
Tenancy & Housing judgments from New Zealand courts and tribunals, with a plain-English summary, the legal holding and frequently asked questions.
The Tenancy Tribunal ended a lease because the tenants left without telling the landlord and didn't pay their rent. This decision followed rules in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
A tenant's tenancy was ended by the Tenancy Tribunal because they abandoned their home without paying rent. This decision followed a special fast-track procedure allowed when tenants leave and don't intend to return or meet their obligations.
In this case, the Tenancy Tribunal rejected the landlord’s request to terminate the tenancy through an expedited process because they did not provide enough proof that the tenant had abandoned the property. The decision emphasises the need for strong documentary evidence when seeking such termination under the Residential Tenancies Act.
In this case, the Tenancy Tribunal denied a landlord's request to terminate a tenancy through an expedited process because there wasn't enough evidence provided. This highlights that landlords must submit strong documentation to support such applications under New Zealand law.
The Tenancy Tribunal terminated a tenant's tenancy after they abandoned their rental property due to health issues and did not respond to the landlord’s inquiries. The tribunal granted possession to the landlord because rent was in arrears, meeting the criteria for abandonment under New Zealand law.
In this case, the Tenancy Tribunal decided that a tenant is not responsible for covering the cost of installing ready lawn if it exceeds the standard agreed upon in their rental agreement. While the landlord was successful in recovering rent arrears, they were unable to recover costs associated with replacing grass.
A landlord's request to terminate a tenant's lease quickly due to suspected abandonment was denied because it appeared the tenant had simply moved out with proper notice and left keys behind, not abandoning the property without reason. A full court hearing is now scheduled.
In this tenancy dispute, the Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant is entitled to a refund for overpaid water rates fixed costs. The tribunal also agreed with the landlord's claim for minor repairs but dismissed other claims due to insufficient evidence and lack of start-of-tenancy photographs.
In this case, the Tenancy Tribunal found that the tenants were responsible for paying rent arrears and a cost incurred by the landlord to advertise the property on a person. However, they did not have to pay for cleaning costs at the end of their tenancy.
A tenant successfully sued their landlord at the Tenancy Tribunal for failing to keep the a person in good condition over many years. The court ordered the landlord to pay significant damages.
In this case, the Tenancy Tribunal dismissed all claims made by both landlords and tenants regarding compensation and exemplary damages. The tribunal also ordered the tenants to reimburse the landlord's filing fee due to lack of sufficient evidence supporting their claims.
The claimant successfully obtained possession of a property from squatters in Waitoa, New Zealand. After purchasing the property at auction and serving notice, the Tenancy Tribunal ordered the previous owners to vacate immediately under section 65 of the Residential Tenancies Act.
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that a tenant must pay the landlord $1,692.73 for unpaid rent, cleaning costs, and damages to the property beyond fair wear and tear. The decision was based on evidence provided by the landlord showing damage to the premises and non-compliance with tenancy obligations.
In this case, the Tenancy Tribunal determined it does not have the authority to handle disputes between tenants and a person managers. Instead, such issues should be addressed in the Disputes Tribunal. This decision is based on the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, which specifies that only disputes involving landlords are within the jurisdiction of the Tenancy Tribunal.
In this case, the Tenancy Tribunal ruled that tenants must pay rent arrears and compensate for cleaning and rubbish removal from their bond. The decision was made because the tenants did not comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy.