What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5429701?

The tribunal order states: Laki Taunoa must pay New Zealand Property Buyers Limited As Agent For

How much money was awarded in case 5429701?

Break Lease Costs: $514.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $3,472.86 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5429701?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5429701?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13480789-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5429701?

The tribunal order states: Laki Taunoa must pay New Zealand Property Buyers Limited As Agent For

How much money was awarded in case 5429701?

Break Lease Costs: $514.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $3,472.86 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5429701?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5429701?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13480789-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

10 Cuba Street, Marton, Marton 4710 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5429701 — Rent arrears

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5429701 — net $1,974.86 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 25/2/26	$3,472.86	Rent arrears to 25/2/26
break lease costs	$514.00	break lease costs
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$1,974.86
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,974.86

Laki Taunoa must pay New Zealand Property Buyers Limited As Agent For Mary-Lou & Jonny Duder $1,974.86 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,040.00 (BN-00154686) to New Zealand Property Buyers Limited As Agent For Mary-Lou & Jonny Duder immediately.

Reasons

Only the landlord attended today’s hearing. The tenant did not attend. The Tribunal also rang the tenant on the number in the application, but the tenant did not answer that call.

I am satisfied that the tenant was given notice of today’s hearing and have proceeded in her absence.

When the landlord applied to the Tribunal on the 22 January, they were seeking termination of the tenancy and rent arrears. Since filing the parties have agreed to end the tenancy on the 25 February and the landlord now seeks rent up until that date as well as costs for reducing the fixed term tenancy and the filing fee.

I am satisfied that the tenant was aware of the landlord’s amended claims as the tenant was sent the additional claims and evidence on the 10 April 2026.

I am satisfied that the tenant agreed with the landlord to end the tenancy early on the 25 February 2026, because the landlord provided me with correspondence showing the discussion between the parties and it is clear that the landlord offered the tenant to leave her fixed term on the 25 February on the proviso that the tenant would pay rent until that day and pay the ‘break fee’ costs incurred by the landlord.

The tenant acted in reliance of this agreement by moving out on the 25 February 2026.

I award rent owing to the 25 February 2026 as proven by the rent ledger provided by the landlord.

The landlord also seeks the break fee. It is seeking $129.00 for advertising costs, $220 for advertising, responding to enquiries and time spent on viewings, $185 for background checks and $220 for liaising with tenant and landlord, preparing tenancy documentation, completing onboarding for the new tenant, completing exit & entry inspections.

Landlords can only charge reasonable break fees; the costs must be incurred and they cannot be a penalty.

In determining what is reasonable the Tribunal will look at the tasks that have been undertaken and consider whether they were ‘additional’ tasks, that is caused by the tenant leaving early, or a natural consequence of re-tenanting the property. The Tribunal will also bear in mind how close to the fixed term date that the tenancy ended.

The landlord advises that it has readvertised the property (it did so on the 10 February when the tenant agreed to the proposal). I consider that this is a reasonable cost incurred by the landlord as a result of the tenancy ending early and award the landlord the Trade Me advertising costs of $129.00.

I am also satisfied that the landlord conducted 11 viewings in the time between 25 February and the 31 March, when the tenancy was due to end. I consider it reasonable to grant the $220 for enquiries and viewings. The landlord had one person apply during this time and I consider it reasonable to grant a further cost of $185 for the checks and application fees.

I am not satisfied that the tenant should pay the $220 for the preparation of new tenancy agreements, the onboarding of new tenants and the exit inspection fees. These costs occur in every tenancy and are a landlord’s responsibility. I do not consider that the landlord has been put to any additional cost than they otherwise would have incurred at the end of the tenancy and therefore do not award costs for the new tenancy agreements onboarding and the exit inspections.

As the landlord has been mostly successful in its claims, I award the filing fee.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5429701 — net $1,974.86 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 25/2/26	$3,472.86	Rent arrears to 25/2/26
break lease costs	$514.00	break lease costs
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$1,974.86
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,974.86

Order

Laki Taunoa must pay New Zealand Property Buyers Limited As Agent For Mary-Lou & Jonny Duder $1,974.86 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,040.00 (BN-00154686) to New Zealand Property Buyers Limited As Agent For Mary-Lou & Jonny Duder immediately.

Reasons

Only the landlord attended today’s hearing. The tenant did not attend. The Tribunal also rang the tenant on the number in the application, but the tenant did not answer that call.
I am satisfied that the tenant was given notice of today’s hearing and have proceeded in her absence.
When the landlord applied to the Tribunal on the 22 January, they were seeking termination of the tenancy and rent arrears. Since filing the parties have agreed to end the tenancy on the 25 February and the landlord now seeks rent up until that date as well as costs for reducing the fixed term tenancy and the filing fee.
I am satisfied that the tenant was aware of the landlord’s amended claims as the tenant was sent the additional claims and evidence on the 10 April 2026.
I am satisfied that the tenant agreed with the landlord to end the tenancy early on the 25 February 2026, because the landlord provided me with correspondence showing the discussion between the parties and it is clear that the landlord offered the tenant to leave her fixed term on the 25 February on the proviso that the tenant would pay rent until that day and pay the ‘break fee’ costs incurred by the landlord.
The tenant acted in reliance of this agreement by moving out on the 25 February 2026.
I award rent owing to the 25 February 2026 as proven by the rent ledger provided by the landlord.
The landlord also seeks the break fee. It is seeking $129.00 for advertising costs, $220 for advertising, responding to enquiries and time spent on viewings, $185 for background checks and $220 for liaising with tenant and landlord, preparing tenancy documentation, completing onboarding for the new tenant, completing exit & entry inspections.
Landlords can only charge reasonable break fees; the costs must be incurred and they cannot be a penalty.
In determining what is reasonable the Tribunal will look at the tasks that have been undertaken and consider whether they were ‘additional’ tasks, that is caused by the tenant leaving early, or a natural consequence of re-tenanting the property. The Tribunal will also bear in mind how close to the fixed term date that the tenancy ended.
The landlord advises that it has readvertised the property (it did so on the 10 February when the tenant agreed to the proposal). I consider that this is a reasonable cost incurred by the landlord as a result of the tenancy ending early and award the landlord the Trade Me advertising costs of $129.00.
I am also satisfied that the landlord conducted 11 viewings in the time between 25 February and the 31 March, when the tenancy was due to end. I consider it reasonable to grant the $220 for enquiries and viewings. The landlord had one person apply during this time and I consider it reasonable to grant a further cost of $185 for the checks and application fees.
I am not satisfied that the tenant should pay the $220 for the preparation of new tenancy agreements, the onboarding of new tenants and the exit inspection fees. These costs occur in every tenancy and are a landlord’s responsibility. I do not consider that the landlord has been put to any additional cost than they otherwise would have incurred at the end of the tenancy and therefore do not award costs for the new tenancy agreements onboarding and the exit inspections.
As the landlord has been mostly successful in its claims, I award the filing fee.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5429701 — Rent arrears at 10 Cuba Street, Marton, Marton 4710

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5429701 — Rent arrears at 10 Cuba Street, Marton, Marton 4710

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions