)(iii) RTA 6 Section 102(4)(b) RTA 7 Section 95A(1) RTA

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5503630 — net $1,293.94 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 13 April 2026 (includes rent in lieu of notice	$1,214.26	Rent arrears to 13 April 2026 (includes rent in lieu of notice
Water rates	$51.68	Water rates
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	31. The landlord was substantially successful in the proceedings.
Net award	$1,293.94
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,293.94

Order

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of () immediately apportioned as follows: [The landlord/s]: :

Reasons

The tenancy began on 14 March 2026. It was a periodic tenancy. The rent was $500.00 per week.
Mr Viotu paid the bond ($2000) and two weeks’ rent in advance ($1,000) on 13 March.
Mr Viotu had very few belongings when he first moved in. He said that his belongings were still in [City], where he had moved from. He said that [The landlord/s] harassed him about the fact that he had no belongings, saying that the unit “looked like a squatters pad”. [The landlord/s] said that she helped Mr Viotu by loaning him some of her own belongings.
On 23 March, less than 10 days after the start of the tenancy, [The landlord/s] sent Mr Viotu a message stating: I would like to meet with you tomorrow some time please to discuss the termination of your tenancy. We have received numerous complaints from various residential and commercial neighbours and it seems to me that you are not the right fit for the property
Mr Viotu replied: I am the perfect fit for this property [The landlord/s] I am just asking for a warning for anti social behaviour at least, you won’t hear anymore complaints.
It seems that [The landlord/s] dropped in at the property and spoke with Mr Viotu over this period, but I have limited and conflicting information about this.
Mr Viotu said that he accepted [The landlord/s]’s request for the tenancy to end and he began packing up to leave.
On or around 27 March, [The landlord/s] told Mr Viotu that she was prepared to give him a second chance. [The landlord/s] said that this was because Mr Viotu told her that they (he and his partner) had nowhere else to go, and she felt sorry for them. Mr Viotu said that it was [The landlord/s] acting in an arbitrary way “telling him what to do”. Mr Viotu said that [The landlord/s] simply told them that she had decided that the tenancy would carry on.
Mr Viotu said that he had packed up to leave and rent payments had stopped. He moved out on 1 April.
[The landlord/s] did not find out that he had left until 6 April.
The landlord’s claim in the Tenancy Tribunal seeks rent arrears to 29 April, water rates, and end of tenancy cleaning.
The hearing took place in [Event location suppressed] on 24 August 2026. Both parties attended the hearing. Rent Law
A tenant can terminate a periodic tenancy by giving the landlord at least 21- days’ notice in writing. 1
If a tenant leaves a property without giving notice, they have abandoned the tenancy. If a tenant abandons a tenancy, they are liable for rent to the day that is 21-days from the date that the landlord discovered the abandonment. 2
A landlord can waive the requirement for notice, and the landlord and tenant may agree to end a tenancy at any time.
The Tenancy Tribunal must determine disputes between landlords and tenants “having regard to the general principles of the law relating to the matter and the substantial merits and justice of the case, but [is] not bound to give effect to strict legal rights or obligations”. 3 Findings - rent
Mr Viotu left the tenancy without giving notice to the landlord. Mr Viotu said he attempted to message [The landlord/s] on 1 April (the day that he left), but there was a fault with this phone. Of course, even if Mr Viotu had sent the message on that day, he needed to give 21-days’ notice, not one day, to end the tenancy.
Although Mr Viotu technically abandoned the tenancy, in the circumstances I do not think it would be just and fair to require him to pay rent through to 29 April.
[The landlord/s] clearly indicated to Mr Viotu that she wanted him to leave the tenancy, shortcutting any process involving breach notices or a 90-day termination notice. Mr Viotu reasonably understood that he could leave, because the landlord wanted him to leave.
It seems that [The landlord/s] then changed her mind, but Mr Viotu had already taken steps to move out based on the previous communications, and [The landlord/s] made this decision unilaterally.
I agree (in part) with Mr Viotu’s complaint that it would be unjust to allow [The landlord/s] to take advantage of trying to terminate the tenancy without notice when she wanted it to end but then insisting on formal notice from Mr Viotu after she changed her mind.
That does not, of course, excuse the rent arrears or anti-social behaviour.
Having regard to these factors my finding is that Mr Viotu is liable for rent to 13 April, which is one week after the landlord discovered the abandonment. 1 Section 51(2A) Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (“RTA”) 2 Section 61(3)(a)(i) RTA 3 Section 85 RTA
There are rent arrears (including rent in lieu of notice) of $1,214.26 to that date. Water
Tenants must pay for water that they consume during the tenancy. 4
The landlord read the water meter before the end of the tenancy and when Mr Viotu vacated.
The amount of water used during the tenancy is proven. Mr Viotu must pay $51.68 for water. Cleaning
Tenants must leave the premises “reasonably clean and tidy” at the end of the tenancy. 5
Because people can have genuinely different subjective views about what amounts to “reasonably clean”, the Tribunal is heavily reliant on photographs or video evidence when determining cleaning claims.
The landlord did not provide any photographs or video or any other evidence establishing the condition of the premises at the end of the tenancy. The landlord has the burden of proof. This part of the claim is not proven. Filing fee, bond, name suppression
The landlord was substantially successful in the proceedings. I will award the landlord the filing fee for the application ($28.00). 6 Name suppression is granted to the landlord. 7
The landlord will receive $1,293.94 from the bond, calculated per the table above. The balance will be released to the tenant. N Blake, 24 August 2026 4 Section 39(3) RTA 5 Section 40(1)(e)(iii) RTA 6 Section 102(4)(b) RTA 7 Section 95A(1) RTA

Tenancy Tribunal case 5503630 — Rent arrears at ORDER

At a glance

Award balance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5503630 — Rent arrears at ORDER

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Reduce avoidable tribunal risk with proper tenant checks.

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Reduce avoidable tribunal risk with proper tenant checks.