Tenancy Tribunal applications: evidence checklist

When landlords apply to the Tribunal

The Tenancy Tribunal resolves disputes between landlords and tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act. Common landlord applications include:

• Rent arrears — tenant has not paid rent after reminders and a valid Notice to Remedy
• Damage or cleaning — tenant caused loss beyond fair wear and tear
• Bond claims — disagreement over deductions at end of tenancy
• Termination disputes — whether a notice was valid or a tenancy should end

Applications are filed online through Tenancy Services. You will describe the dispute and attach supporting documents.

Evidence the Tribunal expects

Adjudicators work from dated, specific records. Gather these before you apply:

• Signed tenancy agreement — start date, rent amount, and parties
• Rent ledger — every payment due, received, and shortfall (see below)
• Notices served — Notice to Remedy, 14-day or other RTA notices with proof of service
• Communications — emails or texts about the breach (keep copies in order)
• Inspection reports and photos — move-in, periodic, and move-out condition evidence
• Bond records — lodgement reference, statements, and any refund correspondence
• Quotes or invoices — if claiming repair or cleaning costs

If you issued a Notice to Remedy, include a copy and note when and how it was served. For rent arrears, the ledger should match the amount claimed.

Why your rent ledger matters

A rent ledger is a running record of rent charged, payments received, and the balance owing. It is often the first document an adjudicator checks in an arrears case.

A strong ledger shows:

• Each rent period (e.g. weekly or fortnightly) with the amount due
• Date and amount of every payment — bank transfer, cash receipt, or other
• Running balance after each entry
• Any agreed variations (rent increase notices, partial payments, credits)

Spreadsheets can work for one property, but errors and missing dates are common. TenancyIQ builds the ledger from your tenancy record and exports it for Tribunal evidence alongside notices and documents.

Rent arrears — typical sequence

For unpaid rent, the Tribunal usually expects you to have followed a reasonable process:

1. Contact the tenant about the missed payment and keep a record.
2. Issue a valid Notice to Remedy if rent remains unpaid — see our Notice to Remedy guide.
3. Wait for the remedy period to expire — check current RTA timeframes.
4. If still unpaid, apply to the Tribunal with your ledger and notice copies.

TenancyIQ tracks this workflow on each tenancy and flags when a Tribunal application may be appropriate, so you are not guessing dates from memory.

Organise before you file

Label files clearly (e.g. 01-agreement.pdf, 02-rent-ledger.csv, 03-notice-to-remedy.pdf). Write a short chronology: one page listing key dates and what happened. The Tribunal form asks for a summary — your chronology becomes the draft.

TenancyIQ's evidence pack bundles cover sheet, rent ledger, arrears summary, bond details, and uploaded documents into one ZIP you can review before attaching to your application.

Checklist before submitting

• Tenancy agreement and bond lodgement reference on file
• Rent ledger balances match the amount you are claiming
• Copies of all notices with dates and proof of service
• Photos or inspection reports support any damage claim
• Chronology written in plain language with exact dates
• Tenant contact details match Tenancy Services records