What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5304843 about?

The tribunal order states: [The tenant/s] tenant/s] must pay Nice Place Property Management Limited

How much money was awarded in case 5304843?

Cleaning: $494.50 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $450.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $130.00 awarded to landlord; Smoke Alarms: $110.00 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $1,900.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5304843?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness. Related themes: Property damage, Smoke alarms.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5304843?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12750172-Tribunal_Order.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5304843 about?

The tribunal order states: [The tenant/s] tenant/s] must pay Nice Place Property Management Limited

How much money was awarded in case 5304843?

Cleaning: $494.50 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $450.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $130.00 awarded to landlord; Smoke Alarms: $110.00 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $1,900.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5304843?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness. Related themes: Property damage, Smoke alarms.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5304843?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12750172-Tribunal_Order.pdf.

12 Waerenga Road, Otaki, Kapiti Coast 5512 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5304843 — Cleanliness

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12 Waerenga Road, Otaki, Kapiti Coast 5512 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5304843 — Cleanliness | TenantCheck

Claims & awards

What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5304843 — net $3,112.50 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rubbish removal: including the gate and tip fees and travel and labour	$1,900.00	Rubbish removal: including the gate and tip fees and travel and labour
Carpet Cleaning: house plus sleepout	$494.50	Carpet Cleaning: house plus sleepout
Cleaning	$450.00	Cleaning
Lock/key replacement	$130.00	Lock/key replacement
Replace smoke alarms: supply and fit	$110.00	Replace smoke alarms: supply and fit
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$3,112.50
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$3,112.50

Claims and awards for application 5304843 — net $3,112.50 NZD. Verify on MoJ.

Rubbish removal: including the gate and tip fees and travel and labour

Amount: $1,900.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Rubbish removal: including the gate and tip fees and travel and labour

Carpet Cleaning: house plus sleepout

Amount: $494.50
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Carpet Cleaning: house plus sleepout

Cleaning

Amount: $450.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Cleaning

Lock/key replacement

Amount: $130.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Lock/key replacement

Replace smoke alarms: supply and fit

Amount: $110.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason

Dismissed claims

Other Claims — All other claims dismissed

Claim types — money lines allowed on this order

Carpet Cleaning Cleanliness Filing Fee Property damage Replace Smoke Alarms Rubbish Removal

Order

[The tenant/s] tenant/s] must pay Nice Place Property Management Limited $3,112.50 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
All other claims are dismissed.

Reasons

The landlord attended the hearing.
The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy. The tenancy ended on 26 May 2025.
The parties had mediation earlier in the year and an order was made for rent arrears and the refund of the bond.

Did the tenant comply with her obligations at the end of the tenancy?

At the end of the tenancy the tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, remove all rubbish, return all keys and security devices, and leave all chattels provided for their benefit. See section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (RTA).
The tenant did not return the keys and two smoke alarms were missing at the end of the tenancy. I have calculated an amount for replacement and installation based on the invoice provided.
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 exit inspection. I can see the house, garage, sleepout, and section were not left in a reasonable condition. The amounts claimed for cleaning and carpet cleaning are allowed.
I have had to estimate the costs of rubbish removal because the invoice provided also covers repairs. The amount is high but there were 11 trips to the dump and the tip fees were around $700.
The claim for missing curtain hooks and hanging curtains is not allowed because curtains and rails often need maintenance at the end of a tenancy. Maintenance is the landlord’s responsibility.

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

There are claims for damage to doors, walls and windows. The 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. See sections 40(2)(a), 41 and 49B RTA.
None of the claims for damage are proved. The landlord did not have any supporting evidence about the condition of the house at the start of the tenancy. This means the landlord cannot prove the damage happened during the tenancy. These claims are dismissed. Filing fee
Because the landlord has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.

Claims & awards

What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5304843 — net $3,112.50 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rubbish removal: including the gate and tip fees and travel and labour	$1,900.00	Rubbish removal: including the gate and tip fees and travel and labour
Carpet Cleaning: house plus sleepout	$494.50	Carpet Cleaning: house plus sleepout
Cleaning	$450.00	Cleaning
Lock/key replacement	$130.00	Lock/key replacement
Replace smoke alarms: supply and fit	$110.00	Replace smoke alarms: supply and fit
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$3,112.50
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$3,112.50

Claims and awards for application 5304843 — net $3,112.50 NZD. Verify on MoJ.

Rubbish removal: including the gate and tip fees and travel and labour

Amount: $1,900.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Rubbish removal: including the gate and tip fees and travel and labour

Carpet Cleaning: house plus sleepout

Amount: $494.50
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Carpet Cleaning: house plus sleepout

Cleaning

Amount: $450.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Cleaning

Lock/key replacement

Amount: $130.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Lock/key replacement

Replace smoke alarms: supply and fit

Amount: $110.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason

Dismissed claims

Other Claims — All other claims dismissed

Claim types — money lines allowed on this order

Carpet Cleaning Cleanliness Filing Fee Property damage Replace Smoke Alarms Rubbish Removal

Order

[The tenant/s] tenant/s] must pay Nice Place Property Management Limited $3,112.50 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
All other claims are dismissed.

Reasons

The landlord attended the hearing.
The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy. The tenancy ended on 26 May 2025.
The parties had mediation earlier in the year and an order was made for rent arrears and the refund of the bond.

Did the tenant comply with her obligations at the end of the tenancy?

At the end of the tenancy the tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, remove all rubbish, return all keys and security devices, and leave all chattels provided for their benefit. See section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (RTA).
The tenant did not return the keys and two smoke alarms were missing at the end of the tenancy. I have calculated an amount for replacement and installation based on the invoice provided.
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 exit inspection. I can see the house, garage, sleepout, and section were not left in a reasonable condition. The amounts claimed for cleaning and carpet cleaning are allowed.
I have had to estimate the costs of rubbish removal because the invoice provided also covers repairs. The amount is high but there were 11 trips to the dump and the tip fees were around $700.
The claim for missing curtain hooks and hanging curtains is not allowed because curtains and rails often need maintenance at the end of a tenancy. Maintenance is the landlord’s responsibility.

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

There are claims for damage to doors, walls and windows. The 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. See sections 40(2)(a), 41 and 49B RTA.
None of the claims for damage are proved. The landlord did not have any supporting evidence about the condition of the house at the start of the tenancy. This means the landlord cannot prove the damage happened during the tenancy. These claims are dismissed. Filing fee
Because the landlord has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5304843 — Cleanliness at 12 Waerenga Road, Otaki, Kapiti Coast 5512

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5304843 — Cleanliness at 12 Waerenga Road, Otaki, Kapiti Coast 5512

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Dismissed claims

Order

Reasons

Did the tenant comply with her obligations at the end of the tenancy?

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to 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

Dismissed claims

Order

Reasons

Did the tenant comply with her obligations at the end of the tenancy?

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions

Reduce avoidable tribunal risk with proper tenant checks.