Tenant ordered to pay overdue water rates and filing fee
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay overdue water rates and the filing fee after the landlord showed valid invoices proving the amount owed.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay overdue water rates if the landlord provides valid invoices.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay overdue water rates and the filing fee.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay overdue water rates and the filing fee after the landlord presented valid invoices proving the amount owing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5111188 1
[2025] NZTT 5111188
TENANCY TRIBUNAL - Remote Location
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [NAME] As Trustees Of [COMPANY] $528.91 immediately, being water rates of $501.91 and filing fee of $27.00.
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing by teleconference.
2. The landlord has applied for overdue water rates and has provided invoices which prove the amount owing.
3. As the landlord wholly succeeded with the claim, the tenant must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME]
13 February 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5111188 2
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. 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].
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/
Reasons:
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The landlord provided valid invoices proving the amount of overdue water rates.
- The tenant must reimburse the filing fee since the landlord succeeded with the claim.
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 overdue water rates and the filing fee.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about whether the tenant owed overdue water rates.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the landlord provided valid invoices proving the amount owing.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the validity of the invoices provided by the landlord.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was against the tenant who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they have valid proof of any amounts owing to avoid such rulings.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence that mattered was the invoices provided by the landlord.