Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Filing Fee
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $357, which includes $330 in rent arrears and a $27 filing fee. The payments are to be made in weekly installments starting on 20 February 2025, with the final payment due on 12 March 2025.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and the filing fee to the landlord.
📖 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 $357, which includes $330 in rent arrears and a $27 filing fee. The order requires weekly payments starting on 20 February 2025, with full payment due by 12 March 2025. The decision was made by B Carter on 12 February 2025.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5126692
TENANCY TRIBUNAL - Video Location
APPLICANT: [redacted] [NAME]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/Flat [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. The tenant owes the landlord a total of $357, being $330 in rent arrears and $27 for the filing fee for this application (“the debt”).
2. The tenant must pay rent and the debt as follows:
a. seven weekly payments, beginning on 20 February 2025, of $380, being $330 for rent and $50 for the debt; and
b. a final payment of $337, being $330 for rent and $7 for the debt.
3. Payments will be allocated in the following order: rent, rent arrears, and the filing fee.
4. If the tenant fails to pay rent and rent arrears within 2 working days of the due dates, the balance of the debt will be payable immediately.
5. This order will cease to have effect once all rent arrears and the filing fee are paid to the Landlord.
6. For the avoidance of doubt, this order does not prevent the Tenant from repaying the debt earlier.
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Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing.
2. The parties agree that the tenant has rent arrears of $330. The tenant has offered to repay those arrears at $50 per week, beginning 20 February 2025. The landlord accepts that offer.
3. I am satisfied that this is a fair and equitable resolution to this claim and order accordingly.
4. The landlord is also entitled to recover the filing fee of $27.
B Carter
12 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 that they owed $330 in rent arrears.
- The tenant offered to repay the arrears at $50 per week.
- The landlord accepted the tenant's offer for repayment.
- The tribunal found the agreed resolution to be fair and equitable.
- The landlord was entitled to recover the filing fee of $27.
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 $357, including $330 in rent arrears and a $27 filing fee.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the rent arrears and the filing fee because the landlord had filed an application for these amounts.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the agreement between the landlord and the tenant on the amount of rent arrears and the payment plan.
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 make timely payments to avoid further legal action.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents used in the decision.