Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Return Bond
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $1,167.00 to the landlord, which includes rent arrears and the return of the bond, after the landlord proved these amounts were due at the end of the tenancy.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and the bond to the landlord when the tenancy ends.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and bond to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $1,167.00 to the landlord, including rent arrears and the bond, after the landlord successfully claimed these amounts following the end of the tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5096413
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Room 1, [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $1,167.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $700.00 (6542742-002) to [COMPANY] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 16 December 2024 $1,840.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $1,867.00 Bond $700.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,167.00
Reasons:
1. [NAME] attended the hearing for the landlord. [NAME] also gave evidence. The tenant was phoned on the number provided but the calls went to voicemail.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
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How much is owed for rent?
3. The tenancy ended on 16 December 2024. The landlord provided rent records and gave oral evidence which established the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
4. The landlord has been successful in its claim and is therefore entitled to payment of then Tribunal application fee.
R Merrett
18 March 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 provided rent records showing the tenant owes $1,840.00 in rent arrears.
- The landlord successfully claimed the bond of $700.00 back from the tenant.
- The landlord requested and received reimbursement for the filing fee of $27.00.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not attend the hearing in person and did not provide any counter-evidence.
- The tenant did not dispute the amount of rent arrears or the bond repayment in the hearing.
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 $1,167.00 to the landlord, including rent arrears and the bond.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears and the landlord's request for the return of the bond after the tenancy ended.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant failed to attend the hearing and provide evidence against the landlord's claims.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the landlord's presentation of rent records and oral evidence proving the amount owed by the tenant.
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 attend hearings and provide evidence to support their position.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records and oral evidence presented by the landlord mattered in this decision.