Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 5340486 — Rent arrears
Decided 4 Feb 2026 · Published 4 Feb 2026 · Application 5340486
- Rent arrears
- Cleanliness
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 tenant’s and landlords’ name and identifying details.
- [The tenant/s] must pay [The landlord/s] $1,063.52 immediately, as calculated in the table below:
Reasons
- Both parties attended the hearing.
- The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent?
- The tenancy ended on 20 July 2025. The landlords provided rent records which prove the amount owing of $2,198.00 at the end of the tenancy.
- 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 landlords say that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and that they had to carry out additional works for which they now claim. In particular, the landlords seek $525.00 for interior cleaning and graffiti removal (fireplace front) and carpet cleaning and oven cleaning of $508.52. The landlords also claim for further cleaning that the new tenants carried out. The new tenants have recorded that they did 48.5 hours of additional cleaning and using external guidance on hourly rates, the landlords claim a total of $1,212.50 for this cleaning. Some photographs have been provided in support of the claims.
- The tenant says that she had issues with the property, including an unusable oven, lack of cutlery drawers and a fire in the kitchen, however I note she has not filed any cross application. She concedes to the graffiti on the walls but disputes the other amounts, and particularly the amount claimed for cleaning by the new tenants.
- On review of the evidence provided, I consider that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and that further cleaning was required. Accordingly, I award the invoice for $525.00 for cleaning and graffiti removal and the invoice for carpet and oven cleaning of $508.52. However, in respect of the cleaning by the new tenants I do not consider that I have sufficient evidence to award this. It is not clear exactly what was cleaned and for how long, and whether it was cleaning to a reasonably clean and tidy standard (as required by the RTA) or cleaning to the new tenants’ standard. There is inadequate evidence for me to be sure.
- The claimed $1,212.50 for new tenant cleaning is therefore dismissed.
- The amounts ordered are proved.
- The landlords provided a claim summary that included a deduction for the bond and a deduction for an initial cleaning credit, and these amounts are therefore deducted from the final amount awarded.
- Because [The applicant/s] have substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.
- Both parties sought name suppression and as both parties have had some level of success, this is granted. See section 95A of the RTA. R Harvey-Lane 04 February 2026