Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Water Rates
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $700.28 for rent arrears and water rates, less the bond amount, after the tenant did not attend the hearing and the landlord provided proof of the amount owing.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay a landlord for rent arrears and water rates when the tenant does not attend the hearing and the landlord provides proof of the amount owing.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord for rent arrears and water rates, less the bond amount.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $700.28 for rent arrears and water rates, less the bond amount, after the tenant did not attend the hearing and the landlord provided proof of the amount owing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2026] NZTT 5485849
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME_2] must pay [COMPANY_1] $700.28 immediately, calculated as shown in table below:
Description Landlord Rent arrears (to 20 April 2026) $3,509.29 Water rates (to 20 April 2026) $202.99 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $3,740.28 Bond $3,040.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $700.28
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $3,040.00 (5889956-005) to [COMPANY_1] immediately.
Reasons:
1. A representative of the landlord attended the hearing.
2. The tenant did not attend by the video link in the notice of hearing. I made two calls to her mobile during the hearing. The calls were not answered.
3. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and water rates to the end of the tenancy on 20 April 2026. The landlord has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
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4. As the landlord was the successful party, I have also awarded reimbursement of the Tribunal application fee. The Bond will be refunded to the landlord.
R Morgan
15 June 2026
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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, 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/
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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 which prove the amount owing.
- As the landlord was the successful party, the Tribunal awarded reimbursement of the Tribunal application fee.
- The Bond will be refunded to the landlord.
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 the landlord $700.28 for rent arrears and water rates, less the bond amount.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's failure to pay rent arrears and water rates to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant did not attend the hearing and the landlord provided proof of the amount owing.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the tenant's non-attendance and the landlord's provision of proof of the amount owing.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the landlord.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they attend the hearing and provide evidence if they disagree with the landlord's claims.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The landlord provided rent records to prove the amount owing.