Tenant ordered to pay $965.82 for rent arrears and water rates
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $965.82 for rent arrears and water rates. The landlord's bond was returned, and the tenant's claims were dismissed.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears and water rates as per the landlord's proof of amounts owing.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $965.82 for rent arrears and water rates.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $965.82 for rent arrears and water rates, dismissing the tenant's claims. Judge C Lamdin ruled on May 6, 2025.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5235493, 5143669
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT WAITAKERE | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA KI WAITĀKERE
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] and [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $965.82 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $3,120.00 (BN-00031775) to [COMPANY] immediately.
3. The tenant’s claims are dismissed.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 15 April 2025 $3,394.29 Water rates $664.53 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $4,085.82 Bond $3,120.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $965.82
Reasons:
1. Today’s hearing was scheduled as a cross-application. The tenant filed their application on 22 January 2025 and the landlord filed their application on 14 April 2025. Only the landlord attended the hearing; the tenant did not attend or request an adjournment.
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2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent and water rates?
3. The tenancy ended on 15 April 2025. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amounts owing at the end of the tenancy are $3,394.29 for rent arrears and $664.53 for water rates.
Other claims
4. The landlord had a claim for rubbish removal that he wished to add to today’s application. Because the tenant did not attend it would not have been fair to hear that claim without the tenant having an opportunity to respond.
5. The landlord is granted leave to bring that claim in another application.
6. [COMPANY] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
C Lamdin
06 May 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 proved the amounts owing for rent arrears with rent records.
- The landlord proved the amounts owing for water rates with invoices.
- The landlord's claim for reimbursement of the filing fee was successful.
- The tenant did not attend the hearing or ask for a delay.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The landlord's claim for rubbish removal was not heard because the tenant was absent.
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 the landlord $965.82 for rent arrears and water rates.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was over unpaid rent and water rates, with the landlord seeking payment and the tenant disputing the amount.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord, accepting the landlord's proof of the amounts owing for rent and water rates.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The landlord's provision of rent records and water rates invoices proved the amounts owing at the end of the tenancy.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was against the tenant, who brought the initial application.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they have accurate records of rent payments and any additional charges like water rates.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records and water rates invoices provided by the landlord were crucial in proving the amounts owing.