How much money was awarded in case 5299086?

Cleaning: $107.50 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $235.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5299086?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5299086?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12421388-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

How much money was awarded in case 5299086?

Cleaning: $107.50 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $235.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5299086?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5299086?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12421388-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

882A Governors Bay Road, Rapaki, Lyttelton 8971 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5299086 — Cleanliness

Q: What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5299086 about?

The tribunal order states: An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5299086 — net $342.50 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Carpet Cleaning	$107.50	Carpet Cleaning
Cleaning	$235.00	Cleaning
Net award	$342.50
Bond	$685.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$342.50

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Tenant name and identifying details.

[The tenant/s] to pay Whalan And Partners Limited As Agent For Owner $342.50 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $685.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) immediately apportioned as follows: Whalan And Partners Limited As Agent For Owner: $342.50 [The tenant/s]: $342.50

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing by video.

The tenant applied for refund of the bond.

The landlord applied for rent arrears, cleaning, carpet cleaning and carpet replacement.

The parties had attended mediation on 8 July 2025 where some agreement was reached in relation to rent arrears and carpet replacement. Part of the bond was released in accordance with the agreement.

The remaining issue for determination by the Tribunal was carpet cleaning and cleaning. The bond balance of $685.00 remains with the Bond Centre.

The landlord claims $215.00 for carpet cleaning. The landlord produced photographs of the carpet showing an obvious stain in bedroom two which was acknowledged by the tenant as being caused during the tenancy.

The other stains are less clear in the photographs. There are no photographs of the carpet from before the tenancy commenced. It is therefore not possible to accurately determine which stains were caused during the tenancy.

The tenant submits that he did not notice any stains at either the beginning or the end of the tenancy except for the bedroom two stain.

As the tenant has accepted responsibility for the bedroom two stain and the landlord had attempted to clean the stain before it became clear that replacement of the carpet in that room was necessary, the tenant is responsible for the carpet cleaning of that stain. I have determined that the tenant should pay for half of the carpet cleaning invoice which is $107.50.

The landlord claims $470.00 for ten hours of cleaning. Photographs were produced showing that some cleaning was required particularly in relation to the oven/stove, shower, benchtop, taps, cabinets and washing machine and dryer.

The tenant submitted that the condition the premises were left in were like the condition to which it was provided in. He said that the premises were clean at the end of the tenancy but acknowledged some spots needed further cleaning. He thought the amount sought, being 10 hours’ worth of cleaning was excessive.

The test is whether the premises were left in a reasonably clean and tidy condition at the end of the tenancy. The condition at the beginning is not relevant.

I agree that some cleaning was required but I also consider that it did not require 10 hours of cleaning. Instead, it would be reasonable for the cleaning identified to be addressed within five hours. I have therefore halved the invoice so that the tenant is liable for $235.00.

As both parties have had some success with their applications I make no award for reimbursement of the filing fee. For the same reason I suppress the tenant’s name as sought.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5299086 — net $342.50 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Carpet Cleaning	$107.50	Carpet Cleaning
Cleaning	$235.00	Cleaning
Net award	$342.50
Bond	$685.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$342.50

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Tenant name and identifying details.
[The tenant/s] to pay Whalan And Partners Limited As Agent For Owner $342.50 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $685.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) immediately apportioned as follows: Whalan And Partners Limited As Agent For Owner: $342.50 [The tenant/s]: $342.50

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing by video.
The tenant applied for refund of the bond.
The landlord applied for rent arrears, cleaning, carpet cleaning and carpet replacement.
The parties had attended mediation on 8 July 2025 where some agreement was reached in relation to rent arrears and carpet replacement. Part of the bond was released in accordance with the agreement.
The remaining issue for determination by the Tribunal was carpet cleaning and cleaning. The bond balance of $685.00 remains with the Bond Centre.
The landlord claims $215.00 for carpet cleaning. The landlord produced photographs of the carpet showing an obvious stain in bedroom two which was acknowledged by the tenant as being caused during the tenancy.
The other stains are less clear in the photographs. There are no photographs of the carpet from before the tenancy commenced. It is therefore not possible to accurately determine which stains were caused during the tenancy.
The tenant submits that he did not notice any stains at either the beginning or the end of the tenancy except for the bedroom two stain.
As the tenant has accepted responsibility for the bedroom two stain and the landlord had attempted to clean the stain before it became clear that replacement of the carpet in that room was necessary, the tenant is responsible for the carpet cleaning of that stain. I have determined that the tenant should pay for half of the carpet cleaning invoice which is $107.50.
The landlord claims $470.00 for ten hours of cleaning. Photographs were produced showing that some cleaning was required particularly in relation to the oven/stove, shower, benchtop, taps, cabinets and washing machine and dryer.
The tenant submitted that the condition the premises were left in were like the condition to which it was provided in. He said that the premises were clean at the end of the tenancy but acknowledged some spots needed further cleaning. He thought the amount sought, being 10 hours’ worth of cleaning was excessive.
The test is whether the premises were left in a reasonably clean and tidy condition at the end of the tenancy. The condition at the beginning is not relevant.
I agree that some cleaning was required but I also consider that it did not require 10 hours of cleaning. Instead, it would be reasonable for the cleaning identified to be addressed within five hours. I have therefore halved the invoice so that the tenant is liable for $235.00.
As both parties have had some success with their applications I make no award for reimbursement of the filing fee. For the same reason I suppress the tenant’s name as sought.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5299086 — Cleanliness at 882A Governors Bay Road, Rapaki, Lyttelton 8971

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5299086 — Cleanliness at 882A Governors Bay Road, Rapaki, Lyttelton 8971

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Key findings

Frequently asked questions