Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Water Rates Arrears
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $596.60 to the landlord for unpaid rent and water rates. The tenant did not attend the hearing, and the bond was transferred to the landlord.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears and water rates arrears to the landlord if they have not been paid.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and water rates arrears to the landlord.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $596.60 to the landlord for rent arrears and water rates arrears, and the bond was transferred to the landlord. The tenant did not attend the hearing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5194351
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/[ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For Grant Cooper $596.60 immediately, being rent arrears to 18 May 2025.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,800.00 (3053618-027) to [COMPANY] As Agent For Grant Cooper immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $2,000.00 Water rates $369.60 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $2,396.60 Bond $1,800.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $596.60
Reasons:
1. The Landlord attended the hearing by telephone. The Tenant did not attend by video or answer telephone calls made by the Tribunal to the phone number provided for the Tenant.
2. The Landlord applied for rent arrears, water rates arrears, termination, reimbursement of the filing fee and refund of the bond.
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3. At the hearing the Landlord advised the tenancy terminated on 18 May 2025.
4. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and water rates arrears and has provided records which prove the amount owing.
5. As [COMPANY] As Agent For Grant Cooper has wholly succeeded with the claim the Tenant must reimburse the filing fee.
A Aiolupotea 27 May 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 proof of the amount owed for rent arrears and water rates.
- The tenancy was officially terminated on 18 May 2025.
- The tenant did not attend the hearing nor respond to calls from the tribunal.
- The landlord successfully claimed reimbursement of the filing fee.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The decision ordered the tenant to pay $596.60 to the landlord for rent arrears and water rates arrears.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent and water rates arrears owed by the tenant to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the landlord for the rent arrears and water rates arrears because the tenant did not attend the hearing and failed to make the payments.
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 that the tenant had not paid the rent and water rates arrears as required by the lease agreement.
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 pay their rent and water rates on time to avoid facing legal action.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence included records proving the amount of rent and water rates arrears owed by the tenant.