Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 5377081 — Tenancy dispute
Decided 20 Apr 2026 · Published 20 Apr 2026 · Application 5377081
- 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 tenants’ and the landlords’ names and identifying details.
- The Bond Centre is to remove the names of [The previous tenant/s] from [Bond 1].
- The Bond Centre is to add the names of [Tenant 1], [Tenant 2] and [Tenant 3] to [Bond 1].
- The Bond Centre is to transfer $2,720.00 from [Bond 2] to [Bond 1] and close [Bond 2].
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of [Bond 1] apportioned as follows: : :
- [Tenant 1], [Tenant 2], [Tenant 3] and [Tenant 4] are to pay [The landlord/s] $293.25 from the bond immediately, for rubbish removal.
Reasons
- Both parties attended the hearing. [The landlord’s representative] represented the landlord. [Tenant 1] represented the tenants.
- The original tenancy for this property began on 10 April 2019. It ended on 24 September 2025 following the landlord giving the tenants a 90-day notice.
- The landlord produced a copy of the tenancy agreement and a variation of a tenancy agreement dated 27 January 2022.
- By the time the tenancy ended, the original tenants were long gone, as were a long list of other tenants who had lived there during the tenancy. The “last men standing” were [Tenant 1], [Tenant 2], [Tenant 3]. They signed a change of tenant form as incoming tenants on 30 June 2025.
- These three incoming tenants paid out the outgoing tenants’ bond. [Tenant 1] said the only outgoing tenant to not be paid out a bond was [Tenant 4] who was living at the premises when [Tenant 1] moved in, and then moved out in about July 2025.
- 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.
- The landlord said that at the end of the tenancy the tenants left behind rubbish and belongings that was not present at the start of the tenancy, and needed to be disposed of.
- [Tenant 1] did not dispute rubbish and belongings were left behind, but said the rubbish and belongings was present when he moved in.
- I am satisfied that at the end of the tenancy the three named tenants in these applications were the only tenants on the tenancy agreement. They were tenants by dint of the change of tenant forms they signed on 30 June 2025. The tenants confirmed that at the end of the tenancy they were the only people living at the property.
- [Tenant 1] confirmed that when he moved in, [Tenant 4] had a copy of the tenancy agreement but it was virtually illegible.
- I determine that when the tenancy ended [Tenant 1], [Tenant 2], [Tenant 3] and [Tenant 4] were responsible for the condition of the premises. Although [Tenant 4] had moved out, he had not severed all ties with the property or divested himself of responsibilities for it, as he had not had his bond refunded.
- The claim and amount ordered for rubbish removal costs are proved.
- [The landlord’s representative] said that there was a complication due to the Bond Centre holding two open accounts for the property. [The landlord’s representative] said that the most practical solution was to close one account, transfer the funds into the other account, remove the names of people who are no longer tenants, and add the names of the current tenants to that account.
- [Tenant 4] agreed this was the best solution.
- Because both parties have been filed applications and been constructive in resolving the outstanding issues with this tenancy, no award for costs is made.