Tenant Receives Compensation and Bond Return in Settlement Agreement
📌 In brief
In a Tenancy Tribunal case, a tenant and landlord agreed to settle a dispute. The Tribunal ordered the landlord to pay the tenant $5,500 and return the bond as part of the settlement.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to receive compensation and the return of their bond when a landlord agrees to settle a dispute.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the landlord to pay the tenant $5,500 and the bond to be returned.
📜 Headnote Official document
In a Tenancy Tribunal case, the Tribunal ordered the landlord to pay the tenant $5,500 and return the bond as part of a settlement agreement between the parties.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5011868 1
[2025] NZTT 5011868, 5190431
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT [Event location suppressed]
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Tenant
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Landlord
TENANCY ADDRESS: [Tenancy address suppressed]
ORDER
1. The Tribunal orders suppression of the names and identifying details of both parties.
2. [The landlord/s] must pay [The tenant/s] $5,500.00 immediately in full and final settlement of all matters in relation to this tenancy.
3. [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $400.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The tenant/s] immediately.
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing.
2. The landlord made an offer of settlement to the tenant which he accepted.
3. As part of the settlement the bond will be paid to the tenant in full.
4. The agreement reached is in full and final settlement of all matters in relation to this tenancy raised in the applications.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5011868 2
5. Because the settlement is one that could have been reached within the confidential mediation environment, the Tribunal has suppressed the names and identifying details of both parties.
[NAME] 10 March 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5011868 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 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.
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].
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/
Reasons:
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The landlord offered to settle the dispute, which the tenant accepted.
- The settlement includes paying the tenant $5,500.00 immediately.
- The settlement agreement includes returning the tenant’s bond of $400.00.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tribunal ordered the landlord to pay the tenant $5,500 and return the bond.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about compensation and the return of the tenant's bond.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the tenant because the landlord offered a settlement which the tenant accepted.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the acceptance of the landlord's settlement offer by the tenant.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the tenant.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation might consider settling a dispute with their landlord through a settlement agreement.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify any particular evidence or documents.