Tenant ordered to pay $227.31 debt and rent
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay a total debt of $227.31 to the landlord, including water rates and a filing fee. This ruling was made during a hearing where both parties agreed to resolve the claims by consent.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay outstanding debts, including utility arrears and administrative fees, to the landlord.
📖 Technical summary
The claimant successfully recovered a debt from the tenant, including water rates and a filing fee reimbursement.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay a debt of $227.31, which includes water rates and a filing fee reimbursement, to the landlord by a lump sum payment on April 29, 2025. The tenant's name and identifying details were suppressed by the court.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5222455 1
[2025] NZTT 5222455
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT [Event location suppressed]
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [Tenancy address suppressed]
ORDER
1. An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Tenant name and identifying details.
2. [The tenant/s] owes [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] Trustee For [COMPANY] $227.31 (“the debt”) as set out in the table:
Description Landlord Tenant Water rates: 6 December 2024 - 12 March 2025 $200.31 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $227.31 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $227.31
3. BY CONSENT - [The tenant/s] must pay the fortnightly rent and $227.31 by a lump sum payment on Tuesday 29 April 2025.
4. That payment will be allocated in the following order: current rent, water rates arrears, and the filing fee.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5222455 2
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing.
2. The claim for rent arrears was withdrawn.
3. The claim for water rates was resolved by consent.
4. Because the landlord has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
5. The tenants’ application for suppression is allowed because matters have been resolved by consent.
[NAME] 15 April 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5222455 3
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.
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].
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/
Reasons:
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The tenant agreed to pay the outstanding water rates.
- The landlord was reimbursed the filing fee because they won the claim.
- The tenant's request to keep their identifying details private was granted.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The decision ordered the tenant to pay a debt of $227.31 to the landlord, including water rates and a filing fee reimbursement.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing the landlord $227.31, which included water rates and a filing fee.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided by consent, ordering the tenant to pay the debt by a lump sum payment on April 29, 2025, to cover the water rates and filing fee.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the agreement between the landlord and tenant to resolve the debt by consent.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the landlord, as the tenant was ordered to pay the debt.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
For someone in a similar situation, reaching an agreement with the landlord to resolve the debt may lead to a similar court order.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents that mattered.