Tenant ordered to pay $452.92 in water arrears to landlord
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $452.92 in water arrears to the landlord. This includes a filing fee reimbursement of $28.00. The landlord presented proof of the arrears through rent records.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay water arrears to the landlord.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay water arrears to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $452.92 in water arrears to the landlord, including a filing fee reimbursement of $28.00. The landlord proved the amount owing through rent records.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2026] NZTT 5489969
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] $452.92 immediately, being water arrears.
Description Landlord Tenant Water rates owing at 11 June 2026 $424.92 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $452.92 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $452.92
Reasons:
1. Only the landlord attended the hearing, represented by [NAME] and [NAME].
2. The landlord has applied for water arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
3. Since the date of the landlord’s application and the hearing date the tenants have paid or part paid some of the outstanding invoices but new arrears have accrued.
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4. The current amounts owing are as follows:
Invoice date Invoice Number (B&T invoice) Balance owing
February 2026 21799 $74.20
March 2026 22356 $157.48
April 2026 22903 $135.76
May 2026 (due 11 June 2026) 23460 $57.48
$424.92
5. The tenants may wish to discuss how they intend to make payment to the landlord (whether by way of lump sum payment or by a weekly payment plan).
6. Because the landlord has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
7. The landlord confirmed at the hearing that they did not seek an order for name suppression.
M Allan
18 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 proof of the amount owed through rent records.
- The landlord applied for the water arrears before the hearing.
- The landlord confirmed they did not seek an order for name suppression.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not attend the hearing to contest the 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 $452.92 in water arrears to the landlord.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid water arrears owed by the tenant to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant failed to pay the water arrears as proven by the landlord's rent records.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the presentation of rent records proving the amount of water arrears owed by the tenant.
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 their water bills to avoid facing similar consequences.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records presented by the landlord were the key evidence in this case.