Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 4615549 — Tenancy dispute at Unit/Flat 3, 6 Bisset Road, Kaikohe, Kaikohe 0405
Decided 8 Aug 2023 · Published 8 Aug 2023 · Application 4615549
Landlord favoured
- Filing Fee
- Water Rates
Order
- No application for suppression has been made in this case and no suppression orders apply around publication of this decision.
- Nita Owen must pay Steven David Morris $825.55 immediately, calculated as shown in table below. DescriptionLandlord Water rates$662.19 Electricity costs$1,782.92 Filing fee reimbursement$20.44 Total award$2,465.55 Bond-$1,640.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord$825.55
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2400.00 (6449525-006) to Steven David Morris immediately.
Reasons
- Only the landlord attended the hearing, which was held by teleconference. Two calls were placed to the number provided for the tenant.
- The landlord has applied for compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for electricity and water rates?
- The tenancy ended on 22 May 2023. The landlord provided electricity invoices and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
- The landlord confirmed that the premises has its own water and power meters and I am satisfied that the amounts sought are outgoings exclusively attributable to the tenant’s occupation of the premises.
- Accordingly, the amounts ordered are proved.
- Because Steven David Morris has wholly succeeded with the claim I must order reimbursement of the filing fee.
- I record, for completeness, the discrepancy between the bond credited to the amount ordered against the tenant, and the amount to be refunded to the landlord by the bond centre.
- The amount credited to the tenant’s debt is the bond paid by her at the start of the tenancy. I note that this is equal to 4 weeks rent.
- The landlord explained that when the bond for this tenancy was paid to the Bond Centre it was paid together with another bond of $2,400 and the landlord inadvertently paid $2,400 for each tenancy.
- I accept that explanation. The landlord is entitled to the return of the extra money paid, together with the bond paid by the tenant as partial payment of the amounts ordered.