What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5377643 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 5377643?

Cleaning: $632.50 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $35.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $2,250.00 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $830.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5377643?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears. Related themes: Cleanliness, Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5377643?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13321873-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5377643 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 5377643?

Cleaning: $632.50 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $35.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $2,250.00 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $830.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5377643?

The primary dispute was Rent arrears. Related themes: Cleanliness, Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5377643?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13321873-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5377643 — Rent arrears

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5377643 — net $575.50 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears	$2,250.00	The claim for rent arrears is proven. Cleaning and rubbish
Repairs	$35.00	Repairs
Rubbish removal and carpet cleaning	$830.00	Rubbish removal and carpet cleaning
Cleaning	$632.50	Cleaning
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$575.50
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$575.50

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlord name and identifying details. 2. 3.

Reasons

Background

The start date of the tenancy per the tenancy agreement was 1 May 2025.
The landlord’s previous tenant moved out earlier and Ms Murphy agreed to bring the start date forward. There was then a delay due to bad weather. Ms Murphy took possession on or around 21 April 2025.
The tenancy ended by consent on 14 September 2025. 1 Ms Murphy did not vacate until sometime after 17 September.
Ms Murphy’s application seeks compensation on the grounds that premises were ‘unlawful’ due to structural / building safety issues.
The landlord’s application seeks rent arrears, rubbish removal, cleaning costs, and the cost of a minor repair.
The hearing took place in [Event location suppressed] on 20 March 2026.
[The landlord/s] are based overseas. They attended the hearing by phone, with the consent of the Tribunal.
There was no appearance by Ms Murphy. Ms Murphy had not requested an adjournment or made a request to attend by phone. At the hearing start time (9.30am) the Registrar attempted to contact Ms Murphy by phone several times. There was no answer.
I am satisfied that notice of the hearing was served on Ms Murphy in accordance with the requirements of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (“RTA”). The hearing proceeded in Ms Murphy’s absence. 2 Landlord application Rent arrears
The landlord’s rent record shows rent arrears of $3,050.00 to 14 September 2025.
The landlords agreed to waive one week of arrears.
The claim for rent arrears is proven. Cleaning and rubbish
Tenants must remove all rubbish and leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy. 3
The landlords provided photographs showing the condition of the premises at the end of the tenancy. 1 Per mediated order 5327520 2 Section 92 RTA 3 Section 40(1)(e)(iii) RTA
Ms Murphy left a substantial amount of rubbish at the premises at the end of the tenancy, including multiple black bags full of rubbish, various household items, and an old fridge that had rotten food inside it.
The house was not left reasonably clean and tidy.
There were stains on the carpet.
The amounts claimed for rubbish removal and cleaning are proven, and are fair and reasonable having regard to the landlord’s photographs. Damage
One of the spindles on the banister in the upper storey of the house was broken off during the tenancy.
The damage is beyond fair wear and tear.
The landlords replaced the decorative spindle with a more basic one, to reduce the cost.
The claim is proven. Tenant application
Ms Murphy’s application states that she is seeking compensation on the grounds: I believe the property is illegally rented out. Not levelled multiple slips building work done that’s not consented
Ms Murphy provided a written statement with her application setting out her concerns in more detail: I am making the claim for compensation under the healthy homes standards for unresolved structural and electrical safety issues. The house is structurally unsafe due to ground movement the house is not levelled with a noticeable decline and cracks and areas where the wall has sunken in and lights etc are coming away due to the stress this is having on the house. Electrical cords are exposed hanging down everywhere underneath the house which is easily accessible to myself and children not properly secured or insulated. Large tank underneath the house that has been cut into and ripped up in a corner for a large drainage pipe of which I am not sure pushed into the corner below ground level where my children could easily step onto
Ms Murphy provided several photographs of the area underneath the deck.
[The landlord/s] said that: a. This part of [location deleted] has sand soil, with sandstone substrate. b. The house was built in the 1980s. c. The house has undergone some movement over its life, and parts of it are ‘uneven’. d. When they purchased the house, they had some reinforcing work carried out. The work did not require building consent. e. The house is not unsafe, and the movement has not caused ‘damage’ that requires repair. f. There is a power point underneath the house that the water pump connects to. g. There are water tanks underneath the house for water collection, and a drain for the overflow.
My finding is that: a. There is no evidence to show that the premises are unlawful. b. There is no evidence to show that the landlord failed to maintain the premises in a reasonable state of repair. c. It is not unlawful to have a power point underneath the house. d. It is not unlawful to have drains underneath the house.
There are no proven breaches of any legal duties owed by landlords. The tenant’s application is dismissed. Noted
At the hearing the landlords withdrew the claim for exemplary damages. Filing fee, name suppression, bond
The bond will be released to the landlord. The landlords were successful in the proceedings. Name suppression is granted to the landlords. 4 I must also award the landlords the filing fee for their application. 5 N Blake, 20 March 2026 4 Section 95A(1) RTA 5 Section 102(4)(a) RTA

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5377643 — net $575.50 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears	$2,250.00	The claim for rent arrears is proven. Cleaning and rubbish
Repairs	$35.00	Repairs
Rubbish removal and carpet cleaning	$830.00	Rubbish removal and carpet cleaning
Cleaning	$632.50	Cleaning
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$575.50
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$575.50

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlord name and identifying details. 2. 3.

