Tenant Ordered to Pay $9,228 in Rent Arrears and Bond Refund
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $9,228 in rent arrears and refund the bond of $104. This decision was based on the landlord providing clear evidence of the debt through rent records and an updated rent ledger.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and refund the bond upon termination of the tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and bond refund.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $9,228 in rent arrears and refund the bond of $104 following the end of the tenancy. The landlord provided proof of the debt through rent records and an updated rent ledger.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5126896
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $9,228.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $104.00 (5720967-005) to Kāinga Ora– Homes And Communities immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $9,332.00 Total award $9,332.00 Bond $104.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $9,228.00
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing via remote teleconference. An attempt to contact the tenant on the telephone number provided with the application was unsuccessful.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and refund of the bond following the end of the tenancy.
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How much is owed for rent?
3. The tenancy ended on 7 March 2025. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy. The landlord also provided an updated rent ledger confirming the current arrears. Having sighted this evidence I am satisfied that the tenant is responsible for this debt.
4. The claim for rent arrears is proven.
5. The landlord does not seek reimbursement of the filing fee.
M Manhire
10 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 rent records proving the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
- The landlord also provided an updated rent ledger confirming the current arrears.
- The tenant could not be contacted during the hearing, so their side of the story was not heard.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not provide any evidence or explanation for the rent arrears.
- The tenant did not dispute the amount of rent arrears claimed by the landlord.
- The tenant did not request a rehearing or an appeal to challenge 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 $9,228 in rent arrears and refund the bond of $104.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's responsibility to pay outstanding rent and return the bond after the tenancy ended.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the landlord provided clear evidence of the rent arrears through rent records and an updated rent ledger.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the landlord's provision of clear evidence of the rent arrears through rent records and an updated rent ledger.
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?
For tenants in a similar situation, it means they must ensure they have paid all rent and returned the bond before the tenancy ends.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records and an updated rent ledger provided by the landlord mattered.