Tenant ordered to pay rent arrears and water rates
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered a tenant to pay rent arrears and their share of water rates. The landlord presented evidence of the amounts owed, including rent records and water invoices. The tenant accepted the debt but requested help to repay it.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is liable for rent arrears and their proportionate share of water rates.
📖 What the law says
This section generally states that landlords are responsible for paying property expenses like rates, insurance, and water charges. However, it also says that tenants must pay for water charges if the property has its own water meter and the tenancy agreement mentioned this at the start of the tenancy.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and water rates.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and their proportionate share of water rates. The landlord provided proof of the amounts owed, including rent records and water care invoices. The tenant acknowledged the debt but sought assistance to repay it.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5468650 1
[2026] NZTT 5468650
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted] For [NAME]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] and [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] [NAME] As Agent For [NAME] $5,772.92 immediately, being rent arrears to 18 June 2026.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,720.00 (BN-00087820) to [COMPANY] [NAME] As Agent For [NAME] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 18 June 2026 $8,091.71 Water rates $373.21 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $8,492.92 Bond $2,720.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $5,772.92
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing. The landlord attended by video and both tenants attended by telephone.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5468650 2
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and water rates and has provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing.
3. The tenant [NAME] said that she had been overseas for 3 months and was seeking assistance next week to repay the rent owing.
4. The property is one of three houses that use the same water pipe and one invoice from [COMPANY] is issued. A tenant is only liable for outgoings exclusively attributable to their occupation and use of the premises. See section39 Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
5. The landlord provided copies of the water care invoices and photos of the individual check metre for the premises as well as calculations used to establish the properties share water used.
6. The tenants agreed that they had made one payment towards the water rates since the beginning of the tenancy and did not dispute the amount owing.
7. [COMPANY] [NAME] As Agent For [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
T Harris
18 June 2026
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5468650 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, or the failure to make an order, where the amount in dispute on appeal is
less than $1000 • a final order to undertake work, or the failure to make an order, where the value of the
work in dispute on appeal is 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/
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5468650 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 provided records and invoices that proved the amount of rent owing.
- The landlord provided water care invoices, photos of the individual check meter, and calculations to show the property's share of water usage.
- The tenants agreed that they had made only one payment towards water rates since the start of the tenancy.
- The tenants did not dispute the amount of water rates owing.
- The landlord succeeded with the claim, so the filing fee was reimbursed.
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 rent arrears and their share of water rates.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was over the amount of rent arrears and the proportionate share of water rates the tenant owed.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided based on the landlord's proof of the amounts owed, including rent records and water invoices.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 39 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The landlord's presentation of rent records and water invoices proved the amounts owed.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the landlord, ordering the tenant to pay the specified amounts.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they have proof of the amounts owed, such as rent records and utility bills.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records and water invoices provided by the landlord were crucial evidence.