Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Filing Fees
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay rent arrears, water rates, and a filing fee reimbursement to the landlord. The landlord successfully claimed these amounts after presenting summaries of the final rent arrears and water rates.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears, water rates, and filing fees to the landlord as ordered by the Tenancy Tribunal.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears, water rates, and a filing fee reimbursement to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears, water rates, and a filing fee reimbursement to the landlord. The order was made after the landlord presented summaries of the final rent arrears and water rates, which were accepted by all parties.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5121301 1
[2025] NZTT 5121301
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/[ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [COMPANY] $2,759.70, calculated as shown in table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $4,650.00 Water rates $42.70 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $4,719.70 Bond $1,960.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $2,759.70
2. The tenant must pay the debt in order 1. at the rate of $200.00 per week.
3. The first payment must be made on Thursday 20 March 2025 and payments must continue every Thursday thereafter until the debt is paid in full.
4. If the tenant 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.
5. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,960.00 (5206656-022) to [COMPANY] As Agent For [COMPANY] immediately.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5121301 2
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant was represented by his [NAME]. This representation was approved.
2. The tenancy has now ended and the landlord sought monetary orders for rent arrears, water rates and the application filing fee.
3. Summaries of the final rent arrears and water rates were provided and accepted by all. These amounts are per the order.
4. The terms of repayment were discussed and the amount and timings in this order were proposed by the representatives and accepted by the landlord.
5. [COMPANY] As Agent For [COMPANY] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
M Brennan
14 March 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5121301 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.
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/
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5121301 4
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's claim for rent arrears was accepted by all parties.
- The landlord's claim for water rates was accepted by all parties.
- The landlord was reimbursed for the filing fee because they succeeded with the claim.
- The repayment terms, including the amount and timings, were proposed by the tenant's representatives and accepted by the landlord.
- The bond of $1,960.00 was ordered to be paid to the landlord immediately.
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, water rates, and a filing fee reimbursement to the landlord.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears, water rates, and a filing fee reimbursement to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant owed rent arrears, water rates, and a filing fee reimbursement, which were presented and accepted by all parties.
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 presentation of summaries of the final rent arrears and water rates was the central argument.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the person who brought the case, the landlord.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they have accurate records of rent arrears and other charges to present to the Tenancy Tribunal.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the exact evidence or documents used.