Tenant ordered to pay $12,289.93 for rent arrears and damages
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $12,289.93 to the landlord, which includes rent arrears and damages incurred during the tenancy. The tenant agreed with the amounts claimed and calculations made by the landlord.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and compensate for damages incurred during the tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and damages.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $12,289.93 to the landlord, including rent arrears and damages incurred during the tenancy. The tenant agreed with the amounts claimed and calculations made by the landlord.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5100293
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT HAMILTON | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA KI KIRIKIRIROA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $12,289.93 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $210.00 (3907900-004) to Kāinga Ora– Homes and Communities immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $10,232.43 Damages during the tenancy $509.00 Repairs: walls in bedroom- patch $48.71 Repairs: walls in bedroom-stopped $22.93 Replace door $276.48 Door hardware $108.54 Replace oven tray $63.08 Cleaning: cupboards $112.34 Cleaning: rangehood $57.25 Rubbish removal: external $902.66 Rubbish removal: internal $166.51 Total award $12,499.93 Bond $210.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $12,289.93
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Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing by telephone conference.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and compensation following the end of the tenancy.
3. The tenant said that she agreed with the amounts claimed and calculations made by the applicant.
4. The landlord read the itemised account to the tenant, and it was confirmed again that she agreed with what was being sought and the amounts claimed in compensation.
5. The amounts are awarded as claimed and the bond is refunded to the landlord.
T Harris
20 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 tenant agreed with the amounts claimed by the landlord.
- The landlord provided an itemized account detailing the rent arrears and damages.
- The total amount to be paid by the tenant includes both rent arrears and compensation for damages.
- The tribunal confirmed the agreement between the landlord and tenant on the amounts owed.
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 $12,289.93 to the landlord, including rent arrears and damages.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears and compensating for damages during the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the specified amount because the tenant agreed with the amounts claimed and calculations made by the landlord.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the agreement between the tenant and the landlord regarding the amounts owed.
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 agreements with their landlord regarding rent payments and damages.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents that were considered.