Tenant ordered to pay $6,185 for rent arrears and damages
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $6,185 to the landlord for unpaid rent and damages. This includes cleaning costs and repair expenses for the rental property.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and compensate the landlord for damages and cleaning costs.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and compensation to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $6,185 to the landlord for rent arrears and damages, including cleaning and repairs. The tenant did not oppose the amounts sought by the landlord.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 4955854
TENANCY TRIBUNAL - North Shore | Ōkahukura
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] and [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $6,185.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $2,720.00 (5098176-005) to [COMPANY] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 30/07/2024 $7,610.00 Cleaning $368.00 Repairs: carpet $500.00 Repairs: holes in the walls $400.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $8,905.00 Minus bond - $2,720.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $6,185.00
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing on 13th February 2025.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
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3. The landlord had applied for exemplary damages but it was withdrawn at the hearing.
4. The landlord had also sought for power arrears but as they were not exclusively attributable to the tenant’s occupation of the premises or to the tenant’s use of the facilities, the power arrears was not granted.
5. The tenant did not oppose the amounts sought by the landlord.
6. Accordingly, I order the tenant to pay the landlord as per above.
J Yi
16 February 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 tenant must pay $6,185.00 for rent arrears.
- The tenant must pay $368.00 for cleaning costs.
- The tenant must pay $500.00 for carpet repairs.
- The tenant must pay $400.00 for wall repairs.
- The tenant must pay $27.00 to reimburse the filing fee.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not have to pay for power arrears since they were not solely due to the tenant's use of the facilities.
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 $6,185 to the landlord for rent arrears and damages.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent and damages to the rental property.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant did not oppose the amounts sought for rent arrears and damages.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The fact that the tenant did not oppose the landlord's claims was the central reasoning.
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 all rent and damages to avoid facing similar penalties.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents used.