Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $1,767 to the landlord for unpaid rent and filing fees. The landlord had proof of the rent arrears, and the tenant could not be contacted for the hearing.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears to the landlord.
📖 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 $1,767 to the landlord for rent arrears and filing fees, with the bond offsetting part of the amount. The landlord provided proof of rent arrears, and the tenant could not be reached for the hearing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5145430
TENANCY TRIBUNAL - Remote Location
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], Karapiro, RD 4, Cambridge 3496
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] as Agent for [COMPANY] $1,767.00 immediately, as follows:
Description Landlord Tenant
Rent arrears to 9 February 2025 $4,180.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $4,207.00 Minus Bond - $2,440.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,767.00
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,440.00 (6530358-015) to [COMPANY] as Agent for [COMPANY] immediately.
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing which was held by teleconference. The tenant was unable to be contacted on the phone number specified in the Notice of Hearing which was served to the e-mail address for service given by the tenant in the agreement. The landlord confirms having recently received communication form the tenant from that number and e-mail address.
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2. The tenancy ended on 9 February 2025. The premises have been vacated and the keys returned to the landlord.
3. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing to the end of the tenancy.
4. [COMPANY] has succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
B King
13 February 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 attended the hearing by teleconference.
- The tenant could not be reached at the phone number provided in the notice.
- The landlord confirmed recent communication from the tenant using the provided email address.
- The landlord provided rent records that proved the amount owing for rent arrears.
- The landlord was reimbursed for the filing fee because their claim succeeded.
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 $1,767 to the landlord for rent arrears and filing fees, with the bond offsetting part of the amount.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent arrears and the landlord's filing fees.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the landlord provided proof of rent arrears and the tenant could not be reached for 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 landlord providing proof of rent arrears and the inability to reach the tenant for the hearing.
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 respond to notices and provide evidence of any disputes over rent arrears.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment mentions rent records provided by the landlord as evidence of rent arrears.