Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $6,488 in rent arrears to the landlord. The landlord presented rent records proving the amount owed. Since the tenant did not attend the hearing, the ruling was made in favour of the landlord.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears to the landlord as proven by rent records.
📖 Technical summary
The claimant successfully recovered unpaid rent from the respondent.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $6,488 in rent arrears to the landlord. The landlord provided proof of the amount owing through rent records. The tenant did not appear at the hearing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2026] NZTT 5473050
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: 15 [COMPANY_1] Road, Maraetai, Auckland 2018
ORDER
1. [NAME_9] must pay [COMPANY_1] (Trustees: [NAME_3] And [NAME_10]) $6,488.00 immediately, being rent arrears to 31 March 2026.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $6,460.00 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $6,488.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $6,488.00
Reasons:
1. The Landlord attended the hearing. The Tenant did not appear.
2. The Landlord applied for refund of the bond, rent arrears and reimbursement of the filing fee. At the hearing, the Landlord withdrew their claim for refund of the bond.
3. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
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4. As [COMPANY_1] (Trustees: [NAME_3] And [NAME_10]) has wholly succeeded with the claim the Tenant must reimburse the filing fee.
A Aiolupotea
05 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:
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The tenant was ordered to pay $6,488 in rent arrears to the landlord.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent arrears from the tenant to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the rent records proved the amount owing and the tenant did not attend the hearing.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the presentation of rent records by the landlord, proving the amount of rent arrears.
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 have proof of rent arrears and attend any hearings to present their case.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records provided by the landlord mattered in this decision.