Tenant ordered to pay $15,020 in rent arrears and other charges
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenants must pay $15,020 in rent arrears and other charges after the tenancy was terminated for non-payment of rent.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and other outstanding charges when the tenancy agreement is terminated due to non-payment.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal granted possession to the landlord and ordered the tenants to pay rent arrears and other charges.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal granted possession to the landlord and ordered the tenants to pay $15,020 in rent arrears and other charges after the tenancy was terminated for non-payment of rent.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2026] NZTT 5466173
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted] [COMPANY]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. The tenancy of [NAME] and [NAME] at [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE] is terminated, and possession is granted to [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] For [COMPANY], at 11.59pm,Thursday 18 June 2026.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $3,600.00 (BN-25110821) to [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] For [COMPANY] immediately.
3. [NAME] and [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] For [COMPANY] $15,020.10 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 16 June 2026 $18,385.71 Water rates $206.39 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $18,620.10 Bond $3,600.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $15,020.10
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Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing by video. The tenants were called on the phone number provided in the application form. No one answered and the hearing continued in their absence.
2. The landlord has applied for termination, rent arrears, outgoings, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
3. The tenancy agreement recorded the landlord as [COMPANY]. The application recorded the landlord and applicant as [COMPANY].
4. The landlord said that they took over management of the premises on 16 November 2025 and were unable to access the rent records held by the previous property manager.
5. A management authority was provided establishing that the premises are now managed by [COMPANY].
How much is owed for rent and water rates?
6. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the date of the hearing.
7. Watercare invoices for April 2026 and May 2026 were provided.
8. Rent was at least 21 days in arrears on the date the application was filed. The tenancy is terminated. See section 55(1)(a) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
9. [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] For [COMPANY] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
T Harris
16 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 provided rent records and water rates invoices proving the amount owed.
- The rent was at least 21 days in arrears when the application was filed.
- The landlord successfully applied for termination of the tenancy due to non-payment.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenants did not attend the hearing and thus could not present their arguments.
- There were no specific arguments presented by the tenants that were considered by the court.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal granted possession to the landlord and ordered the tenants to pay $15,020 in rent arrears and other charges.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent and other charges owed by the tenants.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenants failed to pay rent and other charges as required by the tenancy agreement.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, specifically section 54, was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the failure of the tenants to pay rent and other charges as required by the tenancy agreement.
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 pay rent and other charges as required by their tenancy agreement to avoid termination of their tenancy.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records and water rates invoices provided by the landlord mattered in proving the amount owing at the date of the hearing.