Tenant ordered to pay $425.16 for rent arrears and water rates
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $425.16 to the landlord for rent arrears and water rates. The tenant did not attend the hearing, and the Tribunal found that the tenant received notice of the hearing.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is liable for rent arrears and other charges until the end of the tenancy, as evidenced by the rent records and invoices provided by the landlord.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal awarded the landlord $425.16 for rent arrears and other charges following the end of the tenancy.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $425.16 to the landlord for rent arrears and water rates. The tenant did not attend the hearing, and the Tribunal found that the tenant received notice of the hearing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5162151
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] and [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] $425.16 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,980.00 (3484825-005) to [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 22 January 2025 $3,140.00 Water rates $238.16 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $3,405.16 Bond $2,980.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $425.16
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the telephone hearing. There was no attendance by the tenants. The Tribunal telephoned the tenants on the numbers provided for them in the application, but the calls disconnected. I am satisfied that the tenants received notice of the hearing and did not attend.
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2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, water rates, refund 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 tenants gave notice that they were vacating the tenancy on 28 December 2024. The tenants are liable for 28 days rent in lieu of notice. The landlord therefore seeks rent owed to 22 January 2025. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amounts owing at the end of the tenancy.
4. As the landlord has succeeded with the application they are entitled to reimbursement of the filing fee.
[NAME]
12 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 landlord provided proof of rent arrears and water rates.
- The tenants did not attend the hearing despite receiving notice.
- The landlord submitted rent records and water rates invoices as evidence.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenants did not provide any counter-evidence or explanation.
- The tenants did not respond to the tribunal's attempts to contact them.
- The tenants did not refute the landlord's claims during the hearing.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal awarded the landlord $425.16 for rent arrears and other charges.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was over unpaid rent arrears and other charges such as water rates and bond repayment.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant failed to attend the hearing and the landlord provided proof of the amounts owing.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The landlord's presentation of rent records and water rates invoices proved the amounts owing at the end of the tenancy.
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 have proper documentation to support their claims and attend all hearings.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment mentions rent records and water rates invoices as the evidence that mattered.