Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Return Bond
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay rent arrears and return the bond to the landlord. The landlord presented evidence showing the amount owed, and the Tribunal agreed with the landlord's claims.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and return the bond to the landlord upon termination of the tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and bond to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and return the bond to the landlord upon the termination of the tenancy. The landlord provided proof of the amount owing, and the Tribunal found in favour of the landlord.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5234951
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] $448.43 immediately, as calculated in the table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 21 May 2025 $1,821.43 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $1,848.43 Bond $1,400.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $448.43
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,400.00 (6271452-003) to [COMPANY] immediately.
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, refund of the bond and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
3. The tenancy ended on 21 May 2025. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing of $1,821.43 at the end of the tenancy.
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4. [COMPANY] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME]
23 May 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 landlord proved the amount of rent owing through provided records.
- The tenancy had already ended, which was a factor in the claim for rent arrears and bond refund.
- The landlord was reimbursed for the filing fee because they fully succeeded with their claim.
- The tenant was ordered to pay the landlord the total amount calculated.
- The Bond Centre was instructed to pay the bond to the landlord.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The decision ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and return the bond to the landlord.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears and the need to return the bond to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the landlord provided proof of the rent arrears and the amount of the bond.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the landlord providing proof of the rent arrears and the amount of the bond.
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?
For someone in a similar situation, they should ensure they have proof of any rent arrears and the amount of the bond to present to the Tenancy Tribunal.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence that mattered was the rent records provided by the landlord.