Tenant Ordered to Pay Unpaid Water Rates and Filing Fees
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered a tenant to pay $490.05 to their landlord, which includes unpaid water rates and the landlord's filing fee. The tenant did not attend the hearing and was therefore absent.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay outstanding water rates to the landlord.
📖 Technical summary
The claimant successfully recovered unpaid water rates and filing fees from the respondent.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $490.05 to the landlord, including outstanding water rates and filing fees, after the tenant failed to attend the hearing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5102413 1
[2025] NZTT 5102413
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] $490.05 immediately, calculated as shown in table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Water rates owed to 4 June 2025 $463.05 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $490.05 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $490.05
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended today’s video hearing. The tenant did not attend by video and was called on the three telephone numbers provided in the application. None of the calls were answered.
2. The landlord told me that that the tenant had emailed the landlord yesterday with a new telephone number and confirmed that he would be attending the
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5102413 2
hearing today by phone. I rang the number provided twice but none of the calls were answered.
3. I am satisfied that the tenant was aware of today’s hearing and have proceeded in his absence.
4. The landlord is seeking the balance of water rates owed of $463.05. The tenant has provided invoices and the ‘other balances’ ledgers that supports the claim. The ledger proves that as at today the tenant owes $463.05 in outstanding water rates.
5. [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
T Prowse
04 June 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5102413 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.
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/
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5102413 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 tenant provided invoices and ledgers proving the amount of unpaid water rates.
- The landlord successfully claimed the filing fee reimbursement along with the water rates.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not attend the hearing by video or respond to phone calls.
- The tenant did not provide any defense or counter-argument to the landlord's claims.
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 $490.05 to the landlord, including $463.05 in unpaid water rates and a $27 filing fee.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid water rates that the tenant owed to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant failed to attend the hearing and provide evidence against the claim.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the landlord's proof of the outstanding water rates and the tenant's failure to attend the hearing.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the person who brought the case, the landlord.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they attend all hearings and provide any necessary evidence to defend their position.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the exact evidence or documents used, but it mentions invoices and ledgers proving the outstanding water rates.