Tenant Ordered to Pay $5,955.00 for Rent Arrears and More
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that a tenant must pay a landlord $5,955.00 for rent arrears, pest control costs, and break fees. The landlord presented evidence proving the amounts owed, while the tenant did not attend the hearing.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay a landlord for rent arrears and other costs if the landlord provides sufficient proof of the amounts owed.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal awarded the landlord $5,955.00 for various claims including rent arrears and pest control costs.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $5,955.00 for rent arrears, pest control costs, break fees, and filing fee reimbursement. The landlord provided evidence of the amounts owed, and the tenant failed to attend the hearing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5017108
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] $5,955.00 immediately as set out in the table below:
Description Landlord Rent arrears $5,100.00 Pest control $253.00 Break fees $575.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $5,955.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $5,955.00
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing by telephone.
2. Each tenant was telephoned twice but did not answer.
3. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
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4. The landlord has also applied for compensation for pest control treatment at the end of the tenancy and for cost incurred in arranging the breaking of the fixed term tenancy at the tenant’s request.
5. The landlord provided evidence that the tenant has confirmed their acceptance of these charges. The Tribunal confirms that the amount charged for arranging the breaking of the fixed term tenancy are fair and reasonable.
6. [COMPANY] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
G Baker
08 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 rent records proving the amount of rent arrears.
- The tenants confirmed their acceptance of the pest control charges.
- The costs for arranging the breaking of the fixed term tenancy were considered fair and reasonable.
- The landlord successfully claimed the filing fee reimbursement.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenants did not attend the hearing or provide any counter-evidence or arguments.
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 the landlord $5,955.00 for various costs including rent arrears and pest control.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was over unpaid rent and additional costs such as pest control and break fees.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the landlord provided evidence of the amounts owed and the tenant did not attend the hearing.
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 landlord's provision of evidence showing the amounts 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 have proper documentation and attend all hearings to present their case.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment mentions rent records and evidence of the tenant's acceptance of the charges.