Tenant Agrees to Pay Rent Arrears and Compensation
📌 In brief
In this Tenancy Tribunal case, a consent order was reached where the tenants agreed to pay rent arrears and compensate for damages, including bond repayment and minor claims, as per the agreement between the landlord and tenants.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and compensate for damages as agreed in a consent order.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal approved a consent order settling disputes over rent arrears, bond repayment, and minor claims.
📜 Headnote Official document
In a Tenancy Tribunal case, a consent order was approved where the tenants agreed to pay rent arrears and compensate for damages, including bond repayment and minor claims, as per the agreement between the landlord and tenants.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5127728
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENTS: [redacted]
Tenants
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
CONSENT ORDER
1. [NAME] and [NAME] owe [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] $4,800.00 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to the end of the tenancy $1,397.00 Water rates: to end of the tenancy $361.00 Cleaning/Rubbish/Locks/Repairs (as agreed) $3,015.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $4,800.00 Bond $4,800.00
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $4,800.00 (5508323-004) to [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] immediately.
Reasons:
1. This Order is made by the consent of the parties, as notified to the Tribunal via email on 24 March 2025, and confirmed by both parties again today via email.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
3. The landlord has agreed to waive its $550.00 claim for damages to the curtains and the curtain rail, as it is satisfied with the tenants’ explanation that these
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furnishings were stolen by someone else, not taken by them. The tenants have agreed that they owe $3,015.00 for cleaning, rubbish removal, lock replacement and repairs to a cupboard.
4. The landlord has agreed to waive $0.74 of the water rates charges. As such the water rates owing are recorded in this Order as $361.00.
5. [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] has substantially succeeded with the claim, the parties have consented to the Tribunal reimbursing the filing fee.
[NAME]
25 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 tenants agreed to pay $1,397.00 for rent arrears.
- The tenants agreed to pay $361.00 for water rates.
- The tenants agreed to pay $3,015.00 for cleaning, rubbish removal, lock replacement, and repairs.
- The landlord waived their claim for $550.00 in damages to the curtains and curtain rail.
- The landlord agreed to reimburse the filing fee of $27.00.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenants' argument to avoid paying for water rates was unsuccessful.
- The tenants' attempt to avoid paying for cleaning and repairs was unsuccessful.
- The tenants' argument to avoid paying for rent arrears was unsuccessful.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal approved a consent order where the tenants agreed to pay rent arrears and compensate for damages, including bond repayment and minor claims.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about rent arrears, bond repayment, and minor claims such as water rates and cleaning costs.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided according to the consent order agreed upon by the landlord and tenants, which resolved the disputes amicably.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the mutual agreement between the landlord and tenants to settle the disputes through a consent order.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the landlord, as the tenants agreed to pay rent arrears and compensate for damages.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
For someone in a similar situation, reaching a consent order can resolve disputes efficiently without going through a full trial.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify any particular evidence or documents that were considered.