Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 5338663 — Cleanliness
Decided 19 Nov 2025 · Published 19 Nov 2025 · Application 5338663
- 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.
- Tait Coe must pay [The landlord/s] $9.68 immediately, as calculated in the table below:
Reasons
- The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant did not attend, however, the hearing continued in their absence.
- The landlord has applied for compensation following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent?
- There was a previous mediated and sealed court order for rent arrears to 7 August 2025, and a further Tribunal order for rent from 8 August 2025 to 24 August 2025.
- Enforcement action has commenced on the mediated order; however, it has not commenced on the further Tribunal order and so that order is incorporated into this order for ease.
- As the tenant had left his belongings at the property, the previous order allowed further time for the tenant to collect his belongings and granted a disposal of goods order for any remaining belongings after that date.
- The landlords claim for a further two weeks rent while they stored the tenant’s belongings, amounting to $1,440.00
- The amount ordered is proved.
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 (RTA).
- The evidence shows that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish. The landlord was required to carry out rubbish removal at the cost of $269.82, including the purchase and collection of a flexi bin. Cleaning was also required to be carried out at the cost of $885.50.
- The tenant did not return the keys, and the landlord was required to have the locks changed at the invoiced cost of $237.06.
- The landlord also claims for their time, in collecting up all the belongings, arranging collection by family members, disposing of goods remaining, collecting of rubbish for removal of $550.00. I consider that this reasonably reflects the time required to carry out these tasks.
- The amounts ordered are proved.
- The landlord claims for methamphetamine testing at the property. During the process of sorting through and disposing of the tenant’s belongings, methamphetamine was discovered at the property, together with drug paraphernalia. The landlord contacted the police to collect the methamphetamine and associated paraphernalia. The police report and photographs have been provided. As a result, the landlord felt they needed to carry out methamphetamine testing. The landlord claims the costs to do so of $1,596.20. I consider that this was a reasonable step in the circumstances and the amount ordered is proved.
- The landlord has been able to obtain some insurance cover of $5,260.00 and they also were able to sell one set of drawers left by the tenant for $200.00 and these have accordingly been deducted from the total amount owing. R Harvey-Lane 19 November 2025