Tenancy Tribunal Orders Tenant to Pay Arrears and Rates
📌 In brief
In this case, the Tenancy Tribunal ruled that a tenant must repay rent arrears, water rates, and the filing fee or face termination of their tenancy agreement. Judge Greene made this decision based on the tenant's failure to meet payment deadlines.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must comply with payment obligations or face termination of tenancy.
📖 What the law says
This section allows the Tenancy Tribunal to make various orders, including declarations about rights or obligations, or orders for one party to pay money to another. In this case, it would allow the Tribunal to order the tenant to pay rent arrears and other fees.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay arrears, water rates and a filing fee.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered a tenant to pay rent arrears, water rates, and the filing fee. The decision was based on the tenant's failure to comply with payment obligations within the required timeframe.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
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[2026] NZTT 5500654
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [RESPONDENT] owes [COMPANY] as agent for [COMPANY] $3,875.00 comprising rent arrears to 4 June 2026 of $610.00, $3,237.00 for water rates and $28.00 for the Tribunal filing fee (“the debt”).
2. [RESPONDENT] must pay rent and the debt as follows:
a. By weekly payments of $850.00, being $750.00 for rent and $100.00 for the debt.
b. Payments will be every Tuesday , with the first payment on 9 June 2026 and continuing until the debt is paid in full.
3. Payments will be allocated in the following order: rent, rent arrears, water rates, and the filing fee.
4. If the tenant fails to pay rent and rent arrears within 2 working days of the due dates:
a. The tenancy at [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE] will terminate and the landlord will have immediate possession of the premises.
b. The balance of the debt will be payable immediately.
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5. If the tenant fails to pay the water rates and the filing fee within 2 working days of the due date, the amount outstanding for water rates and the filing fee will be payable immediately.
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing which I conducted by phone.
2. The landlord has applied for termination of the tenancy, rent arrears, water rates and refund of the bond. The tenant accepted the amounts owing for rent arrears and for water rates.
3. The tenant wants to repay the debt to avoid immediate termination.
Should a conditional termination order be made?
4. The Tribunal may terminate a tenancy for breach where, due to the nature or extent of the breach, it would be inequitable to refuse to terminate. Where the breach is capable of remedy the landlord must first serve a notice on the tenant requiring them to remedy the breach within at least 14 days and establish that the tenant has failed to do so. See section 56(1) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
5. The tenant breached her obligations by failing to pay rent and outgoings (water rates) on time. The landlord served a 14-day notice on the tenant, but the breach was not remedied within the required period. It would be inequitable to refuse to terminate the tenancy.
6. Despite my finding that it would be inequitable to refuse to terminate the tenancy, having heard the evidence I am satisfied the tenant will pay the debt within the period specified in the order and is unlikely to commit any further breach. I have granted a conditional termination. See section 78(3) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
7. The conditional termination order will lapse if it is fully complied with. If the tenant breaches the order, the possession order is enforceable for 90 days from the first breach. See section 64(4)(b) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
[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 Tenant’s Tenancy Terminated Due to Rent Arrears
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenancy Terminated Due to Tenant’s Absence at Hearing
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenants Ordered to Pay $2,186.94 for Rent Arrears and Costs
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenancy Tribunal Ends Lease for Unpaid Rent
- Tenancy Tribunal Tribunal Orders Tenant to Clean Property or Face Penalties
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenants Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Fees
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Filing Fees in Tenancy Dispute
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenancy Terminated Due to Abandonment and Rent Arrears
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
- Tenant fails to pay rent for at least 21 days.
- Tenant fails to attend a scheduled hearing without evidence of previous hearing or settlement.
- Tenant fails to comply with correctly served notices of rent increases.
- Tenant must pay outstanding rent arrears and any applicable filing fees when found liable in a Tenancy Tribunal hearing.
- Tenant is liable for rent arrears that are at least 21 days overdue upon filing of a termination application.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- Tenant fails to attend a scheduled hearing to prove their claim.
- Fixed-term tenancy does not include a longer term as explicitly agreed in writing, tenant is not entitled to compensation.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered a tenant to pay rent arrears, water rates, and a filing fee.
Who was involved?
A landlord and a tenant were involved in the dispute.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must comply with payment obligations or face termination of tenancy due to non-compliance.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 sections 54 and 78(3) were applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The tenant's failure to pay rent and water rates on time was the central issue.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was against the tenant.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone facing similar issues should ensure they meet payment deadlines to avoid termination of their tenancy agreement.
What evidence or documents mattered?
No specific evidence is mentioned, but compliance with payment obligations was the key issue.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Yes, both parties can appeal within 10 working days using the appropriate form.
Is it worth getting a lawyer for a case like this?
It is advisable to seek legal advice from a qualified lawyer for specific guidance.
