Tenant Ordered to Repay Rent Arrears Through Weekly Payments
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to repay rent arrears through weekly payments after the landlord proved the amount owing and the tenant agreed to the repayment terms during the hearing.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must repay rent arrears according to the terms agreed upon during the hearing.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to repay rent arrears through weekly payments.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to repay rent arrears through weekly payments after the landlord proved the amount owing and the tenant agreed to the repayment terms during the hearing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5206811
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] owes [COMPANY] $2,235.72 (“the debt”) being rent arrears to 12 June 2025.
2. [NAME] must pay rent and the debt as follows:
a. By 55 weekly payments of $140.00, being $100.00 for rent and $40.00 for the debt.
b. A final payment of $135.72, being $100.00 for rent and $35.72 for the debt.
c. Payments will be every Thursday, with the first payment on 12/06/2025 and continuing until 02/07/2026.
3. Payments will be allocated in the following order: rent and then rent arrears.
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing by telephone.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
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3. The tenant agreed at the hearing to making repayment of the outstanding rent by weekly payments of $40.00, in addition to continuing to make payment of the weekly rent.
4. It is appropriate to record the debt and the parties’ agreement regarding repayment in this order.
G Baker
06 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.
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 tenant agreed to repay the rent arrears through weekly payments.
- The landlord provided rent records proving the amount owed.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- There are no arguments listed as rejected by the court in this decision.
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 repay rent arrears through weekly payments.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must repay the rent arrears through weekly payments because the landlord proved the amount owing and the tenant agreed to the terms during the hearing.
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 proof of rent arrears provided by the landlord and the agreement by the tenant to repay the arrears.
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 rent arrears and reach an agreement with the landlord during the hearing.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records provided by the landlord mattered in proving the amount owing.