Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Compensation for Lock Replacement Costs
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay rent arrears and compensate for lock replacements after the tenant failed to return keys upon termination of the tenancy. The ruling was based on the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears and compensate for lock replacements if they fail to return keys.
📖 What the law says
This section outlines a tenant's responsibilities, including paying rent on time and leaving the premises reasonably clean and tidy when the tenancy ends. It also requires the tenant to return keys upon termination of the tenancy.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The tenant was ordered to pay rent arrears and compensate for lock replacements.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and compensate for lock replacements after the tenant failed to return keys upon termination of the tenancy. The decision was based on the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5216353
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] $293.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,800.00 (BN-00031802) to [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears as at 15 February 2025 $2,600.00 Lock/key replacement - sleepout $190.00 Lock/key replacement - house $276.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $3,093.00 Bond $2,800.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $293.00
Reasons:
1. This application was scheduled to be heard by video conference. The tenant did not link to the Teams link provided to her and nor did she answer her phone when called. The hearing proceeded in her absence.
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2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, payment of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent?
3. The tenant signed a fixed term tenancy which was due to expire on 5 January 2026. However, in mid January 2025 the landlord was advised by the Police that the tenant and her partner had been arrested and shortly after that the tenants belongings were removed from the premises.
4. Given that it was a fixed term tenancy, the tenant is required to pay rent until the end of the fixed term or until the date that a new tenancy begins, whichever is the earlier. I accept the evidence that new tenants began renting the premises on 16 February 2025 and so the tenant is required to pay rent to 15 February 2025.
5. The rent record shows that the rent owing as at 15 February 2025 is $2,600.00. This amount includes the single payment of rent of $1,400.00 on 7 January 2025.
Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?
6. At the end of the tenancy the tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, remove all rubbish, return all keys and security devices, and leave all chattels provided for their benefit. See section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
7. I accept the evidence that the tenant did not return the keys and so she is required to pay the established cost of replacing the locks in the sleepout and the front door of the house.
Filing fee reimbursement
8. The landlord was wholly successful in the claim and so the tenant is required to reimburse them the filing fee.
[NAME]
27 May 2025
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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 for the payment of less than $1000 • a final order to undertake work worth 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/
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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 is required to pay rent until the end of the fixed term.
- The tenant did not return the keys, requiring her to pay for lock replacements.
- The landlord successfully claimed the filing fee reimbursement.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not provide evidence or attend the hearing to dispute the claims.
- The tenant did not comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The tenant was ordered to pay rent arrears and compensate for lock replacements.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's failure to pay rent arrears and return keys, leading to lock replacements.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay rent arrears and compensate for lock replacements because the tenant did not return the keys as required by law.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, specifically section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v), was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was that the tenant did not return the keys, which led to the need for lock replacements.
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 ensure they return all keys and comply with their obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence included the rent record showing arrears and the fact that the tenant did not return the keys.