Tenant ordered to pay $16,214.57 for rent arrears and bond
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $16,214.57 to the landlord for rent arrears and a bond after the premises were deemed abandoned on 27 April 2026. The tenant did not attend the hearing.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears and a bond to the landlord when the premises are abandoned.
📖 What the law says
This section allows the Tenancy Tribunal to end a tenancy if the landlord applies and the Tribunal is satisfied that the tenant has left the property and owes rent. It also states that a tenant who abandons the property is still responsible for paying rent for a certain period.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and a bond to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $16,214.57 to the landlord for rent arrears and a bond after the premises were deemed abandoned on 27 April 2026. The tenant did not attend the hearing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2026] NZTT 5455658
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [COMPANY] $16,214.57 immediately, calculated as shown in table below:
Description Landlord Rent arrears (to 27 April 2026) $17,286.57 Rent in Lieu of Notice $3,300.00 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $20,614.57 Bond $4,400.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $16,214.57
2. The [COMPANY] must pay the bond of $4,400 to [COMPANY] immediately.
Reasons:
1. A representative of the landlord attended the hearing.
2. The tenants did not attend. I called each of their mobile numbers during the hearing. None of the calls were answered.
3. The landlord has applied for termination of the tenancy, rent arrears, water rates and refund of the bond.
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4. After this application was made, but before the hearing, the landlord made another application seeking termination of the tenancy for abandonment. That application was granted under the expediated process under [ID]. The Tribunal found that the premises were abandoned, and that the landlord become aware of the abandonment on 27 April 2026. The Tribunal did not make any monetary awards under [ID].
How much does the tenant owe?
5. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy. The amount ordered includes three weeks rent in lieu of notice. See s61 RTA.
6. The landlord also applied for outstanding water rates but did not provide evidence of the bills or invoices it received from the water authority. The claim for water rates is dismissed.
7. As the landlord was the successful party, I have also awarded reimbursement of the Tribunal application fee.
[NAME]
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 [NAME], 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 owed at the end of the tenancy with rent records.
- The Tribunal had already found that the premises were abandoned.
- The landlord was reimbursed for the application fee because they were the successful party.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The landlord did not provide evidence for the outstanding water rates claim.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $16,214.57 to the landlord for rent arrears and a bond.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears and a bond to the landlord after abandoning the premises.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the landlord because the premises were abandoned and the tenant did not attend the hearing.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 61 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was that the premises were abandoned and the tenant did not attend the hearing.
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 attend hearings and address any issues with their landlord promptly.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the exact evidence or documents used to determine the abandonment of the premises.