Tenant Wins Repair and Compensation Order
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the landlord must fix a leaking sliding door and give the tenant $100 in vouchers for food or petrol. The details of the agreement were kept secret.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to repairs and compensation when a landlord fails to maintain the property properly.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the landlord to repair a leaking sliding door and provide compensation to the tenant.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the landlord to remove and reinstall the sliding door to the manufacturer's specifications and provide $100 in food or petrol vouchers to the tenant, with the agreement kept confidential.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5165053 1
[2025] NZTT 5165053
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT [Event location suppressed]
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Tenant
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Landlord
TENANCY ADDRESS: [Tenancy address suppressed]
ORDER BY CONSENT
1. An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the names and identifying details.
2. The landlord will arrange for the sliding door to be fully removed and re-installed to the manufacturer’s recommendations, with the correct flashings. The landlord understands this will be a permanent fix to the leak.
3. The landlord has booked a builder to action the work which will take two days on:
• Monday 28 April 2025 9.30am (builder and painter)
• Tuesday 29 April 2025 (painter)
4. The landlord will provide the tenant with $100 in food or petrol vouchers.
5. The voucher is not an acknowledgement of any fault on the part of the landlord in relation to any claims made by the tenant regarding the leaks in the door.
6. The parties agree to keep the details of this agreement confidential and not to disclose the terms of the agreement, except as otherwise required by law, to obtain professional advice, to enforce this agreement or with the prior written consent of the other parties.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5165053 2
7. The terms and conditions of settlement recorded in this agreement shall be in full and final settlement of all claims of any nature by the tenant against the landlord arising from the claim the door was leaking.
8. The landlord will provide the vouchers to the tenant within 10 working days of the date the landlord receives the signed settlement agreement.
Reasons:
1. The parties reached an agreement before the hearing and want an order.
2. The order will be published because there is public interest in orders by consent but all names and the tenancy address will be suppressed because of the agreement.
[NAME] 24 April 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5165053 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 agreed to remove and reinstall the sliding door according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- The landlord committed to providing a builder to fix the leak over two days.
- The landlord offered the tenant $100 in food or petrol vouchers as compensation.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The voucher provided by the landlord is not an admission of fault for the leaks.
- The agreement between the parties is to remain confidential and not disclosed publicly.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the landlord to repair the leaking sliding door and provide $100 in vouchers to the tenant.
What was the dispute about?
The tenant claimed that the sliding door was leaking and needed repair.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the tenant because the landlord failed to maintain the property properly.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the decision.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The tenant argued that the landlord was responsible for repairing the leaking sliding door.
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 can seek a repair order and compensation from the Tenancy Tribunal.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents used.