Tenant's Tenancy Terminated Due to Rent Arrears
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ended a tenant's lease because they hadn't paid their rent for over 21 days, following the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant's tenancy can be terminated if rent is at least 21 days in arrears.
📖 What the law says
This rule states that the Tenancy Tribunal must end a tenancy if the landlord applies and the rent was at least 21 days late when the application was submitted. It also allows termination for substantial damage to the property or assault/threats against the landlord or others.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The tenancy was terminated due to rent arrears.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal terminated the tenant's tenancy due to rent arrears exceeding 21 days, as per the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 55(1)(a).
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5121194
TENANCY TRIBUNAL - Wellington | Te Whanganui-a-Tara
APPLICANT: [redacted] [COMPANY] As Trustees Of [COMPANY]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], Cannons Creek, [COMPANY] 5024
ORDER
1. The applicant’s name is amended from [COMPANY] to [NAME] to reflect the legal entity of the owner’s agent.
2. The tenancy of [NAME] at [ADDRESS], Cannons Creek, [COMPANY] 5024 is terminated, and possession is granted immediately to [NAME] as Agent For [NAME] And [COMPANY] As Trustees Of [COMPANY].
3. The [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $2,600.00 (5829991-004) to [NAME] As Agent For [NAME] And [COMPANY] As Trustees Of [COMPANY] immediately.
4. [NAME] must pay [NAME] As Agent For [NAME] And [COMPANY] As Trustees Of [COMPANY] $4,426.60 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below:
Description Landlord Rent arrears to 12 February 2025 $6,999.60 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $7,026.60 Less Bond $2,600.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $4,426.60
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Reasons:
1. Only the landlord attended the hearing. The tenant was phoned twice at the time of the hearing, but calls went to voicemail and then busy on the calls.
2. The landlord has applied for termination of the tenancy, rent arrears, the filing fee and refund of the bond.
3. Rent was at least 21 days in arrears on the date the application was filed. The tenancy is terminated. See section 55(1)(a) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
4. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
Filing Fee
5. Because the landlord has been wholly successful with the claim, the filing fee of $27.00 is ordered.
[NAME]
12 February 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
- Rent was at least 21 days in arrears.
- The landlord provided rent records proving the amount owing.
- The landlord applied for termination of the tenancy due to rent arrears.
- The landlord was successful with their claim, so the filing fee was ordered.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not attend the hearing.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The tenant's tenancy was terminated due to unpaid rent exceeding 21 days.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about whether the tenant's tenancy should be terminated due to rent arrears.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to terminate the tenancy because the rent was at least 21 days in arrears, as required by the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
Which laws or rules were applied?
Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 55(1)(a)
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was that the rent was at least 21 days in arrears.
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 could have their tenancy terminated if they fail to pay rent for over 21 days.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The landlord provided rent records proving the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.