Tenancy Terminated for Rent Arrears - Tenancy Tribunal Decision
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ended the tenancy of the tenant because they had not paid their rent for over 21 days. The landlord was awarded damages including unpaid rent and filing fees.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears to terminate the tenancy.
📖 What the law says
This section says that the Tenancy Tribunal must end a tenancy if a landlord applies and the rent was at least 21 days overdue when the application was made. It also allows termination if the tenant has caused or threatened significant damage to the property, or has assaulted or threatened the landlord or their family/agent/other occupiers.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The tenancy was terminated due to rent arrears.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal terminated the tenancy of the tenant due to rent arrears and awarded damages to the landlord. The decision was based on the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 55(1)(a).
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5141712 1
[2025] NZTT 5141712
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted] agents for [COMPANY]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. The tenancy of [NAME] and [NAME] at [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE] is terminated, and possession is granted to [COMPANY] acting as agents for [COMPANY], at 11:59pm on 16 March 2025.
2. [NAME] and [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] acting as agents for [COMPANY] $5,565.57 immediately, as calculated in the table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 16 March 2025 $7,578.57 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $7,605.57 Bond $2,040.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $5,565.57
3. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,040.00 (5458141-003) to [COMPANY] acting as agents for [COMPANY] immediately.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5141712 2
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing.
2. The landlord has applied for termination of the tenancy, rent arrears and refund of the bond.
3. Rent was at least 21 days in arrears on the date the application was filed. The tenancy is terminated. See section 55(1)(a) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
4. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing of $7,578.57 at the end of the tenancy, being the agreed possession date of 16 March 2025.
5. [COMPANY] acting as agents for [COMPANY] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
R Harvey-Lane 10 March 2025
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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 for the payment of less than $1000 • a final order to undertake work worth 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:
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The tenancy was terminated because the rent was at least 21 days overdue when the application was filed.
- The landlord proved the amount of rent owing with provided rent records.
- The landlord was reimbursed the filing fee because they fully succeeded with their claim.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The tenancy was terminated and the tenant was ordered to pay rent arrears and filing fees to the landlord.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's failure to pay rent on time, leading to arrears and the landlord's request to terminate the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to terminate the tenancy and order the tenant to pay the rent arrears because the tenant had not paid rent for over 21 days, as required by the Residential Tenancies Act 1s 55(1)(a).
Which laws or rules were applied?
Residential Tenancies Act 1986, s 55(1)(a)
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was that the tenant had failed to pay rent for over 21 days, which allowed the landlord to terminate the tenancy.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the landlord who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
For tenants, it means that failing to pay rent on time can lead to the termination of the tenancy and the obligation to pay outstanding rent and fees.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records provided by the landlord proved the amount of rent arrears.