Tenant Ordered to Pay $743.02 for Rent Arrears and Compensation
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that a tenant must pay $743.02 to the landlord for unpaid rent and reasonable compensation charges, such as access fees and new key costs, based on the landlord's evidence.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and reasonable compensation charges to the landlord.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and compensation charges.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $743.02 for rent arrears and compensation charges, including access fees and new key costs, after the landlord provided proof of the amounts owing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5017609
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $743.02 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 18.9.2024, adjusted for payments by tenant since end of tenancy Compensation – access and new keys charges during tenancy
$627.00
$116.02
Total award $743.02 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $743.02
Reasons:
1. [NAME], representing the landlord, attended the teleconference hearing. The phone number for the tenant, the last three digits being 047, was called twice. Both calls went to voicemail. As the tenant was served, the hearing proceeded in her absence.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and compensation following the end of the tenancy.
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How much is owed for rent?
3. The tenancy ended on 18 September 2024, according to the landlord. The landlord has provided rent records which prove the amount owing to 18 September 2024, the end of the tenancy, adjusted downwards for weekly payments made since by the tenant up to the date of hearing on 18 March 2025, is $627.00.
Compensation
4. The landlord claimed that the tenant incurred two charges during her tenancy, which she has not paid the landlord. The first charge is for $32.02 when the tenant could not get into her property and had locked her keys inside and had to have access arranged by the landlord on 2 December 2021. The second charge is for new keys for the front and back doors, which had to be made when the tenant was locked out on 19 December 2023, which cost the landlord $226.98, but for which the landlord is only charging the tenant $84.00. Therefore, the total charges for the two incidents during the tenancy, which I find to be reasonable charges given the evidence is $116.02. The landlord provided documents confirming these charges. I award this to the landlord for providing access to the property and for having new keys made for the tenant, both incidents that happened during the tenancy.
5. The amounts ordered are proved.
[NAME]
18 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 tenant owes $627.00 for rent arrears.
- The landlord charged $116.02 for reasonable compensation charges related to access and new keys.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant's failure to attend the hearing did not affect the ruling.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The decision ordered the tenant to pay $743.02 to the landlord for rent arrears and compensation charges.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears and compensation charges to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the specified amount because the landlord provided sufficient evidence of the rent arrears and compensation charges.
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 evidence showing the amount of rent arrears and compensation charges.
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 proper documentation to support their claims regarding rent arrears and compensation charges.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment mentions rent records and documents confirming the charges as the key evidence.