What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5403729?

The tribunal order states: Matthew Needham and Anneka Murfitt must pay The Rent Shop Limited As

How much money was awarded in case 5403729?

Rubbish Removal: $7,854.50 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $337.50 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5403729?

The primary dispute was Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5403729?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13272725-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5403729?

The tribunal order states: Matthew Needham and Anneka Murfitt must pay The Rent Shop Limited As

How much money was awarded in case 5403729?

Rubbish Removal: $7,854.50 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $337.50 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5403729?

The primary dispute was Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5403729?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13272725-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

540 Weymouth Road, Weymouth, Auckland 2103 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5403729 — Property damage

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540 Weymouth Road, Weymouth, Auckland 2103 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5403729 — Property damage | TenantCheck

Claims & awards

What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5403729 — net $8,220.00 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Cleaning: & Rubbish Removal	$7,854.50	Cleaning: & Rubbish Removal
Lock/key replacement	$337.50	Lock/key replacement
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$8,220.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$8,220.00

Claims and awards for application 5403729 — net $8,220.00 NZD. Verify on MoJ.

Cleaning: & Rubbish Removal

Amount: $7,854.50
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Cleaning: & Rubbish Removal

Lock/key replacement

Amount: $337.50
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Lock/key replacement

Filing fee reimbursement

Amount: $28.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Filing fee reimbursement

Net award

Landlord $8,220.00

Total payable by Tenant to Landlord

Landlord $8,220.00

Claim types — money lines allowed on this order

Rubbish Removal Filing Fee Property damage

Order

Matthew Needham and Anneka Murfitt must pay The Rent Shop Limited As Agents For Stephen & Tina-Louise Withers $8,220.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

Reasons

The applicant attended the hearing by video link. The respondent did not attend or answer the phone.
This tenancy was terminated by the Tribunal on 7 November 2025. The applicant tells me that she has had no contact with the tenants since the date of termination and that possession of the property was taken back.
The applicant seeks $7,854.50 for cleaning and rubbish removal, and $337.50 for the replacement of locks.
While the amount claimed for cleaning and rubbish removal is higher than is typically seen for such work, the evidence indicates that the property appears to have been completely abandoned with the tenants’ possessions remaining. It is not simply a matter of possessions being left behind; the property was unkempt and contained a large amount of rubbish strewn throughout.
The invoice shows that the dumping cost alone was $2,680 plus GST, and the labour charged, three days for two labourers, appears realistic given the condition of the property as evidenced by the photographs.
For these reasons, I am satisfied that the tenant was in breach of their obligations under section 40(1)(e)(iii) to leave the premises in a reasonably clean and tidy state at the termination of the tenancy and to remove all rubbish.
I am also satisfied that the costs were incurred and that they are reasonable for the work that was required. Compensation for this invoice is therefore awarded.
The second invoice relates to the replacement of locks. The applicant tells me that the tenant abandoned the property and did not return the keys. In order to secure the premises, the applicant replaced the locks.
Section 40(1)(e)(iv) requires a tenant, at the conclusion of the tenancy, to return to the landlord all keys to the premises. I am satisfied that this did not occur and that the landlord was justified in replacing the locks. This amount is therefore awarded.
As the applicant has been successful in their application, I also award the application fee.

Claims & awards

What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5403729 — net $8,220.00 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Cleaning: & Rubbish Removal	$7,854.50	Cleaning: & Rubbish Removal
Lock/key replacement	$337.50	Lock/key replacement
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$8,220.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$8,220.00

Claims and awards for application 5403729 — net $8,220.00 NZD. Verify on MoJ.

Cleaning: & Rubbish Removal

Amount: $7,854.50
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Cleaning: & Rubbish Removal

Lock/key replacement

Amount: $337.50
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Lock/key replacement

Filing fee reimbursement

Amount: $28.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Filing fee reimbursement

Net award

Landlord $8,220.00

Total payable by Tenant to Landlord

Landlord $8,220.00

Claim types — money lines allowed on this order

Rubbish Removal Filing Fee Property damage

Order

Matthew Needham and Anneka Murfitt must pay The Rent Shop Limited As Agents For Stephen & Tina-Louise Withers $8,220.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

Reasons

The applicant attended the hearing by video link. The respondent did not attend or answer the phone.
This tenancy was terminated by the Tribunal on 7 November 2025. The applicant tells me that she has had no contact with the tenants since the date of termination and that possession of the property was taken back.
The applicant seeks $7,854.50 for cleaning and rubbish removal, and $337.50 for the replacement of locks.
While the amount claimed for cleaning and rubbish removal is higher than is typically seen for such work, the evidence indicates that the property appears to have been completely abandoned with the tenants’ possessions remaining. It is not simply a matter of possessions being left behind; the property was unkempt and contained a large amount of rubbish strewn throughout.
The invoice shows that the dumping cost alone was $2,680 plus GST, and the labour charged, three days for two labourers, appears realistic given the condition of the property as evidenced by the photographs.
For these reasons, I am satisfied that the tenant was in breach of their obligations under section 40(1)(e)(iii) to leave the premises in a reasonably clean and tidy state at the termination of the tenancy and to remove all rubbish.
I am also satisfied that the costs were incurred and that they are reasonable for the work that was required. Compensation for this invoice is therefore awarded.
The second invoice relates to the replacement of locks. The applicant tells me that the tenant abandoned the property and did not return the keys. In order to secure the premises, the applicant replaced the locks.
Section 40(1)(e)(iv) requires a tenant, at the conclusion of the tenancy, to return to the landlord all keys to the premises. I am satisfied that this did not occur and that the landlord was justified in replacing the locks. This amount is therefore awarded.
As the applicant has been successful in their application, I also award the application fee.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5403729 — Property damage at 540 Weymouth Road, Weymouth, Auckland 2103

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5403729 — Property damage at 540 Weymouth Road, Weymouth, Auckland 2103

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions