Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Filing Fee
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay back rent arrears and a filing fee to the landlord. The tenant agreed to the debt and a payment plan was established.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and a filing fee when they agree to the debt and a payment plan is established.
📖 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 rent arrears and a filing fee to the landlord, agreeing to a payment plan that includes weekly payments.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5071828
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] owes [COMPANY] As Agent For [COMPANY] $2,927.00 (“the debt”) as set out in the table:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 27 February 2025 $2,900.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $2,927.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $2,927.00
2. [NAME] must pay current rent and the debt as follows:
a. By weekly payments of $510.00, being $460.00 for rent and $50.00 for the debt.
b. Payments will be every Friday, with the next payment today, on 28 February 2025 and continuing until the debt is paid in full.
3. Payments will be allocated in the following order: current rent, rent arrears, and the filing fee.
4. If the tenant fails to pay rent, rent arrears and filing fee within 2 working days of the due dates the balance of the debt will be payable immediately.
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Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and reimbursement of the filing fee.
3. The tenant agreed she owes the money for rent.
4. The parties have agreed to a payment plan so the money owed will be paid by weekly payments of the rent and an additional $50.
5. Because the landlord has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME]
28 February 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 she owes the money for rent.
- The parties agreed to a payment plan for weekly payments.
- The landlord successfully claimed for rent arrears.
- The landlord requested and received reimbursement for the filing fee.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The tenant must pay back rent arrears and a filing fee to the landlord.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was over unpaid rent and the cost of filing the case with the Tenancy Tribunal.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant agreed to the debt and a payment plan was established.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The tenant's agreement to the debt and the establishment of a payment plan were the central 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 expect to pay back rent arrears and a filing fee if they agree to the debt.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify any particular evidence or documents.