Tenant Ordered to Pay $2,667.56 for Rent Arrears and Water Rates
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $2,667.56 for rent arrears and water rates as of 20 March 2025. The landlord successfully claimed these amounts under their tenancy agreement.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and water rates as per the tenancy agreement.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and water rates.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $2,667.56 for rent arrears and water rates as of 20 March 2025. The landlord successfully claimed these amounts under their tenancy agreement.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5165554
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] $2,667.56 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,480.00 (BN-00020878) to [COMPANY] As Agent For [COMPANY] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears as at 20 March 2025 $4,960.00 Water rates as at 20 March 2025 $160.56 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $5,147.56 Bond $2,480.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $2,667.56
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Reasons:
1. This application was scheduled to be heard by video conference. The tenant did not link to the Teams link provided to him and both calls I made to his phone went to voicemail. The hearing proceeded in his absence.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, water rates, payment of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent and water rates?
3. The tenant signed a fixed term tenancy that was due to expire on 20 December 2025. However on 9 February 2025 the tenant sent an email to the landlord advising that he had returned to his country.
4. The tenant is required to pay rent up until the end of the fixed term or until a new tenancy has started at the premises, whichever is the earlier. I accept the evidence that a new tenancy started on 21 March 2025 and so the tenant is required to pay rent until 20 March 2025.
5. The rent record shows that as at 20 March 2025 $4,960.00 is owing in rent arrears.
6. I also accept the evidence that there is $160.56 owing in water rates.
Filing fee reimbursement
7. The landlord was wholly successful in the claim and so the tenant is required to reimburse them the filing fee.
[NAME]
27 May 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 signed a fixed-term tenancy agreement and is required to pay rent until the end of the fixed term.
- The landlord provided evidence showing the amount of rent arrears as of 20 March 2025.
- The landlord also provided evidence showing the amount of water rates owed as of 20 March 2025.
- The landlord was successful in the claim and the tenant is required to reimburse the filing fee.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not attend the hearing and provide their side of the story.
- The tenant did not provide any counter-evidence to dispute the amounts claimed by the landlord.
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 $2,667.56 for rent arrears and water rates.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's obligation to pay rent arrears and water rates under the tenancy agreement.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the landlord $2,667.56 for rent arrears and water rates because the tenant failed to pay these amounts as agreed.
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 that the tenant was obligated to pay rent arrears and water rates as per the tenancy agreement.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the landlord.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they meet their financial obligations under their tenancy agreement to avoid such orders.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence included the tenancy agreement, rent records, and water rate statements.