What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5412177 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 5412177?

Cleaning: $195.00 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $50.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $191.48 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5412177?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5412177?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13791169-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5412177 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 5412177?

Cleaning: $195.00 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $50.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $191.48 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5412177?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5412177?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13791169-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5412177 — Cleanliness

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5412177 — net $464.48 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Cleaning: blinds	$195.00	have not been regularly cleaned during the tenancy. I order the tenants to pay $195 for blind cleaning.
Lawns and Garden work	$191.48	Lawns and Garden work
Cleaning: other	$50.00	Cleaning: other
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$464.48
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$464.48

Both parties attended the hearing, which was conducted remotely. The tenant’s partner also attended.

The landlord has applied for compensation of $795 for: a. Repair of wall b. Cleaning, including blinds c. Gardens and lawn

The landlord also applied for a refund of the bond.

I indicated at the hearing that because the amount claimed is less than the bond of $2,000, there would be an order for a split bond, or the full bond would be refunded to the tenants. The tenant advised that she had already received the bond. The landlord was unaware of this and had not consented to this.

I therefore advised the parties that I would contact the Bond Centre to seek clarification. I confirm that the Bond Centre advised on 24 June that in November 2025 the bond had been repaid to the tenant in error. Therefore, I can make no order for splitting the bond.

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. See section 40(1)(e) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

The landlord claimed $230.50 plus GST for cleaning.

The tenant did not accept that she did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and provided photographs of her partner cleaning the property.

I find that overall, the premises were left in a reasonably clean and tidy condition. There were some drawers that had not been wiped out and some skirting boards needed a wipe. I order $50.00 for those matters.

The photos show that the venetian blinds were not clean. The landlord claimed $170 plus GST for this. I accept that the tenants attempted to clean the blinds. Unfortunately, they can be very difficult to clean, particularly if they have not been regularly cleaned during the tenancy. I order the tenants to pay $195 for blind cleaning.

The photos show that the lawns had not been recently mowed and the gardens required weeding. The landlord claimed $166.50 plus GST. That amount is ordered.

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

The landlord seeks $125 plus GST for damage to the wall in the hallway.

A landlord must prove that damage to the premises occurred during the tenancy and is more than fair wear and tear.

The landlord has produced a photo showing that there has been some minor damage to a corner in the hallway. Some plaster has come off at the lower part of the corner near the skirting board.

The tenant had no knowledge of how this occurred.

The entry inspection photos do not show this particular part of the wall and so it is difficult to assess the damage. It is possible that it occurred during the tenancy or as the tenants moved out, but without seeing the state of the wall at the start of the tenancy, the landlord has not established on the balance of probabilities that this damage or all of this damage occurred during the tenancy.

Accordingly, this claim is dismissed.

Because [The applicant/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.

Both parties have had some success and so there is an order for suppression of the names and identifying details of both parties.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5412177 — net $464.48 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Cleaning: blinds	$195.00	have not been regularly cleaned during the tenancy. I order the tenants to pay $195 for blind cleaning.
Lawns and Garden work	$191.48	Lawns and Garden work
Cleaning: other	$50.00	Cleaning: other
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$464.48
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$464.48

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of parties’ names and identifying details.
[The tenant/s] must pay [The landlord/s] $464.48 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing, which was conducted remotely. The tenant’s partner also attended.
The landlord has applied for compensation of $795 for: a. Repair of wall b. Cleaning, including blinds c. Gardens and lawn
The landlord also applied for a refund of the bond.
I indicated at the hearing that because the amount claimed is less than the bond of $2,000, there would be an order for a split bond, or the full bond would be refunded to the tenants. The tenant advised that she had already received the bond. The landlord was unaware of this and had not consented to this.
I therefore advised the parties that I would contact the Bond Centre to seek clarification. I confirm that the Bond Centre advised on 24 June that in November 2025 the bond had been repaid to the tenant in error. Therefore, I can make no order for splitting the bond.

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. See section 40(1)(e) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
The landlord claimed $230.50 plus GST for cleaning.
The tenant did not accept that she did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and provided photographs of her partner cleaning the property.
I find that overall, the premises were left in a reasonably clean and tidy condition. There were some drawers that had not been wiped out and some skirting boards needed a wipe. I order $50.00 for those matters.
The photos show that the venetian blinds were not clean. The landlord claimed $170 plus GST for this. I accept that the tenants attempted to clean the blinds. Unfortunately, they can be very difficult to clean, particularly if they have not been regularly cleaned during the tenancy. I order the tenants to pay $195 for blind cleaning.
The photos show that the lawns had not been recently mowed and the gardens required weeding. The landlord claimed $166.50 plus GST. That amount is ordered.

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

The landlord seeks $125 plus GST for damage to the wall in the hallway.
A landlord must prove that damage to the premises occurred during the tenancy and is more than fair wear and tear.
The landlord has produced a photo showing that there has been some minor damage to a corner in the hallway. Some plaster has come off at the lower part of the corner near the skirting board.
The tenant had no knowledge of how this occurred.
The entry inspection photos do not show this particular part of the wall and so it is difficult to assess the damage. It is possible that it occurred during the tenancy or as the tenants moved out, but without seeing the state of the wall at the start of the tenancy, the landlord has not established on the balance of probabilities that this damage or all of this damage occurred during the tenancy.
Accordingly, this claim is dismissed.
Because [The applicant/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.
Both parties have had some success and so there is an order for suppression of the names and identifying details of both parties.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5412177 — Cleanliness

At a glance

Award balance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5412177 — Cleanliness

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

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

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

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

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions