Tenant ordered to pay $897 for rent arrears and filing fees
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $897 for rent arrears and filing fees after the tenant did not show up for the hearing. The landlord had proof of the rent owed through rent records.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears and filing fees when they are proven in a Tenancy Tribunal hearing.
📖 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 $897 for rent arrears and filing fees after the tenant failed to attend the hearing. The Tribunal found the landlord's claim for rent arrears valid based on provided rent records.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5118689
TENANCY TRIBUNAL - Video Location
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Room 3, Unit/[ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $897.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $580.00 (6542105-002) to [COMPANY] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $1,450.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $1,477.00 Bond $580.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $897.00
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended this video hearing.
2. The tenant did not attend the hearing by Teams video link. Telephone calls were made to the tenant on the number provided at the allocated hearing time. All calls went to voicemail. The Tribunal may hear matters in the absence of a
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party where satisfied that notice of the hearing has been given. I am satisfied that notice has been given.
3. For the purposes of certainty, I record that the Tenancy Agreement entered into by the parties confirms the jurisdiction of the Tribunal (see s.8 Residential Tenancies Act 1986)
4. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent?
5. The tenancy ended on 27 December 2025. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy was $1,450.00.
6. As [COMPANY] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must order the tenant to reimburse the filing fee.
S Young
19 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 proving $1,450.00 was owed.
- The Tribunal confirmed the Tenancy Agreement giving them jurisdiction.
- The landlord requested reimbursement of the filing fee which was granted.
- The Tribunal was satisfied that proper notice was given despite the tenant's absence.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not provide any counter-evidence or attend the hearing.
- The tenant did not dispute the amount of rent arrears claimed by the landlord.
- The tenant did not contest the jurisdiction of the Tenancy Tribunal.
- The tenant did not request a rehearing or appeal the decision.
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 $897 for rent arrears and filing fees.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent arrears and the filing fee for the case.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the rent arrears and filing fee because the landlord provided proof of the rent owed.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 8 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the proof of rent arrears provided by the landlord.
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 rent arrears and attend all hearings.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records provided by the landlord mattered.