Tenant ordered to pay $1,427.01 for rent arrears and filing fee
📌 In brief
In a recent Tenancy Tribunal hearing, a tenant was ordered to pay $1,427.01 for rent arrears and the filing fee after the landlord presented rent records proving the debt.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears as proven by the landlord's rent records, leading to a successful claim for $1,427.01.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $1,427.01 due to unpaid rent arrears.
📜 Headnote Official document
In a Tenancy Tribunal hearing, the tenant was ordered to pay $1,427.01 for rent arrears and the filing fee after the landlord successfully proved the debt through rent records.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5102948
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted] As Agent For [NAME]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] and [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] T/A Harcourts As Agent For [NAME] $1,427.01 immediately, being the filing fee and rent arrears to 25 February 2025.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $1,400.01 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $1,427.01 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,427.01
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing via remote teleconference. Three attempts were made to contact the tenants on the telephone numbers provided. All attempts were unsuccessful.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
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3. The landlord also provided an updated rent ledger during the hearing confirming the current rent arrears. Having sighted this evidence I am satisfied that the tenants are responsible for this debt.
4. The claim for rent arrears is proven.
5. [COMPANY] T/A Harcourts As Agent For [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME]
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 proved the amount of rent arrears by providing rent records.
- The landlord provided an updated rent ledger during the hearing, which satisfied the adjudicator that the tenants were responsible for the debt.
- The claim for rent arrears was proven.
- The landlord succeeded entirely with the claim, so the filing fee had to be reimbursed.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The tenant was ordered to pay $1,427.01 in rent arrears and filing fees.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was over unpaid rent arrears of $1,400.01 and a filing fee of $27.00.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant failed to attend the hearing and the landlord provided clear evidence of the rent arrears.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The landlord's evidence of the rent arrears and the unsuccessful attempts to contact the tenant were the most important arguments.
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 clear evidence of any debts and attend all hearings.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records and updated rent ledger provided by the landlord mattered in this case.