Tenancy Tribunal Guide: Notices, Mediation and Hearings
Published: 23 October 2026
The Tenancy Tribunal decides disputes between New Zealand landlords and tenants over rent arrears, bond deductions, damage and termination. Cases are won or lost on the paper trail created months before the hearing.
Key Takeaways
- • Most Tribunal applications start with a formal 14-day notice to remedy served with correct legal service days
- • Adjudicators rely on dated photos, ledgers and invoices — not verbal recollections
- • Sealed mediation orders carry the same legal weight as a Tribunal hearing order
- • Climber prepares the file and represents managed landlords at mediation and hearings
Step 1: Serve a valid 14-day notice to remedy
Before applying to the Tribunal for a breach (such as late rent or unapproved alterations), you must give the tenant a formal 14-day notice to remedy in writing. The notice must state what the breach is, what the tenant must do to fix it (for example, the exact rent arrears figure) and the date by which it must be remedied.
See how Climber handles rent arrears for why we issue the 14-day notice between days 4 and 7 rather than waiting weeks.
Step 2: Assemble the evidence bundle
The party making a claim bears the burden of proof. A complete Tribunal bundle includes:
- • Signed tenancy agreement and Healthy Homes compliance statement
- • Complete rent ledger and copies of all 14-day notices with proof of service
- • Ingoing condition report, routine inspection reports and exit inspection photos
- • Itemised quotes or invoices for cleaning, repairs or rubbish removal
Step 3: Mediation vs Tribunal hearing
Many applications are referred first to Tenancy Mediation. If an agreement is reached (such as a payment plan or bond split), ask for the agreement to be sealed by an adjudicator with a self-executing termination clause if a payment is missed.
If the dispute is not resolved at mediation, or involves urgent possession or 21+ days of rent arrears, it proceeds to a formal hearing before a Tenancy Tribunal adjudicator.
Questions landlords ask
When should a landlord issue a 14-day notice to remedy?
Whenever a tenant breaches the tenancy agreement or the Residential Tenancies Act — most commonly when rent falls behind or an unapproved occupant or pet is found.
What is the difference between Tenancy Mediation and a Tribunal hearing?
Mediation is a faster telephone or in-person conference with a mediator where both sides agree a binding order. If mediation fails or one party does not attend, the case goes to an adjudicator at a Tenancy Tribunal hearing.
Can Climber represent me at the Tenancy Tribunal?
Yes. For managed properties, Climber prepares the evidence bundle, lodges the application and attends mediation or the Tribunal hearing on your behalf.