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DismissedTenancy Tribunal·

Tenancy Tribunal Cannot Hear Claims Against Building Managers

Case No. [2026] NZTT 5458509 · Adjudicator H Ben Fayed

📌 In brief

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.

⚖️ Legal holding

The Tenancy Tribunal lacks jurisdiction to hear disputes against managers rather than landlords under Section 77(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

Topics

tenancyjurisdiction

Provisions

📖 What the law says

Residential Tenancies Act 1986 s.77

This section states that the Tenancy Tribunal has the power to decide disputes that happen between landlords and tenants, as long as the dispute is about a tenancy covered by this Act. It also says the Tribunal can decide if certain premises are residential and if a tenancy agreement exists.

Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.

📖 Technical summary

The Tenancy Tribunal dismissed the case due to lack of jurisdiction over the claimant's dispute.

📜 Headnote Official document

The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that it lacks jurisdiction to hear disputes involving a building manager rather than the landlord, as per section 77(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. The claim was dismissed.

📚 Full judgment Official document

OUTCOME: Dismissed

__________________________________________________________________________________ 5458509 1

[2026] NZTT 5458509

TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA

APPLICANT: [redacted]

Tenant

RESPONDENT: [redacted]

Landlord

TENANCY ADDRESS: Room 303, [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE], [NAME]

1. The Tenancy Tribunal does not have jurisdiction to hear and determine this claim.

Reasons:

2. Both parties attended the hearing.

3. Section 77(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 provides that the Tenancy Tribunal has jurisdiction to determine disputes that exist between a landlord and tenant, or between a landlord and the guarantor of a tenant, relating to a tenancy to which the Act applies.

4. In this proceeding, the claim has been brought against the [NAME] manager rather than the landlord. The [NAME] manager is not a party identified in section 77(1) of the Act. Accordingly, the dispute is not one that falls within the jurisdiction of the Tenancy Tribunal.

__________________________________________________________________________________ 5458509 2

5. As the claim is not a dispute between a landlord and tenant within the meaning of section 77, the appropriate forum for determination of the dispute is the Disputes Tribunal.

H [NAME] 29 May 2026

__________________________________________________________________________________ 5458509 3

Please read carefully: Visit justice.govt.nz/tribunals/tenancy/rehearings-appeals for more information on rehearings and appeals.

Rehearings You can apply for a rehearing if you believe that a substantial wrong or miscarriage of justice has happened. For example: • you did not get the letter telling you the date of the hearing, or • the [NAME] improperly admitted or rejected evidence, or • new evidence, relating to the original application, has become available.

You must give reasons and evidence to support your application for a rehearing. A rehearing will not be granted just because you disagree with the decision. You must apply within five working days of the decision using the Application for Rehearing form: justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Forms/TT-Application-for-rehearing.pdf

Right of Appeal Both the landlord and the tenant can file an appeal. You should file your appeal at the District Court where the original hearing took place. The cost for an appeal is $260. You must apply within 10 working days after the decision is issued using this Appeal to the District Court form: justice.govt.nz/tribunals/tenancy/rehearings-appeals

Grounds for an appeal You can appeal if you think the decision was wrong, but not because you don’t like the decision. For some cases, there’ll be no right to appeal. For example, you can’t appeal: • against an interim order • a final order, or the failure to make an order, where the amount in dispute on appeal is

less than $1000 • a final order to undertake work, or the failure to make an order, where the value of the

work in dispute on appeal is less than $1000.

Enforcement Where the Tribunal made an order about money or property this is called a civil debt. The Ministry of Justice Collections Team can assist with enforcing civil debt. You can contact the collections team on [PHONE] or go to justice.govt.nz/fines/civil-debt for forms and information.

Notice to a party ordered to pay money or vacate premises, etc. Failure to comply with any order may result in substantial additional costs for enforcement. It may also involve being ordered to appear in the District Court for an examination of your means or seizure of your property.

If you require further help or information regarding this matter, visit [NAME]/disputes/enforcing- decisions or phone Tenancy Services on [PHONE].

Mēna ka hiahia koe ki ētahi atu awhina, kōrero ranei mo tēnei take, haere ki tenei ipurangi [NAME]/disputes/enforcing-decisions, waea atu ki Ratonga Takirua ma runga [PHONE] ranei.

https://www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/tenancy/rehearings-appeals https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Forms/TT-Application-for-rehearing.pdf https://www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/tenancy/rehearings-appeals/ https://www.justice.govt.nz/fines/about-civil-debt/ https://www.[NAME] https://www.[NAME] http://www.[NAME]

__________________________________________________________________________________ 5458509 4

A manaomia nisi faamatalaga poo se fesoasoani, e uiga i lau mataupu, asiasi ifo le matou aupega tafailagi: [NAME]/disputes/enforcing-decisions, pe fesootai mai le Tenancy Services i le numera [PHONE].

Reasons:

📊 How courts decide similar cases

Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:

A snapshot of this collection — not a prediction of your case's outcome.

⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this

❌ Tends to be rejected

  • A dispute between a tenant and a building manager does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Tenancy Tribunal under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What did this decision decide?

The Tenancy Tribunal does not have the authority to hear disputes involving a building manager.

Who was involved?

A tenant and a building manager were involved in the dispute.

How did the court decide, and why?

The court decided that it lacks jurisdiction because section 77(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act only allows disputes between landlords and tenants to be heard by the Tenancy Tribunal.

Which laws or rules were applied?

Section 77(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act was applied.

What was the argument that mattered most?

The argument that the building manager is not a party identified in section 77(1) of the Act was crucial.

Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?

The decision was against the tenant, as it dismissed their claim.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone facing a dispute with a building manager should take their case to the Disputes Tribunal instead of the Tenancy Tribunal.

What evidence or documents mattered?

No specific evidence was mentioned as being crucial; the decision hinged on legal interpretation.

Can a decision like this be appealed?

Yes, appeals can be filed in the District Court within 10 working days of the decision.

Is it worth getting a lawyer for a case like this?

It is advisable to seek advice from a qualified lawyer for such cases.

Official source: Tenancy Tribunal headnote and full judgment reproduced from the court's public records. View on the official source ↗Summary, holding, technical summary and questions: produced by Artificial Intelligence based on the official headnote and judgment. These are VadeLab’s own material and are not the work of the Court.This decision was issued by the Tenancy Tribunal and is reproduced from its published records. VadeLab is not affiliated with, and this page is not endorsed by, that court or tribunal.