Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent and Water Arrears
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay the landlord $5,039.48, which includes rent arrears, water arrears, and a filing fee. The tenant agreed with the amounts claimed, and the tribunal found the landlord's records to be accurate.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and water arrears to the landlord as well as the filing fee for the application.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears, water arrears, and a filing fee to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $5,039.48, which includes rent arrears, water arrears, and a filing fee. The decision was based on the tenant's agreement with the amounts claimed and the accuracy of the rent and water records provided by the landlord.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2026] NZTT 5496510
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/Flat [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME_2] must pay [COMPANY_1] As Agent [COMPANY_1] $5,039.48 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,200.00 (5164286-007) to [COMPANY_1] As Agent [COMPANY_1] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 10/06/2026 $6,895.01 Water rates to 27/05/2026 $316.47 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $7,239.48 Bond $2,200.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $5,039.48
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing.
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2. The applicant applied for termination, rent arrears, water arrears, the bond and the application filing fee. They tell me that the respondent vacated the property on the 10th of June and they are now just seeking payment of rent, water and the filing fee. The respondent agreed with the amounts claimed.
3. I have also reviewed the rent and water records provided by the applicant and I am satisfied they are accurate.
4. Because the applicant has been wholly successful in their application I have also awarded the application filing fee.
H Ben Fayed 12 June 2026
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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, or the failure to make an order, where the amount in dispute on appeal is
less than $1000 • a final order to undertake work, or the failure to make an order, where the value of the
work in dispute on appeal is 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 agreed with the amounts claimed by the landlord.
- The court was satisfied with the accuracy of the rent and water records provided by the landlord.
- The landlord was wholly successful in their application, leading to the award of the application filing fee.
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 the landlord $5,039.48, including rent arrears, water arrears, and a filing fee.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's unpaid rent and water charges, as well as the filing fee for the landlord's application.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant agreed with the amounts claimed and the landlord's records were accurate.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The tenant's agreement with the amounts claimed and the accuracy of the landlord's records were the key arguments.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the person who brought the case, the landlord.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they agree with the amounts claimed and provide accurate records to support their case.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence that mattered was the tenant's agreement with the amounts claimed and the landlord's rent and water records.