Tenant Evicted for Rent Arrears - Tenancy Tribunal Decision
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ended a tenancy because the tenant failed to pay rent and breached their obligations. The tenant must now move out and pay the outstanding debt.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay outstanding rent arrears and vacate the premises upon breach of their obligations.
📖 Technical summary
The tenancy was terminated due to rent arrears and the tenant's obligations were breached.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal terminated the tenancy of a tenant due to unpaid rent arrears and breach of obligations. The landlord was granted possession of the property and the tenant was ordered to pay the outstanding debt.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2026] NZTT 5488434
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT WELLINGTON | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA KI TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER BY CONSENT
1. The tenancy of Rosa Taiapa at [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE] is terminated, and possession is granted to [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME], immediately.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,700.00 (25114617) to [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] immediately.
3. Rosa Taiapa must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] $3,722.29, calculated as shown in the table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 18 June 2026 $6,394.29 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $6,422.29 Bond $2,700.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $3,722.29
4. Rosa Taiapa will pay the $3,722.29 (the debt) by weekly payments of $30.00.
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5. Payments will be every Thursday, with the first payment on 25 June 2026 and continuing until the debt is paid in full.
6. More payments can be made at any time and the tenant can increase the weekly amount at any time.
7. If the tenant fails to pay the debt within 2 working days of the due dates the balance of the debt will be payable immediately.
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing.
2. The landlord has applied for termination of the tenancy for breach of the tenant’s obligations, rent arrears and refund of the bond.
3. The parties have agreed the tenancy will end today and the tenant has moved out.
4. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
5. The parties agreed the tenant can pay the debt by weekly payments.
6. Because the landlord has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME]
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 landlord's claim for termination of the tenancy was successful.
- The parties agreed that the tenancy would end and the tenant had already moved out.
- The landlord provided records that proved the amount of rent owing at the end of the tenancy.
- The landlord was reimbursed for 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 must pay the outstanding rent arrears.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent arrears and the breach of the tenant's obligations.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to terminate the tenancy because the tenant had not paid rent and had breached their obligations.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the proof of unpaid rent arrears and the breach of the tenant's obligations.
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 might face eviction if they fail to pay rent and breach their obligations.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records provided by the landlord proved the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.