Tenant ordered to pay $6,283.61 for rent arrears and water rates
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $6,283.61 to the landlord for unpaid rent and water bills. The landlord presented proof of the amounts owed, and the tenant left the property after a gas bottle was thrown through a window.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and water rates to the landlord under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and water rates to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $6,283.61 to the landlord for rent arrears and water rates. The landlord provided rent records proving the amount owing. The tenant left the premises after a gas bottle was thrown through a window.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5153421
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 [NAME] $6,283.61 immediately, as set out below.
2. The [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $2,640.00 (5246027-011) to [NAME] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 20/2/2025 $8,825.69 Water rates $70.92 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $8,923.61 Bond $2,640.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $6,283.61
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing.
2. The landlord has applied for rent and water arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
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3. By agreement the rent is calculated only until the date a gas bottle was thrown through a window into the house. The tenants left the premises that night and have not returned. The landlord agreed only to charge the rent until that day which is a fair outcome. The final inspection was done on 2/3/2025.
4. [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim, I must reimburse the filing fee. A further claim is likely to follow for damage (other than that caused by the gas bottle). That will be processed and considered in due course.
J Maher
03 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 provided rent records proving the amount owed.
- The tenants left the premises after a gas bottle was thrown through a window.
- The landlord agreed to only charge rent until the incident date, which was seen as fair.
- The filing fee was reimbursed to the landlord.
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 $6,283.61 to the landlord for rent arrears and water rates.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was over unpaid rent and water bills.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant had left the premises without paying the rent and water bills.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The landlord's presentation of rent records proving the amount owing was the most important argument.
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 pay all rent and utility bills before leaving a rental property.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records provided by the landlord mattered in the decision.