Landlord Wins Rent Arrears Case at Tenancy Tribunal
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled in favour of the landlord, ordering the tenant to pay $9,328.06 for rent arrears, water rates, and filing fees. The decision was based on the landlord's successful application for recovery of these amounts following the end of the tenancy.
⚖️ Legal holding
A landlord is entitled to recover rent arrears, water rates, and filing fees from a tenant at the end of a tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The claimant successfully recovered rent arrears, water rates, and filing fees from the respondent.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled in favour of the landlord, ordering the tenant to pay $9,328.06 for rent arrears, water rates, and filing fees. The decision was based on the landlord's successful application for recovery of these amounts following the end of the tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5464863 1
[2026] NZTT 5464863
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME_2] must pay [NAME_1] $9,328.06 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below.
Description Landlord Rent arrears 12/12/25 to 21/01/26 $1,765.72 Previous order application 5356162 dated 12/12/2025
$6,450.40
Water rates $1,083.94 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $9,328.06 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $9,328.06
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the video hearing.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, water rates and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5464863 2
3. The tenancy ended on 21 January 2026 when the tenant vacated the premises. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
4. The landlord will file a further application for compensation.
5. Because [NAME_1] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
G Baker
12 June 2026
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5464863 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/
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5464863 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 and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
- Because the landlord has wholly succeeded with the claim, the filing fee must be reimbursed.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The decision ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $9,328.06 for rent arrears, water rates, and filing fees.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's unpaid rent and water rates, as well as the landlord's filing fee.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant owed rent and water rates, and the landlord had provided proof of these amounts.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The landlord's argument that the tenant owed rent and water rates, and the landlord had provided proof of these amounts, was the most important.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the landlord.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should provide proof of rent arrears and water rates to support their claim.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices to support the claim.