Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 5325660 — Rent arrears at 9B Blackmore Crescent, Alexandra, Alexandra 9320
Decided 10 Nov 2025 · Published 10 Nov 2025 · Application 5325660
- Rent arrears
- Cleanliness
- Property damage
Party names are redacted in the official published order.
Order
- An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlord’s name and identifying details.
- Johnathan (Johni) Rutene must pay [The applicant/s] $1,114.43 calculated below:
- The tenant must pay the debt in Order 1 at the rate of $20.00 per week.
- The first payment must be made no later than Monday 17 November 2025 and payments must continue every Monday until the debt is paid in full.
- If the tenant fails to make any payment within 2 working days of the due date, the balance of the debt owing will be payable immediately and can be enforced through the District Court.
Reasons
- The landlord attended the hearing which was held by teleconference.
- The tenant did not attend and couldn’t be contacted by phone.
- The application was made more than 60 days after the date the tenancy ended. The tenant was served at a private e-mail address, different from the work e-mail address given as an address for service in the agreement.
- The correspondence provided satisfies me that the personal e-mail address is a current one, which the tenant has used to communicated with the landlord over these issues.
- I dispense with further service 1 .
- The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent?
- The tenancy ended on 24 December 2024 after the tenant gave notice of termination. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
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, 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.
- A comparison of entry and exit inspection photographs provided by the landlord shows that the tenant did not remove all rubbish from the premises. There was staining and burn damage to the carpet.
- The landlord’s loss is provided by the quote provided for rubbish removal, carpet cleaning and repair.
- I am satisfied that damage is more than wear and tear and occurred during the tenancy, so is the tenant’s responsibility.
- The total loss in terms of that quote is $1,301.60. The landlord has advised the tenant that it will accept the bond in settlement of the claims for rubbish removal and carpet cleaning/ repair and will accept $20.00 per week in payment of the rent arrears. 1 S.91B(2)
- The Order is accordingly made on those terms
- Because [The applicant/s] has succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.