Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Bond
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $6,211.29 for rent arrears and the bond to the landlord. The landlord attended the hearing remotely, while the tenant did not attend.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and the bond to the landlord if they are proven.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and bond to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $6,211.29 for rent arrears and the bond to the landlord. The landlord attended the hearing remotely, while the tenant did not attend.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5207498
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted] [NAME]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] T/A Ray White Gisborne As Agent For [NAME] $6,211.29 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. The [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $1,480.00 (3087717-013) to [COMPANY] T/A Ray White Gisborne As Agent For [NAME] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 13.4.25 $7,664.29 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $7,691.29 Bond $1,480.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $6,211.29
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing via remote teleconference. The was no attendance by the tenant.
2. Two attempts were made to contact the tenant on the telephone number provided. Both attempts were unsuccessful.
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3. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent?
4. The tenancy ended on 13 April 2025. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy. Having sighted the landlord’s rent ledger I am satisfied that the tenant is responsible for this debt.
5. The claim for rent arrears is proven.
6. [COMPANY] T/A Ray White Gisborne As Agent For [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME]
21 May 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 provided rent records that proved the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
- The adjudicator was satisfied that the tenant was responsible for the debt after reviewing the landlord's rent ledger.
- The claim for rent arrears was proven.
- The landlord succeeded entirely with the claim, so the filing fee was reimbursed.
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 $6,211.29 for rent arrears and the bond to the landlord.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent arrears and the return of the bond after the tenancy ended.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the rent arrears and the bond because the landlord proved these amounts were owed.
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 proof of the rent arrears and the bond by the landlord.
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 pay their rent on time and attend any hearings related to their tenancy.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the exact evidence or documents used.