Tenant ordered to pay $693.90 for water rates and filing fee
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $693.90 for unpaid water rates and a filing fee reimbursement. The landlord provided proof of the amounts owing, and the tenant did not attend the hearing.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay the landlord for unpaid water rates and a filing fee reimbursement when the landlord provides proof of the amounts owing.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $693.90 for unpaid water rates and a filing fee reimbursement.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $693.90 for unpaid water rates and a filing fee reimbursement after the landlord provided proof of the amounts owing. Judge S Young delivered the decision on 31 March 2025.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5079428
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/[ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $693.90, calculated as shown in table below:
2. The tenant must pay the debt in order 1 at the rate of $27.00 per week.
3. The first payment must be made on Monday 7 April 2025 and payments must continue every Monday until the debt is paid in full.
4. If the tenant fails to make any payment within 2 working days of the due date, the balance of the debt owing will be payable immediately and can be enforced through the District Court.
Description Landlord Tenant Water rates $666.90 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $693.90 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $693.90
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Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing.
2. The tenant did not attend the hearing by Teams video link. A telephone call was made to the tenant on the number provided at the allocated hearing time. The call went directly to voicemail. The Tribunal may hear matters in the absence of a party where satisfied that notice of the hearing has been given. I am satisfied that notice has been given.
3. The landlord has applied for water rates arrears and has provided water rates records which prove the amount owing is $666.30.
4. As [COMPANY] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must order the tenant to reimburse the filing fee.
S Young
31 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 proof of the water rates arrears.
- The landlord successfully claimed the filing fee reimbursement.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not attend the hearing.
- The tenant did not provide any counter-evidence or defense.
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 $693.90 for unpaid water rates and a filing fee reimbursement.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid water rates and the landlord's request for a filing fee reimbursement.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the landlord provided proof of the amounts owing 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 providing proof of the amounts owing for unpaid water rates and the filing fee reimbursement.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the person who brought the case, the landlord.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they have proof of any amounts owing and attend the hearing to present their case.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence that mattered was the water rates records provided by the landlord.