Tenant Ordered to Pay $682 in Rent Arrears
📌 In brief
During a remote hearing, the Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $682 in overdue rent to the landlord. The decision was based on the landlord's rent records and an updated rent ledger presented during the hearing.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears to the landlord if the amount is proven by rent records.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
In a Tenancy Tribunal hearing held remotely, the tenant was ordered to pay $682 in rent arrears to the landlord based on proven rent records and an updated rent ledger.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5122896
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay Visions Of A Helping Hand Charitable Trust $682.00 for rent arrears immediately, calculated as shown in table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears as at 27.2.25 $655.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $682.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $682.00
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing by remote teleconference.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
3. The landlord also provided an updated rent ledger during the hearing. The ledger highlighted a rent increase from January 2025 which the tenant stated she was not aware of.
4. Based on the landlord’s updated rent ledger I am satisfied that the amount claimed is owed by the tenant.
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5. The claim for rent arrears is proven.
6. Because Visions Of A Helping Hand Charitable Trust has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME]
27 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 landlord provided rent records that proved the amount of rent arrears owed.
- The landlord submitted an updated rent ledger during the hearing.
- The Tribunal was satisfied that the amount claimed was owed by the tenant based on the updated rent ledger.
- The landlord fully succeeded with the claim for rent arrears.
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 $682 in rent arrears to the landlord.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was over unpaid rent arrears.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the rent arrears because the landlord's rent records proved the amount owing.
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 proof of the rent arrears through the landlord's rent records.
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 accurate and up-to-date rent records to prove their case.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records and an updated rent ledger mattered in proving the amount of rent arrears.