What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5293481?

The tribunal order states: Ratu Naqau and Mele Latu must pay Csi Property Management Limited As

How much money was awarded in case 5293481?

Filing Fee: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $638.58 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $862.50 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $802.51 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5293481?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5293481?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12384525-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5293481?

The tribunal order states: Ratu Naqau and Mele Latu must pay Csi Property Management Limited As

How much money was awarded in case 5293481?

Filing Fee: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $638.58 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $862.50 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $802.51 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5293481?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5293481?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12384525-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

75 John Walker Drive, Manurewa, Auckland 2102 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5293481 — Rent arrears

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5293481 — net $2,330.59 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears from 18 September 2023 to 29 April 2025	$638.58	Rent arrears from 18 September 2023 to 29 April 2025
Rubbish removal	$862.50	Rubbish removal
Water rates: from 18 September 2023 to 29 April 2025	$802.51	Water rates: from 18 September 2023 to 29 April 2025
Filing fee reimbursement	$27.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$2,330.59
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$2,330.59

Both parties attended the hearing. Ms Latu represented the tenants. Mr Naqau emailed immediately before the hearing asking for an adjournment but it was too late to make other arrangements. I decided to have the hearing with the landlord and Ms Latu.

The landlord has applied for arrears, compensation, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

The claim for rent arrears with the previous property manager was withdrawn at the hearing after my advice that this claim needs to be brought by the owner.

How much is owed for rent and water rates?

The tenancy ended on 29 April 2025. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.

The tenant submitted that there was an agreement that the water would be $30 a week and this was recorded in the tenancy agreement. I have read the clause which allowed the tenants to pay $30 a week so that there was a credit each month when the water rates bills were due. I find this clause did not change the tenants’ responsibility to pay for all the water used exclusively by them during the tenancy.

The amounts ordered are proved.

Did the tenants comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?

Tenants must return the premises in a reasonably clean and tidy state and remove their rubbish at the end of the tenancy. See section 40(1)(c) and (e)(iii) Residential Tenancies Act (RTA).

The RTA does not require the premises to be provided or returned in a spotless or an immaculate condition. The standard is based on what an average bystander would consider reasonable, not on the subjective opinions of the landlord and tenant. There is no scientific way to determine what is reasonably clean and tidy, and the Tribunal must evaluate the evidence available, and in particular inspection reports and photographs.

The landlord provided me with good photos taken at the end of the tenancy, however the landlord could not tell me the date the photos were taken. This is relevant because the tenants believed other people added rubbish outside the house after the tenancy ended. The tenants also left furniture and some rubbish in the garage. I have considered the photos and I find the amount claimed is reasonable for removing the items from the garage, which means the tenants are not paying for any rubbish that could have been added after the last day. The claim is proved and allowed.

The tenants did not return the back door key and there is a claim for replacing a lock. The tenants said the back door lock was hard to use during the tenancy and this was never repaired, despite telling the landlord about the need for maintenance. I find there is a chance the lock was replaced because of the deferred maintenance, and maintenance is a landlord’s responsibility. This claim is dismissed. Other orders

Because the landlord has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.

The tenants made an application for suppression, asking for privacy for the family. The Tribunal may, on the application of any party to proceedings or on its own initiative, order that the name of a party not be published, having regard to the interests of the parties and to the public interest. See section 95A RTA.

I have weighed the public interest against the request for privacy. I find the public interest in the tenants’ names when money is owed at the end of the tenancy justifies the publication. The application for suppression is not allowed.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5293481 — net $2,330.59 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears from 18 September 2023 to 29 April 2025	$638.58	Rent arrears from 18 September 2023 to 29 April 2025
Rubbish removal	$862.50	Rubbish removal
Water rates: from 18 September 2023 to 29 April 2025	$802.51	Water rates: from 18 September 2023 to 29 April 2025
Filing fee reimbursement	$27.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$2,330.59
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$2,330.59

Order

Ratu Naqau and Mele Latu must pay Csi Property Management Limited As Agent For Mar Krishna Investments Ltd $2,330.59 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
All other claims are dismissed.

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing. Ms Latu represented the tenants. Mr Naqau emailed immediately before the hearing asking for an adjournment but it was too late to make other arrangements. I decided to have the hearing with the landlord and Ms Latu.
The landlord has applied for arrears, compensation, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
The claim for rent arrears with the previous property manager was withdrawn at the hearing after my advice that this claim needs to be brought by the owner.

How much is owed for rent and water rates?

The tenancy ended on 29 April 2025. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
The tenant submitted that there was an agreement that the water would be $30 a week and this was recorded in the tenancy agreement. I have read the clause which allowed the tenants to pay $30 a week so that there was a credit each month when the water rates bills were due. I find this clause did not change the tenants’ responsibility to pay for all the water used exclusively by them during the tenancy.
The amounts ordered are proved.

Did the tenants comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?

Tenants must return the premises in a reasonably clean and tidy state and remove their rubbish at the end of the tenancy. See section 40(1)(c) and (e)(iii) Residential Tenancies Act (RTA).
The RTA does not require the premises to be provided or returned in a spotless or an immaculate condition. The standard is based on what an average bystander would consider reasonable, not on the subjective opinions of the landlord and tenant. There is no scientific way to determine what is reasonably clean and tidy, and the Tribunal must evaluate the evidence available, and in particular inspection reports and photographs.
The landlord provided me with good photos taken at the end of the tenancy, however the landlord could not tell me the date the photos were taken. This is relevant because the tenants believed other people added rubbish outside the house after the tenancy ended. The tenants also left furniture and some rubbish in the garage. I have considered the photos and I find the amount claimed is reasonable for removing the items from the garage, which means the tenants are not paying for any rubbish that could have been added after the last day. The claim is proved and allowed.
The tenants did not return the back door key and there is a claim for replacing a lock. The tenants said the back door lock was hard to use during the tenancy and this was never repaired, despite telling the landlord about the need for maintenance. I find there is a chance the lock was replaced because of the deferred maintenance, and maintenance is a landlord’s responsibility. This claim is dismissed. Other orders
Because the landlord has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.
The tenants made an application for suppression, asking for privacy for the family. The Tribunal may, on the application of any party to proceedings or on its own initiative, order that the name of a party not be published, having regard to the interests of the parties and to the public interest. See section 95A RTA.
I have weighed the public interest against the request for privacy. I find the public interest in the tenants’ names when money is owed at the end of the tenancy justifies the publication. The application for suppression is not allowed.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5293481 — Rent arrears at 75 John Walker Drive, Manurewa, Auckland 2102

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5293481 — Rent arrears at 75 John Walker Drive, Manurewa, Auckland 2102

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Dismissed claims

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for rent and water rates?

Did the tenants comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Dismissed claims

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for rent and water rates?

Did the tenants comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions