Tenant ordered to pay rent arrears and meth testing costs
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay the landlord $375.57, covering rent arrears and the cost of methamphetamine testing due to contamination in the rental unit.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears and reasonable meth testing costs.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and compensate the landlord for meth testing costs.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and compensate the landlord for meth testing costs due to contamination found in the rental unit.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5094128
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/Flat [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $375.57 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 6 February 2025 $1,528.57 Meth testing: composite test $220.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $1,775.57 Bond $1,400.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $375.57
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,400.00 (5130329-009) to [COMPANY] immediately.
3. All other claims are dismissed.
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing. [NAME] left the hearing before the end.
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2. The tenancy ended on 6 February 2025, after the tenant was given a 7 day notice to leave the apartment because of methamphetamine contamination.
3. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much does the tenant owe?
4. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy on 6 February 2025.
5. The landlord had to carry out testing for methamphetamine contamination. This was ordered by the Body Corporate after drug detection dogs indicated possible drug use in the apartment. The test was a composite test. I am satisfied that the test was necessary because of the levels of contamination in the discrete samples. The $220 claimed is proved and allowed. I note the tenant should pay the actual cost of the test, and the owner can pay the body corporate handling fee.
6. There was a fine issued by the body corporate for $276 because the tenant breached a body corporate rule. I have been provided with a copy of a letter dated 20 September 2024 giving the tenant four days to remove belongings from a space adjacent to the balcony. This was not done, and the body corporate issued a penalty in January 2025. This is the landlord’s claim to prove. I am not persuaded that the tenant is responsible because the items are not on the tenancy premises. This claim is dismissed.
7. Because the landlord has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.
[NAME]
11 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 tenant owes rent arrears as proven by the landlord's rent records.
- The landlord incurred reasonable meth testing costs due to contamination concerns.
- The filing fee reimbursement is allowed since the landlord substantially succeeded with the claim.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant is not responsible for the body corporate fine as the items causing the fine were not on the tenancy premises.
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 $375.57, including rent arrears and the cost of meth testing.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears and the landlord's claim for compensation due to methamphetamine contamination in the rental unit.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the rent arrears and the cost of meth testing because the contamination was proven and the tests were necessary.
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 proof of rent arrears and the necessity of the meth testing due to contamination.
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 required to pay rent arrears and compensate for necessary meth testing if contamination is proven.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records and the results of the meth testing were the key pieces of evidence.