Tenant ordered to pay $11,848.68 in rent arrears and water rates in Auckland
📌 In brief
In this case, the claimant, acting as landlord, won a judgment against the tenant who did not show up for their court date. As a result, the tenancy was terminated and the tenant must pay rent arrears of $11,250.00 minus the bond refund of $3,000.00.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant's failure to attend a hearing can result in an order terminating their tenancy and awarding rent arrears to the landlord.
📖 Technical summary
The claimant successfully terminated the tenancy and obtained a money judgment for arrears.
📜 Headnote Official document
The claimant, as landlord, successfully terminated a tenancy and obtained an order for rent arrears after the tenant failed to attend the hearing. The Tenancy Tribunal granted possession of the property and ordered payment of $8,848.68.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
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[2026] NZTT 5480849
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. The tenancy of [RESPONDENT] at [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE] is terminated, and possession is granted to [COMPANY] As Agent For [COUNSEL], at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 17 June 2026.
2. The [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $3,000.00 (BN-10085327) to [RESPONDENT] As Agent For [COUNSEL] immediately.
3. [RESPONDENT] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [COUNSEL] $8,848.68 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $11,250.00 Water rates $570.68 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $11,848.68 Bond refund - $3,000.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $8,848.68
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing via videoconference. The tenant did not.
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2. The tenant was called on his phone number ending 2506 twice but it went to voicemail both times.
3. The landlord has applied for termination of the tenancy, rent and water arrears and refund of the bond.
4. Rent was at least 21 days in arrears on the date the application was filed. The tenancy is terminated, and possession is granted to the landlord at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 17 June 2026.
5. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy. I order the tenant to pay the landlord $11,250.00 for rent arrears to 17 June 2026.
6. Further to that, I order the tenant to pay the landlord $570.68 for water rates arrears.
7. Finally, because the landlord has wholly succeeded with the claim, the tenant must also reimburse the filing fee.
8. The bond of $3,000.00 held at the [COMPANY] will be paid to the landlord to offset the amount payable by the tenant to the landlord.
[NAME]
04 June 2026
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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/
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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:
📊 How courts decide similar cases
Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:
- Tenancy Tribunal Tribunal grants conditional termination for $3,875 debt in Auckland
- Tenancy Tribunal Tribunal Terminates Tenancy for Rent Arrears Over 21 Days
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant Ordered to Clean Overgrown Property in Auckland
- Tenancy Tribunal Landlord wins $1,485.00 rent arrears claim in Tenancy Tribunal
- Tenancy Tribunal Tribunal Terminates Tenancy for Auckland Tenant Due to $10,125 Rent Arrears
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant ordered to pay $2,186.94 for rent arrears and damages in Auckland
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant Ordered to Pay $3,152.81 in Rent Arrears and Application Fee in Auck…
- Tenancy Tribunal Tribunal Ends Tenancy Over Abandonment and Rent Arrears in Auckland
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant Ordered to Pay $3,213.39 for Rent Arrears and Pest Control Costs in …
A snapshot of this collection — not a prediction of your case's outcome.
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- A tenant's failure to pay rent for at least 21 days entitles the landlord to terminate the tenancy under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- A tenant must attend a scheduled hearing to prove their claim.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal granted possession to the landlord and ordered the tenant to pay $8,848.68, including rent arrears and water rates.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was over unpaid rent arrears and water rates totaling $11,848.68.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant failed to pay the rent arrears and water rates as required by the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the proof of rent arrears and water rates provided by the landlord.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was against the tenant who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they pay their rent and utility bills on time to avoid such legal action.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records and proof of arrears provided by the landlord mattered.
