Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Filing Fee
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and a filing fee reimbursement to the landlord. Payments must be made weekly starting on May 14th, 2025.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears and filing fees as ordered by the Tenancy Tribunal.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and a filing fee reimbursement to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and a filing fee reimbursement to the landlord, with weekly installments starting on May 14th, 2025.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5156536
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT [Event location suppressed]
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [Tenancy address suppressed]
ORDER
1. [[NAME]] to pay [The landlord/s] $537.00 (the debt) in accordance with the following table:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 9/5/25 $510.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $537.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $537.00
2. [[NAME]] must pay the debt in order 1 at the rate of $100 per week.
3. The first payment must be made on Wednesday 14 May 2025 and payments must continue every Wednesday until the debt is paid in full. Specifically on 14, 21 and 28 May, 4 and 11 June [[NAME]] will pay $100 and on 18 June she will pay $37.
4. If [[NAME]] fails to make any payment within 2 working days of the due date, the balance of the debt owing will be payable immediately and can be enforced through the District Court.
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Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing. [redacted] represented the landlord.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
3. The tenant agrees with the amount owed and has proposed a payment plan that has been approved by the landlord.
4. Because [The applicant/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
5. Because this order is made by consent it is appropriate that the identifying details of all parties be suppressed from the published order.
[NAME] 09 May 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 tenant agreed to the amount owed.
- The landlord provided rent records proving the amount owing.
- The tenant proposed a payment plan approved by the landlord.
- The order was made by consent, so the filing fee was reimbursed.
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 rent arrears and a filing fee reimbursement to the landlord.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's unpaid rent and the landlord's request for a filing fee reimbursement.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the rent arrears and the filing fee reimbursement because the tenant agreed with the amount owed and proposed a payment plan.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The tenant's agreement with the amount owed and the proposed payment plan were the most important arguments.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was against the tenant who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they have a clear payment plan and agree with the amount owed to avoid such rulings.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records provided by the landlord proved the amount owing.