Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Damages
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that a tenant must pay the landlord $3,213.39 for unpaid rent, pest control costs, lawn and garden work, and rubbish removal. The tenant did not comply with their obligation to leave the property clean and tidy at the end of tenancy.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is responsible for paying rent arrears and compensating a landlord for damages incurred during tenancy.
📖 What the law says
This section states that a tenant must pay rent on time as agreed. It also requires the tenant to keep the rental property reasonably clean and tidy, and to leave it in that condition, removing all rubbish, when the tenancy ends.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The claimant was awarded rent arrears, pest control costs, and other expenses from the respondent tenant.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $3,213.39 for rent arrears, pest control costs, lawn and garden work, and rubbish removal. The tenant did not comply with their obligation to leave the premises clean and tidy at the end of tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
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[2026] NZTT 5470160
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [RESPONDENT] And [RESPONDENT] must pay [APPELLANT] [NAME] $3,213.39 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $1,139.00 Pest control: and repairs during tenancy - balance owing $577.26 Lawns and Garden work $600.00 Rubbish removal: external $717.00 Rubbish removal: tyres $293.92 Rubbish removal: internal $164.21 Total award $3,491.39 Bond $278.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $3,213.39
2. The [COMPANY] is to refund the bond of $278 to the applicant immediately.
Reasons:
1. Only the landlord attended the hearing.
2. The tenant could not be contacted.
3. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation and refund of the bond.
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How much is owed for rent?
4. The tenancy ended on 2/2/2026. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?
5. At the end of the tenancy the tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, remove all rubbish, See section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
6. The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove extensive rubbish from inside and outside the property.
7. During the tenancy the landlord incurred costs to eradicate pests and repair a window. The tenants agreed to pay the cost and had been doing so. The amount warded is the balance owing and is proved by the evidence provided.
8. The bond is to be refunded to the applicant to reduce the amount owing as set out in the table above.
9. The amounts ordered are proved.
[NAME]
08 June 2026
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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, or the failure to make an order, where the amount in dispute on appeal is
less than $1000 • a final order to undertake work, or the failure to make an order, where the value of the
work in dispute on appeal is 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:
📊 How courts decide similar cases
Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:
- Tenancy Tribunal Landlord Granted Possession After Tenant's Abandonment
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant loses case over unpaid rent: Tenancy terminated with debt order
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenants Ordered to Pay Rent and Water Arrears or Face Eviction
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant Ordered to Pay Damages for End-of-Tenancy Breach
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears Before Vacating Property
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Filing Fee
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant's Abandonment and Rent Arrears Lead to Termination
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenants Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Return Bond
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenancy Terminated Due to Tenant’s Absence at Hearing
A snapshot of this collection — not a prediction of your case's outcome.
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- Tenant pays outstanding rent and bond if there are no disputes over damages.
- Landlord proves non-payment of rent on balance of probabilities.
- Tenant complies with breach notice for unpaid water rates or faces immediate termination.
- Tenant's failure to pay rent justifies tenancy termination under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
- Tenant must attend scheduled Case Management Conferences and comply with Tribunal directions.
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 $3,213.39 for rent arrears and other expenses.
Who was involved?
A landlord and a tenant were involved in the dispute.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided based on evidence that the tenant owed money to the landlord for unpaid rent and damages during tenancy.
Which laws or rules were applied?
Section 40(1)(e) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The tenant's failure to comply with their obligations at the end of tenancy and during the tenancy period.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was in favour of the landlord.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Tenants must comply with their obligations to pay rent and leave premises clean at the end of tenancy.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Rent records, pest control invoices, and other financial statements were provided as evidence.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Yes, either party can appeal within 10 working days to the District Court.
Is it worth getting a lawyer for a case like this?
It is advisable to seek legal advice from a qualified lawyer for such cases.