Claimant wins rent arrears case at Tenancy Tribunal
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled in favour of the landlord, ordering the tenant to pay $4,279.43 for unpaid rent and to return a bond of $2,480.00. The landlord presented rent records proving the amount owed.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and return the bond to the landlord upon termination of the tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The claimant successfully recovered rent arrears and the bond from the respondent.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the respondent to pay the claimant $4,279.43 for rent arrears and to return the bond of $2,480.00. The claimant provided proof of the amount owing through rent records.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5459129 1
[2026] NZTT 5459129
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay Team Group Rentals Limited As Agent For [NAME] $4,279.43 immediately, as calculated in the table below:
2. [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $2,480.00 (BN-00063319) to Team Group Rentals Limited As Agent For [NAME] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 20 April 2026 $6,731.43 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $6,759.43 Bond $2,480.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $4,279.43
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing. There was no appearance for the tenant.
2. The tenancy was terminated by Tribunal order on 20 April 2026 in proceedings numbered 5486609.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5459129 2
3. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
4. Because Team Group Rentals Limited As Agent For [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
T Baker
16 June 2026
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5459129 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/
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5459129 4
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:
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The landlord provided rent records proving the amount of rent arrears.
- The landlord successfully applied for the return of the bond.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not attend the hearing to provide any counter arguments or evidence.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $4,279.43 for rent arrears and to return a bond of $2,480.00.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent and the return of a security bond.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant failed to appear and the landlord provided proof of the rent arrears.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The landlord's argument that the tenant owed rent arrears and had to return the bond was successful due to the lack of response from the tenant.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the person who brought the case, the landlord.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they have proof of rent arrears and follow the proper procedures to recover the debt.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment mentions rent records as the evidence used to prove the amount owing.