Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5414368 — Rent arrears at 77 Totara Street, Tawhero, Whanganui 4501
Published 1 April 2026 · Application 5414368
Landlord favoured
- Rent arrears
- Cleanliness
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Whanganui
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
G Guptill
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $999.47
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $999.47
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent arrears to 19/11/2025 | $726.47 | Rent arrears to 19/11/2025 | |
| Cleaning | $245.00 | Cleaning | |
| Filing fee reimbursement | $28.00 | Filing fee reimbursement | |
| Net award | $999.47 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $999.47 |
Claims and awards for application 5414368 — net $999.47 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Rent arrears to 19/11/2025
- Amount
- $726.47
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rent arrears to 19/11/2025
Cleaning
- Amount
- $245.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Cleaning
Filing fee reimbursement
- Amount
- $28.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Filing fee reimbursement
Net award
Landlord $999.47
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $999.47
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Millicent Wroe must pay Bartley Real Estate Limited As Agent For Guoxin & Tammy Qi $999.47, calculated as shown in table below.
- The tenant must pay the debt in order 1 at the rate of $25.00 per week.
- The first payment must be made on or before Thursday 16 April 2026 and payments must continue each week on or before Thursday until the debt is paid in full.
- If the tenant fails to make any payment within 2 working days of the due date, the balance of the debt owing will be payable immediately and can be enforced through the District Court.
- The landlord claims for drain repair and wall repairs is dismissed. DescriptionLandlord Rent arrears to 19/11/2025$726.47 Cleaning$245.00 Filing fee reimbursement$28.00 Total award$999.47 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord$999.47
Reasons
- Only the landlord attended the hearing which took place by videoconference.
- The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
- The landlord advised that the bond has already been refunded and applied to reduce the rent arrears.
How much is owed for rent?
- The tenancy ended on 19 November 2025. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy after the bond refund is $726.47.
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, 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 tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish. The landlord provided end of tenancy photographs and an entry inspection report and seeks $245.00 for cleaning. I have taken in to account the condition of the premises at commencement and the exit photographs am satisfied that although these premises were in aged condition at the beginning of the tenancy they were not left reasonably clean and tidy and order the amount sought.
Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?
- A landlord must prove that damage to the premises occurred during the tenancy and is more than fair wear and tear. If this is established, to avoid liability, the tenant must prove they did not carelessly or intentionally cause or permit the damage. Tenants are liable for the actions of people at the premises with their permission. See sections 40(2)(a), 41 and 49B RTA.
- Where the damage is caused carelessly, and is covered by the landlord's insurance, the tenant's liability is limited to the lesser of the insurance excess or four weeks' rent (or four weeks' market rent in the case of a tenant paying income-related rent). See section 49B(3)(a) RTA.
- Where the damage is careless and is not covered by the landlord's insurance, the tenant's liability is limited to four weeks' rent (or market rent). See section 49B(3)(b) RTA. Where insurance money is irrecoverable because of the tenant's conduct, the property is treated as if it is not insured against the damage. See section 49B(3A)(a) RTA.
- The landlord claimed the following damage was caused during the tenancy: damage to the drain and damage to walls. The landlord has not provided evidence of the drain damage claimed. In respect of the wall damage the entry inspection report records existing damage to two bedroom walls and the exit evidence is unclear as to which wall damage is being claimed. In light of the recorded aged condition of the premises at the commencement of this tenancy and the lack of evidence I am not satisfied that the landlord has proved the damage claims on the balance of probabilities.
- The landlord provided a copy of messages with the tenant where they agreed to pay the outstanding debt at a rate of $25.00 per week. A conditional money order is therefore made.
- Because Bartley Real Estate Limited As Agent For Guoxin & Tammy Qi has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Residential Tenancies Act sections
s40(1), s40(2), s49B(3), s49B(3A)
Key findings
- Dispute theme: rent arrears
- Dispute theme: cleaning
Property management
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5414368?
The tribunal order states: Millicent Wroe must pay Bartley Real Estate Limited As Agent For Guoxin &
How much money was awarded in case 5414368?
Cleaning: $245.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $726.47 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5414368?
The primary dispute was Rent arrears. Related themes: Cleanliness.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5414368?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13384677-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.