Tenant ordered to pay rent arrears and filing fee
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $519.86 to the landlord, including $492.86 for rent arrears and $27.00 for the filing fee, after the landlord provided proof of the amount owing.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears and the filing fee if the landlord proves the amount owing.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and a filing fee.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $519.86 to the landlord, including $492.86 for rent arrears and $27.00 for the filing fee, after the landlord provided proof of the amount owing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5164331 1
[2025] NZTT 5164331
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/Flat Cabin E, [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $519.86 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 20/12/2024 $492.86 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $519.86 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $519.86
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the teleconference hearing. The tenant did not.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
3. The tenancy ended on 20 December 2024. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
4. I order the tenant to pay the landlord $492.86 for rent arrears.
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5. [COMPANY] has wholly succeeded with the claim, the tenant must reimburse the filing fee also.
[NAME]
15 April 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 proved the amount of rent owing by providing rent records.
- The landlord's claim for rent arrears was successful.
- The landlord was reimbursed for the filing fee because the claim was wholly successful.
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 $519.86 to the landlord, including $492.86 for rent arrears and $27.00 for the filing fee.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears and the landlord seeking reimbursement of the 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 owed by the tenant.
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 landlord's provision of proof of the rent arrears owed by the tenant.
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 owed to avoid such an order.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the exact evidence or documents used, but it mentions rent records provided by the landlord.