Tenancy Tribunal Orders Rent Arrears Payment
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that tenants must pay $7,925.66 to their landlord, covering rent arrears and water rates. This decision was based on the landlord providing clear records and invoices proving the amounts due.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and water rates when they are proven by the landlord's records.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenants to pay rent arrears and water rates.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenants to pay $7,925.66 to the landlord, including rent arrears and water rates, after the landlord proved these amounts through records and invoices. Judge S Young presided over the case.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5096115
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA KI
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] and [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] $4,825.66 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $3,100.00 (5872396-003) to [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $7,778.57 Water rates $120.09 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $7,925.66 Bond $3,100.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $4,825.66
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended this remote hearing.
2. The tenants did not attend the hearing by Teams video link. Telephone calls were made to the tenants on the numbers provided at the allocated hearing time. Calls to the tenant [NAME] went to voicemail. The call to the tenant [NAME] was answered. The tenant indicated that he could not attend
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the hearing and the call was ended. The Tribunal may hear matters in the absence of a party where satisfied that notice of the hearing has been given. I am satisfied that notice was given.
3. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent and water rates?
4. The tenancy ended on 4 February 2025. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy was $7,778.57 for rent and $120.09 for water rates.
5. As [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must order the tenants to reimburse the filing fee.
S Young
26 February 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 landlord provided rent records proving the amount of rent arrears.
- The landlord presented water rates invoices showing the amount of water rates due.
- The landlord applied for the refund of the bond and reimbursement of the filing fee after the tenancy ended.
- The tenants did not attend the hearing, and the Tribunal proceeded without them after confirming proper notice was given.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenants did not provide any counter-evidence or arguments to dispute the amounts claimed by the landlord.
- The tenants did not contest the landlord’s proof of rent arrears and water rates through their records and invoices.
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 tenants to pay $7,925.66 to the landlord, including rent arrears and water rates.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent and water rates during the tenancy period.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the landlord provided proof of the amounts owed through records and invoices.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the landlord's provision of detailed records and invoices proving the amounts owed.
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?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they have proof of all payments and charges to avoid such disputes.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence that mattered was the landlord's records and invoices showing the rent arrears and water rates.