Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Filing Fee
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay the landlord $2,477.00, which includes rent arrears and the landlord's filing fee, after the tenant did not show up for the hearing.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is entitled to recover rent arrears if supported by rent records.
📖 Technical summary
The claimant successfully recovered rent arrears and filing fees from the respondent.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $2,477.00, including rent arrears and filing fee reimbursement, after the tenant failed to attend the hearing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5162213 1
[2025] NZTT 5162213
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT [Event location suppressed]
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Room 5, [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE], single
ORDER
1. An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the landlord’s name and identifying details.
2. [NAME] must pay [The landlord/s] $2,477.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 28 February 2025 $2,450.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $2,477.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $2,477.00
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant did not answer the calls to her phone.
2. The landlord said the tenancy ended by agreement, on 28 February 2025.
3. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5162213 2
4. Because the landlord has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
5. The landlord’s application for suppression is allowed because she is the most successful party.
[NAME] 11 April 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5162213 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 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.
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].
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/
Reasons:
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The landlord proved the amount of rent owing by providing their rent records.
- The landlord was reimbursed the filing fee because they fully won their claim.
- The landlord's request to suppress their name was granted because they were the most successful party.
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 the landlord $2,477.00, including rent arrears and filing fee reimbursement.
What was the dispute about?
The landlord claimed rent arrears and filing fee reimbursement from the tenant who did not attend the hearing.
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 proof of rent arrears.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The landlord's provision of rent records proving the amount owing was the most important argument.
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 might be able to recover rent arrears and filing fees if they can provide proof and the tenant does not attend the hearing.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment mentions rent records provided by the landlord.