Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Water Rates
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay rent arrears and water rates to the landlord. The tenant agreed to the debt and will make weekly payments of $100.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and water rates to the landlord under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
📖 What the law says
This rule allows a tenant to ask the Tenancy Tribunal to cancel a notice from their landlord ending the tenancy. The tenant must apply within 14 working days if they believe the landlord gave the notice because the tenant used their rights or complained about 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 to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and water rates to the landlord, with weekly payments starting immediately. The tenant agreed to the debt and consented to make payments of $100 per week.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5132170 1
[2025] NZTT 5132170
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT [Event location suppressed]
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [Tenancy address suppressed]
ORDER
1. The Tribunal orders suppression of all party identifying details.
2. [The tenant/s] must pay [The landlord/s] $3,954.81 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
3. [The tenant/s] must pay the debt in order 2 at the rate of $100 minimum per week.
4. The first payment must be made on Wednesday 19 March 2025 and payments must continue every Wednesday until the debt is paid in full.
5. If the tenant fails to make any payment within 2 working days of the due date, the balance of the debt owing will be payable immediately and can be enforced through the District Court.
6. The [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $1,640.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 3/3/25 $5,047.14 Water rates to 3/3/25 $520.67 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $5,594.81 Bond $1,640.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $3,954.81
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5132170 2
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing which was held remotely.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, water rates, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
3. The tenant agrees to the debt and consents to make payments of $100 per week towards the debt after the bond has been paid to the landlord.
4. Because [[NAME]] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
5. Because this order is made by consent it is appropriate that all party identifying details be redacted from the published order.
[NAME] 10 March 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5132170 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 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 tenant agreed to the debt and consented to make weekly payments.
- The landlord succeeded entirely with the claim, which meant the filing fee was reimbursed.
- The tenant must pay the landlord $5,047.14 for rent arrears.
- The tenant must pay the landlord $520.67 for water rates.
- The bond of $1,640.00 is to be paid 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 rent arrears and water rates to the landlord.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears and water rates to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the debt because the tenant agreed to the amount owed.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The tenant's agreement to the debt and consent to make payments was the central 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 expect to pay any outstanding rent arrears and water rates if they agree to the debt.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents that mattered.