Tenant Ordered to Pay $5,200 in Rent Arrears
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $5,200 in rent arrears to the landlord after the tenant failed to move out of the premises as agreed in the lease agreement.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears to the landlord if they fail to vacate the premises as agreed.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $5,200 in rent arrears to the landlord after the tenant failed to vacate the premises as agreed in the lease agreement.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5140928
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/[ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [NAME] As Trustee For [COMPANY] $5,200.00 immediately, being rent arrears to 5 March 2025.
Reasons:
1. The Landlord attended the hearing. The Tenant did not answer.
2. The Tenant was supposed to leave the premises in early February but stayed on leaving 5 March 2025.
3. The Landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
[NAME]
07 March 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 attended the hearing, which allowed their case to be heard.
- The tenant failed to vacate the premises as agreed, staying beyond the early February date.
- The landlord provided rent records that proved the amount of rent owing.
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 $5,200 in rent arrears to the landlord.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's failure to vacate the premises as agreed in the lease agreement.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the landlord $5,200 in rent arrears because the tenant did not leave the premises as agreed.
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 that the tenant did not leave the premises as agreed, leading to rent arrears.
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 comply with their lease agreement to avoid facing similar consequences.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment mentions rent records provided by the landlord as evidence of the rent arrears.