Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Bond After Non-Attendance
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $1,947.00 to the landlord, including rent arrears and bond, after the tenant failed to attend the hearing and respond to calls.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears and bond to the landlord if they fail to attend the hearing and provide evidence of non-payment.
📖 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 $1,947.00 to the landlord, including rent arrears and bond, after the tenant failed to attend the hearing and respond to calls.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5248631
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/[ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay Team Property Limited $1,947.00 immediately, as calculated in the table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 30 April 2025 $3,840.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $3,867.00 Bond $1,920.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,947.00
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,920.00 (3057166-007) to Team Property Limited immediately.
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant did not attend and did not respond when telephoned on the numbers ending in 179 and 898.
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2. The tenancy ended on 30 April 2025. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing of $3,840.00 at the end of the tenancy.
3. Because Team Property Limited has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
R Harvey-Lane
06 June 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 and provided proof of rent arrears.
- The landlord presented rent records showing the exact amount owed by the tenant.
- The landlord applied for the return of the bond along with the rent arrears.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not attend the hearing and did not respond to calls.
- The tenant failed to provide any evidence or explanation for non-payment of rent.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $1,947.00 to the landlord, including rent arrears and bond.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent arrears and the return of the bond to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the landlord due to the tenant's failure to attend the hearing and provide evidence of non-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 the tenant's absence and lack of response, which led to the acceptance of the landlord's claims.
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 all hearings and provide evidence to support their case.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify any particular evidence or documents that were considered.