Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Filing Fee
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $1,514.43 to the landlord, which includes rent arrears and a filing fee reimbursement. This decision was made after the landlord presented proof of the amount owed at the end of the tenancy.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears and filing fee reimbursement to the landlord if the landlord proves the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
📖 What the law says
This rule allows a tenant to ask the Tenancy Tribunal to cancel a notice ending their tenancy if they believe the landlord gave the notice because the tenant exercised a right or made a complaint. The tenant must apply within 14 working days of receiving the notice.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and a filing fee reimbursement to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
In a Tenancy Tribunal case, the tenant was ordered to pay $1,514.43 to the landlord, including rent arrears and filing fee reimbursement, after the landlord proved the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5441228 1
[2026] NZTT 5441228
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted] Agent For [NAME]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/[ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] $1,514.43 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below.
Description Landlord Rent arrears $1,486.43 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $1,514.43 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,514.43
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears following the end of the tenancy.
3. The tenancy ended on 15 May 2025. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5441228 2
4. [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
G Baker
15 June 2026
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5441228 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, 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/
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5441228 4
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 rent arrears through rent records.
- The landlord successfully proved the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
- The landlord attended the hearing.
- The landlord applied for filing fee reimbursement which was granted.
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 $1,514.43 to the landlord, including rent arrears and a filing fee reimbursement.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears and the landlord seeking reimbursement for a filing fee.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the landlord provided proof of the rent arrears at the end of the tenancy.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the landlord's presentation of rent records proving the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
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 have proof of any rent arrears to present to the Tenancy Tribunal.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records provided by the landlord mattered in this case.