Tenant Ordered to Pay Fees Upon Termination
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ended a tenancy agreement and ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,078.00, which includes laboratory report fees and the landlord's filing costs. This decision was made based on agreements reached between the parties during the hearing.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay laboratory report fees and the landlord's filing fee upon termination of a tenancy agreement.
📖 What the law says
This rule allows a tenant to ask the Tenancy Tribunal to cancel a landlord's notice to end a tenancy if the tenant believes the landlord gave the notice because the tenant complained or used their rights as a tenant. The tenant must apply within 14 working days of receiving the notice.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal terminated a tenancy agreement and ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,078.00.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal terminated a tenancy agreement and ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,078.00, including laboratory report fees and filing costs. The decision was based on agreements reached between the parties during the hearing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5497037 1
[2026] NZTT 5497037
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT CHRISTCHURCH | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA KI ŌTAUTAHI
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [Tenancy address suppressed]
ORDER
1. The Tribunal orders suppression of the names and identifying details of both parties.
2. By consent, the tenancy of [The tenant/s] at [Tenancy address suppressed] is terminated, and possession is granted to [The landlord/s], at 11.59pm on Monday 6 July 2026.
3. [The tenant/s] must pay [The landlord/s] $1,078.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Laboratory report fees $1,050.00 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $1,078.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,078.00
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing.
2. The parties agreed to end the tenancy on 6 July 2026.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5497037 2
3. The tenant accepted the landlord’s claim for laboratory report fees. The landlord withdrew a claim for exemplary damages.
4. The tenant must pay the landlord’s Tribunal filing fee on the successful application.
5. The bond will remain at the Bond Centre until the end of the tenancy. Provided there are no costs claimed from the bond, the parties might consider satisfying this order by the release of $1,078.00 to the landlord.
6. Because this order is based on agreements reached by the parties which could have been reached at mediation (a confidential process) I have ordered name suppression for both parties.
[NAME] 15 June 2026
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5497037 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 adjudicator 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 tenancy.govt.nz/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 tenancy.govt.nz/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.tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing-decisions https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing-decisions http://www.tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing-decisions/
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5497037 4
A manaomia nisi faamatalaga poo se fesoasoani, e uiga i lau mataupu, asiasi ifo le matou aupega tafailagi: tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing-decisions, pe fesootai mai le Tenancy Services i le numera [PHONE].
Reasons:
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The tenant accepted the landlord’s claim for laboratory report fees.
- The tenant must pay the landlord’s Tribunal filing fee on the successful application.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The landlord withdrew a claim for exemplary damages.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal terminated the tenancy agreement and ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,078.00.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about terminating the tenancy and paying certain fees.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided based on agreements reached between the parties during the hearing.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the agreement between the parties to terminate the tenancy and pay the specified fees.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was against the tenant who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should be prepared to pay all agreed-upon fees and adhere to the terms of their tenancy agreement.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents used.