What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5320120 about?

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

How much money was awarded in case 5320120?

Cleaning: $782.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $19.80 awarded to landlord; Remove Washing Machine: $150.00 awarded to landlord; Waste Disposal Unit: $258.75 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $420.53 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5320120?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness. Related themes: Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5320120?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12482689-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5320120 about?

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

How much money was awarded in case 5320120?

Cleaning: $782.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $19.80 awarded to landlord; Remove Washing Machine: $150.00 awarded to landlord; Waste Disposal Unit: $258.75 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $420.53 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5320120?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness. Related themes: Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5320120?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12482689-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5320120 — Cleanliness

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New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5320120 — 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 5320120 — net $1,686.08 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Water rates	$420.53	Water rates
Cleaning: including carpet	$782.00	Cleaning: including carpet
Remove washing machine	$150.00	Remove washing machine
Lock/key replacement	$19.80	Lock/key replacement
Repairs: waste disposal unit	$258.75	Repairs: waste disposal unit
Previous filing fee 5102948	$27.00	Previous filing fee 5102948
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Because the landlord has wholly succeeded, I must reimburse the filing fee of $28.00.
Net award	$1,686.08
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,686.08

Claims and awards for application 5320120 — net $1,686.08 NZD. Verify on MoJ.

Water rates

Amount: $420.53
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Water rates

Cleaning: including carpet

Amount: $782.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Cleaning: including carpet

Remove washing machine

Amount: $150.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Remove washing machine

Lock/key replacement

Amount: $19.80
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Lock/key replacement

Repairs: waste disposal unit

Amount: $258.75
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Repairs: waste disposal unit

Claim types — money lines allowed on this order

Cleanliness Filing Fee Property damage Water Rates

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the landlord’s name and identifying details.
Maria Koloofai and Rachel Koloofai must pay [The landlord/s] $1,686.08 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing which was conducted remotely.
The landlord has applied for compensation and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

How much is owed for water rates?

The tenancy ended on 30 June 2025. The landlord provided water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy was $420.53.

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

At the end of the tenancy the tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and return all keys and security devices. See section 40(1)(e) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
The tenants advised the landlord that they could not remove their washing machine and agreed to pay $150 for its removal. The landlord submitted an invoice for that amount.
Although the tenant had vacuumed, the exit inspection report showed that the shower and oven were not clean, the cupboards had not been wiped out and there were marks on the carpet. The premises were not reasonably clean and tidy.
The tenant did not return the keys.
The landlord claimed $782.00 for cleaning including carpet cleaning, and $19.80 for replacement of two keys.
The amounts ordered are proved.

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

The landlord claimed $258.75 for repair of the waste disposal unit. The plumber said that a stone had been found in it.
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. See sections 40(2)(a), 41 and 49B RTA.
The tenants said that they did not know how the stone got in there. They said that there were problems with the unit during the tenancy.
The landlord confirmed that early in the tenancy a blockage had to be cleared because the tenant had put fish and chicken bones down the unit. The tenant confirmed that it was fixed.
I find that during the tenancy a stone made its way into the system, and it is more than likely caused by the tenant’s carelessness. The damage occurred during the tenancy, it is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage.
The amounts ordered are proved.
I have taken into account betterment and depreciation. The landlord should be returned to the position they would have been in had the tenant not breached their obligations, and should not be better or worse off. In calculating depreciation, I have taken into account the age and condition of the items at the start of the tenancy and their likely useful lifespan. The unit was new at the start of the tenancy.
Because the landlord has wholly succeeded, I must reimburse the filing fee of $28.00.
There have been two previous applications. The first application 1 was superseded by a second one and the second order 2 replaced the first one, but the first filing fee of $27.00 was not incorporated. That is therefore now ordered.
The second order that was made has been paid. The bond was paid to the landlord and the balance owing has been paid. The tenants now owe the amount ordered in this order.

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 5320120 — net $1,686.08 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Water rates	$420.53	Water rates
Cleaning: including carpet	$782.00	Cleaning: including carpet
Remove washing machine	$150.00	Remove washing machine
Lock/key replacement	$19.80	Lock/key replacement
Repairs: waste disposal unit	$258.75	Repairs: waste disposal unit
Previous filing fee 5102948	$27.00	Previous filing fee 5102948
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Because the landlord has wholly succeeded, I must reimburse the filing fee of $28.00.
Net award	$1,686.08
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,686.08

Claims and awards for application 5320120 — net $1,686.08 NZD. Verify on MoJ.

Water rates

Amount: $420.53
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Water rates

Cleaning: including carpet

Amount: $782.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Cleaning: including carpet

Remove washing machine

Amount: $150.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Remove washing machine

Lock/key replacement

Amount: $19.80
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Lock/key replacement

Repairs: waste disposal unit

Amount: $258.75
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Repairs: waste disposal unit

Claim types — money lines allowed on this order

Cleanliness Filing Fee Property damage Water Rates

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the landlord’s name and identifying details.
Maria Koloofai and Rachel Koloofai must pay [The landlord/s] $1,686.08 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing which was conducted remotely.
The landlord has applied for compensation and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

How much is owed for water rates?

The tenancy ended on 30 June 2025. The landlord provided water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy was $420.53.

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

At the end of the tenancy the tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and return all keys and security devices. See section 40(1)(e) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
The tenants advised the landlord that they could not remove their washing machine and agreed to pay $150 for its removal. The landlord submitted an invoice for that amount.
Although the tenant had vacuumed, the exit inspection report showed that the shower and oven were not clean, the cupboards had not been wiped out and there were marks on the carpet. The premises were not reasonably clean and tidy.
The tenant did not return the keys.
The landlord claimed $782.00 for cleaning including carpet cleaning, and $19.80 for replacement of two keys.
The amounts ordered are proved.

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

The landlord claimed $258.75 for repair of the waste disposal unit. The plumber said that a stone had been found in it.
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. See sections 40(2)(a), 41 and 49B RTA.
The tenants said that they did not know how the stone got in there. They said that there were problems with the unit during the tenancy.
The landlord confirmed that early in the tenancy a blockage had to be cleared because the tenant had put fish and chicken bones down the unit. The tenant confirmed that it was fixed.
I find that during the tenancy a stone made its way into the system, and it is more than likely caused by the tenant’s carelessness. The damage occurred during the tenancy, it is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage.
The amounts ordered are proved.
I have taken into account betterment and depreciation. The landlord should be returned to the position they would have been in had the tenant not breached their obligations, and should not be better or worse off. In calculating depreciation, I have taken into account the age and condition of the items at the start of the tenancy and their likely useful lifespan. The unit was new at the start of the tenancy.
Because the landlord has wholly succeeded, I must reimburse the filing fee of $28.00.
There have been two previous applications. The first application 1 was superseded by a second one and the second order 2 replaced the first one, but the first filing fee of $27.00 was not incorporated. That is therefore now ordered.
The second order that was made has been paid. The bond was paid to the landlord and the balance owing has been paid. The tenants now owe the amount ordered in this order.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5320120 — Cleanliness

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5320120 — Cleanliness

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for water rates?

Did the tenant comply with their 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

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for water rates?

Did the tenant comply with their 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

Frequently asked questions