Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Water Rates
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay the landlord for unpaid rent and water bills. The landlord also received back the bond money paid initially.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and water rates to the landlord under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and water rates to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and water rates to the landlord, with the landlord receiving the bond amount. The landlord provided proof of the amounts owed through rent records and water rates invoices.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5240159 1
[2025] NZTT 5240159
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT [Event location suppressed]
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [Tenancy address suppressed]
ORDER
1. An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlord name and identifying details.
2. The [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $2,880.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.
3. [NAME] must pay [The landlord/s] $2,281.61 immediately, calculated as shown in table below:
Description Landlord Rent arrears (to 17 May 2025) $4,937.00 Water rates (to 17 May 2025) $197.61 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $5,161.61 Bond $2,880.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $2,281.61
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing.
2. The hearing was scheduled to take place by video. Neither party joined by the video link provided, so I called the parties.
3. One of the calls was answered by [NAME]’s partner, who asked if the call was a joke and terminated the call. When I tried the number again, Mr
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[NAME]’s partner answered, became very angry toward the landlord and, again the call was terminated.
4. I tried an alternative number and [NAME] answered. He said that his partner had a claim against the landlord but otherwise, didn’t know anything about what was happening. [NAME]’s partner is not a tenant, and the claim is not against her.
5. The tenancy has ended, and the landlord has applied for rent arrears and water rates and has provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing.
6. As the landlord was the successful party, I have awarded reimbursement of the filing fee and granted its request for suppression of its details.
R Morgan 10 June 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.
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].
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/
Reasons:
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices, which proved the amounts owed.
- The landlord was the successful party in the application.
- The landlord's request for suppression of its identifying details was granted.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant's partner claimed to have a separate claim against the landlord, but this was not relevant to the current tenancy.
- The tenant's partner was not a tenant and her claim was not against her.
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 water rates to the landlord, and the landlord received the bond amount.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was over unpaid rent and water bills, and the return of the bond money.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the landlord provided proof of the amounts owed through rent records and water rates invoices.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The landlord's provision of proof of the amounts owed through rent records and water rates invoices was the most important argument.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was against the tenant who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they have proof of any payments due and provide it to the Tenancy Tribunal.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records and water rates invoices provided by the landlord mattered in this decision.