Tenant ordered to pay rent arrears and bond
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and return the bond to the landlord after the tenant did not attend the hearing.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears and return the bond to the landlord when the tenancy ends.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and bond to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and return the bond to the landlord after the tenant failed to attend the hearing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5212531
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT WELLINGTON | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA KI TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Room 3, [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [NAME] $455.57 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below:
2. [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $1,200.00 (00006630) to [NAME] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 10.4.2025 $1,628.57 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $1,655.57 Bond $1,200.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $455.57
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing by video link. The tenant did not attend the hearing via video link. The Tribunal also contacted her at the telephone number provided for in the application but the call disconnected. I am satisfied that the tenant received notice of the hearing and chose not to attend.
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2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the boarding house tenancy.
How much is owed for rent?
3. The tenancy ended on 10 April 2025. The landlord has provided records which prove the amount of rent owing to the end of the tenancy.
4. Because the landlord has succeeded with the application, he is entitled to reimbursement of the filing fee.
[NAME]
16 April 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 proof of the amount of rent arrears.
- The landlord requested the return of the bond upon the end of the tenancy.
- The landlord asked for reimbursement of the filing fee.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not provide any arguments or evidence.
- The tenant did not attend the hearing and could not present their case.
- The tenant did not respond to the tribunal's attempts to contact them.
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 rent arrears and return the bond to the landlord.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's failure to pay rent arrears and return 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 return the bond because the tenant did not attend the hearing and failed to provide evidence of payment.
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 that the tenant did not attend the hearing and failed to provide evidence of payment.
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 attend the hearing and provide evidence of any payments made.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify any particular evidence or documents that mattered.