Tenant Agrees to Pay Rent Arrears in Installments with Termination Conditions
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay rent arrears in instalments, with specific conditions for termination if payments are missed. This decision was based on the agreement between the landlord and tenant.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears in instalments as agreed by both parties.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears in instalments, with termination conditions if payments are missed.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears in instalments, with specific conditions for termination if payments are missed. The decision was based on the agreement between the landlord and tenant.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2026] NZTT 5511871
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. By consent, [NAME] owes [COMPANY] $1,527.43 (“the debt”).
2. By consent, [NAME] must pay rent and the debt as follows:
a. By 30 weekly payments of $212.00, being $162.00 for rent and $50.00 for the debt.
b. A final payment of $189.43, being $162.00 for rent and $27.43 for the debt.
c. Payments will be every Wednesday, with the first payment on 24/06/2026 and continuing until 20/01/2027.
3. Payments will be allocated in the following order: rent, rent arrears.
4. By consent if the tenant fails to pay rent and rent arrears within 5 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. By consent should the weekly rent amount change in Order 2(a), the Tenant shall ensure they pay the correct amount and continue with the payment instalments of the debt.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $1,527.43 Total award $1,527.43 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,527.43
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing.
2. The landlord has applied for termination of the tenancy and rent arrears. The tenant wants to repay the debt to avoid immediate termination.
3. The parties have agreed that the Tenant shall pay the Landlord the amount of rent arrears claimed, in instalments. The parties have also agreed that should the Tenant fail to pay the rent owing and rent arrears when it is due, the tenancy shall be terminated and possession granted to the Landlord.
A Aiolupotea
18 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:
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The tenant agreed to pay the rent arrears in instalments.
- Both parties consented to a structured payment plan.
- The agreement includes a final lump sum payment to cover remaining arrears.
- The landlord and tenant agreed on the consequences of non-payment.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The decision ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears in instalments, with specific conditions for termination if payments are missed.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's unpaid rent arrears and the conditions under which the tenant would pay these arrears.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided based on the agreement between the landlord and tenant, ordering the tenant to pay the rent arrears in instalments with specific conditions for termination.
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 agreement between the landlord and tenant to pay the rent arrears in instalments with specific conditions for termination.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the landlord, as the tenant agreed to pay the rent arrears in instalments with specific conditions for termination.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
For someone in a similar situation, agreeing to a payment plan with specific conditions for termination can help resolve disputes over unpaid rent arrears.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify any particular evidence or documents that were considered.