Tribunal Allows Landlord to Dispose of Tenant's Abandoned Goods in Christchurch
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal allowed a landlord to dispose of items left behind by a tenant after giving them time to collect their belongings. The decision was based on the value of the goods being too low for return or storage, and follows provisions in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
⚖️ Legal holding
A landlord is entitled to dispose of a tenant's abandoned goods if they have been given a reasonable period to collect them and the value of the goods does not justify their return or storage costs.
📖 What the law says
This rule explains what a landlord must do when a tenant leaves goods behind after a tenancy ends. For perishable items like food, the landlord can get rid of them right away. For other items, the landlord must store them safely and ask the Tenancy Tribunal for permission to dispose of them.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The landlord was granted permission to dispose of goods left by the tenant.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the landlord may dispose of goods left by the tenant after a reasonable period for collection was provided and it was determined that the value of the items did not justify their return or storage costs. The decision is based on sections 62(3)(b) and 62B(2), (3) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
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[2026] NZTT 5472710
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [APPELLANT] [NAME] must take any of the tenant’s personal documents that have been left at the premises to the nearest Police station and obtain a receipt for them.
2. The landlord may dispose of the other goods left at the premises by the tenant as the landlord sees fit.
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing held remotely on 3 June 2026. The tenant did not attend the hearing.
2. The landlord has applied for the disposal of goods the tenant left at the premises at the end of the tenancy.
3. The landlord agreed on a period for the tenant was to collect the goods, but the tenant failed to collect the goods within that time.
4. It is not practicable for the landlord to the return the goods to the tenant. The value of the goods is below the cost of storing, transporting and selling them. Therefore the landlord may dispose of the goods. See sections 62(3)(b), 62B(2) and (3) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5472710 2
[NAME]
03 June 2026
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5472710 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/
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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:
📊 How courts decide similar cases
Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:
- Tenancy Tribunal Tribunal Terminates Tenancy Due to Rent Arrears in Kaihoke
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant Owing $2,873 in Rent Arrears Gets Conditional Termination Order in A…
- Tenancy Tribunal Tribunal Terminates Tenant's Tenancy in Christchurch Due to Abandonment and…
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant ordered to pay $2,890 in rent arrears in Christchurch
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenancy Tribunal Decision — [2026] NZTT 5515554
- Tenancy Tribunal Tribunal Terminates Tenancy for Rent Arrears Over £4,763 Owed
- Tenancy Tribunal Tribunal Orders Tenant to Pay $4,109.14 for Rent Arrears in Auckland
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant Ordered to Pay $1,160.41 for Rent Arrears and Cleaning Fees in Auckl…
- Tenancy Tribunal Tribunal Rejects Landlord’s Expedited Abandonment Application in Auckland
- Tenancy Tribunal Tribunal Rejects Landlord's Expedited Abandonment Application Due to Lack o…
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant's Late Rehearing Application Dismissed in Auckland
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant's Claim Dismissed for Lack of Evidence in Auckland
A snapshot of this collection — not a prediction of your case's outcome.
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The tenant failed to respond to the landlord's inquiries about possession.
- There were rent arrears of more than 21 days when the application was filed.
- The tenancy was terminated due to abandonment and non-payment of rent.
- The tenant did not comply with payment orders within the specified period.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The landlord failed to provide robust documentary evidence for an expedited abandonment claim.
- There were indications that the tenancy had ended by notice rather than abandonment without reasonable excuse.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal allowed the landlord to dispose of the tenant's abandoned goods.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was over whether the landlord could dispose of the tenant's abandoned goods after the tenancy ended.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord, reasoning that it was impractical to return the goods and their value was below the cost of storage and transportation.
Which laws or rules were applied?
Sections 62(3)(b) and 62B(2) and (3) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 were applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was that the value of the goods was below the cost of storing and transporting them.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the landlord, who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
For someone in a similar situation, the landlord may be able to dispose of the tenant's abandoned goods if it is impractical to return them and their value is low.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents that mattered.