About the Tribunal

The Tenancy Tribunal and Tenancy Services deal with disputes about residential tenancies (rented homes including boarding houses) and unit title disputes. The tribunal holds hearings to settle the disputes.

Before coming to the tribunal, you can try to settle your dispute through mediation. The mediation is run by Tenancy Services, which is part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). 

Contact the tribunal through Tenancy Services(external link)

Tribunal hearings

Tribunal hearings are informal. The tribunal makes decisions about each dispute based on the general principles of the law and the merits and justice of the case. It doesn’t have to follow strict legal technicalities.

Hearings can be held:

  • in person at court; or
  • using audio visual services such as teleconference (phone) or by using Microsoft (MS) Teams phone or video. MS Teams is an online meeting platform that uses an internet browser, or the Teams app, which is available on your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

The adjudicator hearing the case will decide if the hearing of the case will be in-person at a court location or whether the hearing will be held using audio visual services. This will be confirmed in the Notice of Hearing that is sent out prior to the hearing date.

If you intend on having a witness give evidence at the hearing you must fill in the witness summons [PDF, 94 KB] form and take it to the court the hearing will be heard in to be signed by the case officer.

Hearings are run by adjudicators

Hearings are heard by unbiased and independent tenancy adjudicators. Most adjudicators are lawyers. They’re appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Ministers of Justice and Housing.

View the current adjudicators

Hearings take place in most District Courts

Find your nearest Tenancy Tribunal hearing court

Practice Notes

Practice Note 1/2019: Requests for Tenancy Tribunal audio recordings [PDF, 87 KB]

Tenancy Services and District Courts both support the tribunal

While Tenancy Services is the main point of contact for the Tenancy Tribunal, its day-to-day work is supported by both Tenancy Services and District Court staff.

Tenancy Services:

  • accepts tenancy or unit title applications
  • runs a mediation service
  • schedules the first hearing if mediation fails or is not used
  • provides information, education and advice on tenancy and unit title matters
  • administers residential tenancy bonds.

Contact information for Tenancy Services is available on their website here: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/about-tenancy-services/contact-us/(external link)

District Court case officers:

  • support the tribunal and the adjudicators
  • liaise with the people involved once an application is received at the court
  • manage applications for adjournments (delays to hearings)
  • manage applications for rehearings and appeals.

Applications that are scheduled for a hearing are transferred to the relevant District Court House, where your case is being heard, 5 days before the hearing. If you have a query about your case or want to withdraw the application within this timeframe, the District Court House, is best placed to assist you. Contact information is available here: https://www.justice.govt.nz/contact-us/find-us/(external link) otherwise you can call 0800 COURTS (0800 268 787)

Tenancy Tribunal orders

After a Tenancy Tribunal hearing has happened, The Tribunal will generally issue an order.

These orders record what happened at the hearing, and explain the decision that has been made.

The Tribunal generally aims to provide orders to parties within 28 days of the hearing date. Please note the complexity of the case and some exceptional circumstances may influence the time taken for an order to be issued.

Laws covering the Tenancy Tribunal

The Tenancy Tribunal was set up under section 67 of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986(external link)

The Act:

  • sets out the law around residential tenancies
  • defines the rights and duties of landlords and tenants of residential properties
  • sets up a tribunal to settle disputes between landlords and tenants
  • sets up a fund which tenants’ bonds are paid into.

The tribunal can hear disputes about unit title developments under section 171 of the Unit Tiles Act 2010(external link)

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