Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Filing Fee
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay the landlord $7,856.15, which includes rent arrears and a filing fee. The landlord presented rent records to prove the amount owed.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears to the landlord as per the rental agreement.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and a filing fee to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $7,856.15 to the landlord, including rent arrears and a filing fee. The landlord provided rent records showing the amount owing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5502047 1
[2026] NZTT 5502047
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME_2] must pay [NAME_1] and [NAME_1] $7,856.15 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. [COMPANY_3] is to pay the bond of $1,440.00 (5171781-004) to [NAME_1] and [NAME_1] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 11/05/2026 $9,268.15 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $9,296.15 Bond $1,440.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $7,856.15
Reasons:
1. The applicant attended the hearing. The respondent did not.
2. The applicant tells me the tenancy concluded on the 11th of May 2026 by way of landlord notice.
3. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which show the amount owing. I am satisfied these records are correct.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5502047 2
4. Because the applicant has been successful in their application I have awarded the application filing fee.
H Ben Fayed 29 May 2026
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5502047 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/
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5502047 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:
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The tenant was ordered to pay the landlord $7,856.15, including rent arrears and a filing fee.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent arrears and the landlord's request for payment of these arrears.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant did not attend the hearing and the landlord provided accurate rent records.
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 accuracy of the rent records provided by the landlord.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the person who brought the case, the landlord.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they have accurate records of rent payments to avoid disputes.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records provided by the landlord mattered in this decision.