Reasons

Background

The start date of the tenancy per the tenancy agreement was 1 May 2025.
The landlord’s previous tenant moved out earlier and Ms Murphy agreed to bring the start date forward. There was then a delay due to bad weather. Ms Murphy took possession on or around 21 April 2025.
The tenancy ended by consent on 14 September 2025. 1 Ms Murphy did not vacate until sometime after 17 September.
Ms Murphy’s application seeks compensation on the grounds that premises were ‘unlawful’ due to structural / building safety issues.
The landlord’s application seeks rent arrears, rubbish removal, cleaning costs, and the cost of a minor repair.
The hearing took place in [Event location suppressed] on 20 March 2026.
[The landlord/s] are based overseas. They attended the hearing by phone, with the consent of the Tribunal.
There was no appearance by Ms Murphy. Ms Murphy had not requested an adjournment or made a request to attend by phone. At the hearing start time (9.30am) the Registrar attempted to contact Ms Murphy by phone several times. There was no answer.
I am satisfied that notice of the hearing was served on Ms Murphy in accordance with the requirements of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (“RTA”). The hearing proceeded in Ms Murphy’s absence. 2 Landlord application Rent arrears
The landlord’s rent record shows rent arrears of $3,050.00 to 14 September 2025.
The landlords agreed to waive one week of arrears.
The claim for rent arrears is proven. Cleaning and rubbish
Tenants must remove all rubbish and leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy. 3
The landlords provided photographs showing the condition of the premises at the end of the tenancy. 1 Per mediated order 5327520 2 Section 92 RTA 3 Section 40(1)(e)(iii) RTA
Ms Murphy left a substantial amount of rubbish at the premises at the end of the tenancy, including multiple black bags full of rubbish, various household items, and an old fridge that had rotten food inside it.
The house was not left reasonably clean and tidy.
There were stains on the carpet.
The amounts claimed for rubbish removal and cleaning are proven, and are fair and reasonable having regard to the landlord’s photographs. Damage
One of the spindles on the banister in the upper storey of the house was broken off during the tenancy.
The damage is beyond fair wear and tear.
The landlords replaced the decorative spindle with a more basic one, to reduce the cost.
The claim is proven. Tenant application
Ms Murphy’s application states that she is seeking compensation on the grounds: I believe the property is illegally rented out. Not levelled multiple slips building work done that’s not consented
Ms Murphy provided a written statement with her application setting out her concerns in more detail: I am making the claim for compensation under the healthy homes standards for unresolved structural and electrical safety issues. The house is structurally unsafe due to ground movement the house is not levelled with a noticeable decline and cracks and areas where the wall has sunken in and lights etc are coming away due to the stress this is having on the house. Electrical cords are exposed hanging down everywhere underneath the house which is easily accessible to myself and children not properly secured or insulated. Large tank underneath the house that has been cut into and ripped up in a corner for a large drainage pipe of which I am not sure pushed into the corner below ground level where my children could easily step onto
Ms Murphy provided several photographs of the area underneath the deck.
[The landlord/s] said that: a. This part of [location deleted] has sand soil, with sandstone substrate. b. The house was built in the 1980s. c. The house has undergone some movement over its life, and parts of it are ‘uneven’. d. When they purchased the house, they had some reinforcing work carried out. The work did not require building consent. e. The house is not unsafe, and the movement has not caused ‘damage’ that requires repair. f. There is a power point underneath the house that the water pump connects to. g. There are water tanks underneath the house for water collection, and a drain for the overflow.
My finding is that: a. There is no evidence to show that the premises are unlawful. b. There is no evidence to show that the landlord failed to maintain the premises in a reasonable state of repair. c. It is not unlawful to have a power point underneath the house. d. It is not unlawful to have drains underneath the house.
There are no proven breaches of any legal duties owed by landlords. The tenant’s application is dismissed. Noted
At the hearing the landlords withdrew the claim for exemplary damages. Filing fee, name suppression, bond
The bond will be released to the landlord. The landlords were successful in the proceedings. Name suppression is granted to the landlords. 4 I must also award the landlords the filing fee for their application. 5 N Blake, 20 March 2026 4 Section 95A(1) RTA 5 Section 102(4)(a) RTA

Tenancy Tribunal case 5377643 — Rent arrears

At a glance

Award balance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5377643 — Rent arrears

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions