What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5354641 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 5354641?

Cleaning: $150.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $257.14 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5354641?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5354641?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12793970-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5354641 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 5354641?

Cleaning: $150.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $257.14 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5354641?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5354641?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12793970-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

Unit/Flat 102, 70 Pitt Street, Auckland Central, Auckland Tenancy Tribunal Case 5354641 — Rent arrears

Tenantcheck Insights

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5354641 — net $407.14 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 13 September 2025	$257.14	Rent arrears to 13 September 2025
Cleaning	$150.00	Cleaning
Net award	$407.14
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$407.14

Both parties attended the hearing.

There is a dispute over the refund of the bond.

The landlord has applied for rent arrears and compensation for cleaning following the end of the tenancy, which ran from 18 January 2024 to 13 September 2025.

The tenant agrees that he owes the rent, but disputes the cost of cleaning, saying that the property was very dirty when he moved in. Rent

The parties agree that the tenant owes $257.14 (3 days) in rent. That amount is ordered. Cleaning

At the end of the tenancy the tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and remove all rubbish. See section 40(1)(e) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

The tenant says that he is not liable for any cleaning costs because the property was very dirty when he moved in. He provided evidence that he had raised this with the landlord at the time.

In the meantime, the property changed ownership and management companies.

It is possible that the landlord who rented the premises to the tenant in January 2024 did not comply with their obligation under section 45(1)(a) to provide the premises in a reasonable state of cleanliness. However, they are not party to these proceedings.

I must decide if this tenant complied with his obligations under section 40(1) to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy.

The photos provided by the landlord show some areas that were not clean, including some marks on the carpet. Without photographs of the carpet at the start of the tenancy, the landlord has not established that any marks on the carpet were as a result of the tenant’s actions.

The tenant said that he paid $250 cash to someone to clean the premises.

The exiting tenant is not required to undertake a deep clean. It must simply be reasonably clean and tidy.

Looking at the exit inspection photographs, the state of the property is quite reasonable, but it appears that some areas have not been vacuumed, some cupboards required cleaning, and the bathroom had not been adequately cleaned. I have decided that the tenant should pay $150, representing 3 hours at $50 an hour including GST.

Pranav Rudra seeks $5,000 compensation, because he told the original landlord about the cleaning. Then, when this property management company took over management of the premises, they demanded payment of the water rates within 7 days. This differed from the previous company’s practice, which was to require payment within 21 days.

The tenant was upset by this and felt they could not make such demands. He had not been asked, or agreed to, any change in the practice for payment of the water bills.

A landlord must not interfere with the reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of the tenant in their use of the premises. See section 38(2) Residential Tenancies Act 1986. Breaching this obligation in circumstances that amount to harassment is an unlawful act for which exemplary damages may be awarded up to a maximum of $3,000.00. See section 38(3) and Schedule 1A RTA.

Harassment means "to trouble, worry or distress" or "to wear out, tire, or exhaust" and "indicates a particular pattern of behaviour directed towards another person". MacDonald v Dodds, CIV-2009-019-001524, DC Hamilton, 26 February 2010.

The tenant has not established that, by asking for payment of the water rates within 7 days, the landlord has breached any obligation under the Residential Tenancies Act. The tenant continued to pay for his water rates within 21 days.

It is understandable that the tenant felt upset to have a change in payment processes regarding water, but the landlord’s conduct was not unreasonable. The landlord pays the water and is trying to ensure that they are not out of pocket for their tenants’ water consumption. Notice of the change of practice would be advisable but there is nothing untoward about seeking prompt payment.

The tenant continued to pay for his water in accordance with the previous arrangement of 21 days. He has demonstrated no adverse impact apart from feeling upset about being told there was a change. The tenant’s claim for compensation is dismissed.

Both parties have had some success and so there is no order for reimbursement of the filing fee.

The landlord sought name suppression. The tenant said he did not want name suppression.

The name of the landlord is suppressed.

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5354641 — net $407.14 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 13 September 2025	$257.14	Rent arrears to 13 September 2025
Cleaning	$150.00	Cleaning
Net award	$407.14
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$407.14