What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5235351 about?

The tribunal order states: [The tenant/s] must pay Kāinga Ora–Homes And Communities

How much money was awarded in case 5235351?

Cleaning: $1,003.93 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $152.77 awarded to landlord; Holes In Walls: $101.36 awarded to landlord; Kitchen Pantry Cupboard: $44.72 awarded to landlord; Wardrobe Doors: $575.36 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5235351?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness. Related themes: Property damage, Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5235351?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12391762-Tribunal_Order.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5235351 about?

The tribunal order states: [The tenant/s] must pay Kāinga Ora–Homes And Communities

How much money was awarded in case 5235351?

Cleaning: $1,003.93 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $152.77 awarded to landlord; Holes In Walls: $101.36 awarded to landlord; Kitchen Pantry Cupboard: $44.72 awarded to landlord; Wardrobe Doors: $575.36 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5235351?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness. Related themes: Property damage, Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5235351?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12391762-Tribunal_Order.pdf.

11 Ben Rarere Avenue, Aranui, Christchurch 8061 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5235351 — Cleanliness

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5235351 — net $1,905.14 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 19 February 2025	$152.77	Rent arrears to 19 February 2025
Repairs: wardrobe doors	$575.36	Repairs: wardrobe doors
Repairs: holes in walls	$101.36	Repairs: holes in walls
Repairs: kitchen pantry cupboard	$44.72	Repairs: kitchen pantry cupboard
Cleaning (general and oven	$1,003.93	Cleaning (general and oven
Filing fee reimbursement	$27.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$1,905.14
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,905.14

The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant did not.

The landlord has applied for rent arrears and compensation following the end of the tenancy.

As the applicant, the landlord must prove their claim to the civil law standard of proof, on the balance of probabilities.

The issues I must determine are: a. Does the tenant owe rent arrears? b. Did the tenant leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy? c. Is the tenant responsible for damaging the premises?

Does the tenant owe rent arrears?

The tenancy ended on 19 February 2025. The landlord submitted a rent summary, which records rent arrears as being $152.77 up to this date.

I accept the landlord’s rent summary as accurate and find the tenant owes $152.77 in rent arrears.

Did the tenant leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy?

The law

At the end of the tenancy, the tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy. 1

“Reasonably” clean means clean to the standard an average, reasonable bystander would consider reasonable. 2 It does not mean commercially clean, 3 spotless 4 or to a hotel or motel standard. 5 The better the premises and the higher the rent payable, the higher the standard expected. 6 Analysis

The landlord submitted photographs taken at the end of the tenancy. These show the walls are dirty with grime and scribbles on them. The floor has not been vacuumed or mopped. Bench surfaces and drawers have not been wiped down. The oven and bathroom have not been cleaned. For this reason, I find the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy.

The landlord submitted a work order for general cleaning and oven cleaning totalling $1,003.93. The landlord’s claim for compensation is granted in full for this amount. 1 Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 40(1)(e)(iii). 2 Housing New Zealand v Holloway NZTT Auckland TT215/93, 8 February 1993 at [8]. 3 Mills v Kiwi Property Care Ltd NZTT Auckland TT215/93, 8 February 1993 at [8]. 4 Chang v Driscoll NZTT Christchurch TT2043/98, 21 July 1998 at [6]. 5 Richards v Scully NZTT Christchurch TT858/97, 8 May 1997 at [3]; Chang v Driscoll NZTT Christchurch TT2043/98, 21 July 1998 at [6]. 6 Westwood v Western [1994] DCR 759 at [770].

Is the tenant responsible for damaging the premises?

The law

A landlord must prove that damage to the premises occurred during the tenancy and is more than fair wear and tear. If this is established, to avoid liability, the tenant must prove they did not carelessly or intentionally cause or permit the damage. Tenants are liable for the actions of people at the premises with their permission. 7 Analysis

The landlord submitted photographs taken at the end of the tenancy. These show damage in the following areas: a. Wardrobe doors are missing from bedroom 1. b. Two small – moderate holes in the wall in bedroom 2. c. Skirting/kickboard for the pantry in the kitchen has been removed.

The landlord submitted photographs taken at the beginning of the tenancy. None of the damage listed above is apparent. Therefore, I am convinced on the balance of probability that it occurred during the tenancy. The damage is more than fair wear and tear and the tenant has not disproved liability.

The landlord submitted a work order for repairs. Their claim for compensation is granted for the following amounts: a. Replace wardrobe doors: $575.36 b. Repair holes in the walls: $101.36 c. Repair pantry cupboard skirting/kickboard:$44.72 Filing fee

Because Kāinga Ora–Homes And Communities has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee. L Ryken 7 Residential Tenancies Act 1986, sections 40(2)(a), 41 and 49B. 10 September 2025

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5235351 — net $1,905.14 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 19 February 2025	$152.77	Rent arrears to 19 February 2025
Repairs: wardrobe doors	$575.36	Repairs: wardrobe doors
Repairs: holes in walls	$101.36	Repairs: holes in walls
Repairs: kitchen pantry cupboard	$44.72	Repairs: kitchen pantry cupboard
Cleaning (general and oven	$1,003.93	Cleaning (general and oven
Filing fee reimbursement	$27.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$1,905.14
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,905.14

Order

[The tenant/s] must pay Kāinga Ora–Homes And Communities $1,905.14 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

Reasons

The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant did not.
The landlord has applied for rent arrears and compensation following the end of the tenancy.
As the applicant, the landlord must prove their claim to the civil law standard of proof, on the balance of probabilities.
The issues I must determine are: a. Does the tenant owe rent arrears? b. Did the tenant leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy? c. Is the tenant responsible for damaging the premises?

Does the tenant owe rent arrears?

The tenancy ended on 19 February 2025. The landlord submitted a rent summary, which records rent arrears as being $152.77 up to this date.
I accept the landlord’s rent summary as accurate and find the tenant owes $152.77 in rent arrears.

Did the tenant leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy?

The law

At the end of the tenancy, the tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy. 1
“Reasonably” clean means clean to the standard an average, reasonable bystander would consider reasonable. 2 It does not mean commercially clean, 3 spotless 4 or to a hotel or motel standard. 5 The better the premises and the higher the rent payable, the higher the standard expected. 6 Analysis
The landlord submitted photographs taken at the end of the tenancy. These show the walls are dirty with grime and scribbles on them. The floor has not been vacuumed or mopped. Bench surfaces and drawers have not been wiped down. The oven and bathroom have not been cleaned. For this reason, I find the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy.
The landlord submitted a work order for general cleaning and oven cleaning totalling $1,003.93. The landlord’s claim for compensation is granted in full for this amount. 1 Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 40(1)(e)(iii). 2 Housing New Zealand v Holloway NZTT Auckland TT215/93, 8 February 1993 at [8]. 3 Mills v Kiwi Property Care Ltd NZTT Auckland TT215/93, 8 February 1993 at [8]. 4 Chang v Driscoll NZTT Christchurch TT2043/98, 21 July 1998 at [6]. 5 Richards v Scully NZTT Christchurch TT858/97, 8 May 1997 at [3]; Chang v Driscoll NZTT Christchurch TT2043/98, 21 July 1998 at [6]. 6 Westwood v Western [1994] DCR 759 at [770].

Is the tenant responsible for damaging the premises?

The law

A landlord must prove that damage to the premises occurred during the tenancy and is more than fair wear and tear. If this is established, to avoid liability, the tenant must prove they did not carelessly or intentionally cause or permit the damage. Tenants are liable for the actions of people at the premises with their permission. 7 Analysis
The landlord submitted photographs taken at the end of the tenancy. These show damage in the following areas: a. Wardrobe doors are missing from bedroom 1. b. Two small – moderate holes in the wall in bedroom 2. c. Skirting/kickboard for the pantry in the kitchen has been removed.
The landlord submitted photographs taken at the beginning of the tenancy. None of the damage listed above is apparent. Therefore, I am convinced on the balance of probability that it occurred during the tenancy. The damage is more than fair wear and tear and the tenant has not disproved liability.
The landlord submitted a work order for repairs. Their claim for compensation is granted for the following amounts: a. Replace wardrobe doors: $575.36 b. Repair holes in the walls: $101.36 c. Repair pantry cupboard skirting/kickboard:$44.72 Filing fee
Because Kāinga Ora–Homes And Communities has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee. L Ryken 7 Residential Tenancies Act 1986, sections 40(2)(a), 41 and 49B. 10 September 2025

Tenancy Tribunal case 5235351 — Cleanliness at 11 Ben Rarere Avenue, Aranui, Christchurch 8061

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5235351 — Cleanliness at 11 Ben Rarere Avenue, Aranui, Christchurch 8061

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Does the tenant owe rent arrears?

Did the tenant leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy?

Is the tenant responsible for damaging the premises?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions

Reduce avoidable tribunal risk with proper tenant checks.

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Does the tenant owe rent arrears?

Did the tenant leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy?

Is the tenant responsible for damaging the premises?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions

Reduce avoidable tribunal risk with proper tenant checks.