Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $2,504.00 in rent arrears to the landlord. The landlord had previously filed a claim in October 2024, and provided proof of unpaid rent through records.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears as proven by the landlord's records.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and awarded the landlord's filing fee.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $2,504.00 in rent arrears to the landlord, incorporating a previous order from October 2024. The landlord provided rent records proving the amount owing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5144192
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] $2,504.00 immediately, being rent arrears to 12 December 2024.
2. This order incorporates the Tribunal order made on 31 October 2024 under application 5018968.
3. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $3,000.00 (5216947-003) to [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 12 December 2024 $3,150.00 Previous order application 5018968 dated 31/10/2024 $2,327.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $5,504.00 Bond $3,000.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $2,504.00
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Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing by video. The tenant did not attend the hearing. An attempt was made to join the tenant to the hearing by telephone, but the call went to voicemail.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
3. On 31 October 2024 the Tribunal made an order relating to this tenancy, for rent arrears to 31 October 2024. The previous order is incorporated into this order for enforcement purposes.
4. [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
N Walker
26 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 proved the amount of rent owing by providing their rent records.
- The previous Tribunal order for rent arrears was included for enforcement.
- The landlord was reimbursed the filing fee because they fully won their claim.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not attend the hearing, so their arguments were not heard.
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 $2,504.00 in rent arrears to the landlord.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent arrears up to December 12, 2024.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant's rent arrears were proven by the landlord's records.
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 argument that the tenant owed rent arrears, supported by detailed records, was the most important.
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?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they have accurate records of rent payments to avoid disputes.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment mentions the landlord's rent records as the key evidence.