What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5352408 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 5352408?

Cleaning: $320.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $1,750.00 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $883.75 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5352408?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears. Related themes: Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5352408?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13163643-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5352408 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 5352408?

Cleaning: $320.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $1,750.00 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $883.75 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5352408?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears. Related themes: Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5352408?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13163643-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

57 Hassall Street, Parkside, Timaru 7910 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5352408 — Rent arrears

Tenantcheck Insights

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5352408 — net $2,981.75 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears (to 28 September 2025	$1,750.00	Rent arrears (to 28 September 2025
Rubbish removal: Labour and dump fees	$883.75	Rubbish removal: Labour and dump fees
Cleaning	$320.00	Cleaning
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$2,981.75
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$2,981.75

On 24 September 2025, the landlord filed an application with the Tribunal seeking rent arrears, compensation and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

The hearing proceeded by way of video conference. [Agent] appeared as the Agent for the landlord. The tenant did not appear. The Tribunal was satisfied the tenant was properly served with the notice of hearing and the case proceeded in her absence. Relevant legal considerations

The relevant law that applies is found in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (the “Act”).

With any claim before the Tenancy Tribunal, the Tribunal applies the usual civil law standards and expectations.

That includes a requirement that the party bringing the claim (the applicant), establish their claims “on the balance of probabilities.” The balance of probabilities means more likely than unlikely, or in mathematical terms, has a fractionally more than 50% likelihood. The Tribunal does not need to be certain or very sure about any claim, only that what is claimed is likely.

This obligation carried by the applicant is referred to as the “burden of proof.” Independent witnesses, corroborating documents and photographs are an important part of discharging this burden.

As noted by the District Court in Kaipo v Clarke & McCarthy (DC) TT233/02, in practical terms this means that: ... [L]ike anyone who brings an application before a Tribunal or Court, it is incumbent upon the applicant to provide the evidence necessary to prove the case. If the applicant fails to do that, then their application will be dismissed whether it has merit or not because it is up to the applicant to provide the necessary evidence. It is not up to the other parties, and it is certainly not up to the Tribunal to extract evidence. History of the tenancy

The tenancy commenced on 30 September 2024 with the fixed term due to expire on 30 September 2025.

The parties agreed to early termination of the fixed term and the tenancy ended on 28 August 2025.

19 November 2025 the tenant agreed to the bond being refunded to the landlord.

How much is owed for rent?

The landlord provided up to date rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy totalled $3,430.00. The Tribunal determined that it was appropriate to offset the rent arrears with the bond refund. That leaves a rent arrears balance of $1,750.00 and that is what the Tribunal orders.

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) of the Act.

The landlord seeks cleaning and rubbish removal costs as follows: a. Cleaning costs – 16 hours of labour at $20.00 per hour. b. The landlord originally claimed $640.00 cleaning costs but amended their claim to $320.00 when the calculation was challenged by the Tribunal. c. Dump fees totalling - $453.75. Invoices in the amount claimed were provided. d. Labour costs for collecting rubbish and green waste – 21.5 hours of labour at $20.00 per hour. e. The landlord originally claimed $860 labour costs but amended their claim to $430.00 when the calculation was challenged by the Tribunal.

The landlord states that it took themselves and another family member 21.5 hours to clear the following rubbish from the property at the end of the tenancy: a. Speakers and electronic goods. b. Clothing. c. Furniture including a bench seat, couch, outdoor furniture, a bed base, and a chest of draws. d. Rubbish including food waste, mouldy kitchen utensils, cookware, crockery, tyres, and chicken wire. e. A doghouse and children’s toys.

The landlord said that it took two family members 16 hours to clean the property to a reasonably clean and tidy standard following the end of the tenancy. The landlord said the property was left very dirty specifically noting: a. The carpet needed to be cleaned twice to address stains and odour. b. The walls were sticky. c. Faeces on the walls and the carpet which needed to be removed and cleaned. d. The bathroom and toilet had not been cleaned. e. The kitchen cupboards had not been wiped out, the bench top had not been wiped down, mould in the dishwasher needed to be removed and the oven needed cleaning. f. The property required dusting.

The landlord provided pre-tenancy inspection photographs which proved the condition of the property at the commencement of the tenancy. The property was provided without furniture in a clean and tidy condition, free from rubbish.

The landlord provided an end of tenancy inspection report with photographs which proved the condition of the property at the end of the tenancy. The photographs show the property has been left dirty with visible grime, dust and marks and a significant amount of the tenants possessions and rubbish had been left behind.

The Tribunal was able to make a proper before and after comparison of the condition of the property at the beginning and end of the tenancy. Having heard from the landlord and considering all of the evidence the Tribunal finds the tenant failed to leave the property reasonably clean and tidy and remove all rubbish at the end of the tenancy. The amounts claimed are ordered. Other matters

Because [The applicant/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.

Section 95A of the Act provides that on the application of a party that has been wholly or substantially successful in proceedings, the Tribunal must order that the name or identifying particulars not be published, unless the Tribunal considers that it is in the public interest to publish the names of the parties, or is justified because of the parties’ conduct, or any other circumstances of the case.

The landlord has been wholly successful and is granted name suppression.

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5352408 — net $2,981.75 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears (to 28 September 2025	$1,750.00	Rent arrears (to 28 September 2025
Rubbish removal: Labour and dump fees	$883.75	Rubbish removal: Labour and dump fees
Cleaning	$320.00	Cleaning
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$2,981.75
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$2,981.75

On 24 September 2025, the landlord filed an application with the Tribunal seeking rent arrears, compensation and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

The relevant law that applies is found in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (the “Act”).

With any claim before the Tenancy Tribunal, the Tribunal applies the usual civil law standards and expectations.

This obligation carried by the applicant is referred to as the “burden of proof.” Independent witnesses, corroborating documents and photographs are an important part of discharging this burden.

The tenancy commenced on 30 September 2024 with the fixed term due to expire on 30 September 2025.

The parties agreed to early termination of the fixed term and the tenancy ended on 28 August 2025.

19 November 2025 the tenant agreed to the bond being refunded to the landlord.

How much is owed for rent?

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

Because [The applicant/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.

The landlord has been wholly successful and is granted name suppression.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5352408 — Rent arrears at 57 Hassall Street, Parkside, Timaru 7910

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5352408 — Rent arrears at 57 Hassall Street, Parkside, Timaru 7910

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for rent?

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

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for rent?

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

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions