Tenant ordered to pay $6,315 for rent arrears and filing fee
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $6,315 to the landlord for rent arrears and filing fee reimbursement following the end of the tenancy. The landlord provided rent records proving the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and the filing fee if the landlord succeeds in their claim.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and a filing fee.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $6,315 to the landlord for rent arrears and filing fee reimbursement following the end of the tenancy. The landlord provided rent records proving the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5067288 1
[2025] NZTT 5067288
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT [Event location suppressed]
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [Tenancy address suppressed]
ORDER
1. An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the landlord’s name and identifying details.
2. [NAME] must pay [The landlord/s] $6,315.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 17/10/2024 $6,288.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $6,315.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $6,315.00
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the teleconference hearing. The tenant did not.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
3. The tenancy ended on 17 October 2024. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
4. I order the tenant to pay the landlord $6,288.00 as rent arrears.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5067288 2
5. Further to that, because the landlord has wholly succeeded with the claim, the tenant must also reimburse the filing fee.
J Yi 27 March 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5067288 3
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.
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].
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/
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 tenancy ended on 17 October 2024, and the landlord requested payment of rent arrears.
- The landlord successfully claimed for reimbursement of the filing fee since they wholly succeeded with the claim.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not attend the teleconference hearing.
- The tenant did not provide any evidence or counter-arguments to dispute the rent arrears or the filing fee.
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 $6,315 to the landlord for rent arrears and filing fee reimbursement.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears and the landlord seeking reimbursement of the filing fee.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the landlord $6,315, including rent arrears and the filing fee, because the landlord provided proof of the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
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 rent records proving the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
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 proof of any rent arrears and filing fees to present to the Tenancy Tribunal.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records provided by the landlord mattered in this case.