Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Bond
📌 In brief
In this Tenancy Tribunal case, the tenant was ordered to pay the landlord $27.00 for rent arrears and the bond of $3,000.00. The landlord's name and identifying details were kept secret as the landlord was the most successful party in the case.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and the bond to the landlord upon termination of the tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The tenant owes the landlord $27.00 for rent arrears and the bond is to be paid to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $27.00 for rent arrears and the bond of $3,000.00 to be paid to the landlord immediately. The landlord's name and identifying details were suppressed due to the successful claim.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5198854 1
[2025] NZTT 5198854
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT [Event location suppressed]
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlord name and identifying details.
2. [NAME] must pay [The landlord/s] $27.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
3. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $3,000.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 20 March 2025 $3,000.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $3,027.00 Bond $3,000.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $27.00
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5198854 2
How much does the tenant owe?
3. The parties have agreed this tenancy will end. I have seen written confirmation the tenancy ended on 20 March 2025. The landlord provided rent records and which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
4. Because the landlord has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
5. The landlord’s application for suppression is allowed because the landlord is the most successful party. The tenant’s name will be published because there is public interest when tenants owe money. See section 95A Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
K Koller 28 March 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5198854 3
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 records that proved the amount of rent owed at the end of the tenancy.
- The landlord's claim was entirely successful, so the filing fee was reimbursed.
- The landlord's request for suppression of their name was granted because they were the most successful party.
- The tenancy officially ended on March 20, 2025, as confirmed in writing.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The tenant must pay the landlord $27.00 for rent arrears and the bond of $3,000.00 must be paid to the landlord immediately.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears and the landlord requesting the return of the bond upon the termination of the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant owed rent arrears and the landlord had a valid claim for the return of the bond.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the proof provided by the landlord of the rent arrears and the request for the return of the bond.
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?
For someone in a similar situation, they should ensure they pay all rent arrears and return the bond to the landlord upon termination of the tenancy.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence that mattered was the rent records provided by the landlord.