How much money was awarded in case 5416748?

Cleaning: $1,069.50 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lightbulbs: $51.75 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $391.25 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $1,054.28 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $422.63 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $69.98 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5416748?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5416748?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13641232-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

How much money was awarded in case 5416748?

Cleaning: $1,069.50 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lightbulbs: $51.75 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $391.25 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $1,054.28 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $422.63 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $69.98 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5416748?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5416748?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13641232-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5416748 — Cleanliness

Q: What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5416748 about?

The tribunal order states: An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5416748 — net $1,447.39 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 8 December 2025	$1,054.28	Rent arrears to 8 December 2025
Water rates to 8 December 2025	$69.98	Water rates to 8 December 2025
Cleaning and carpet cleaning	$1,069.50	Cleaning and carpet cleaning
Rubbish removal	$422.63	Rubbish removal
Repairs	$391.25	Repairs
Light bulbs	$51.75	Light bulbs
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$1,447.39
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,447.39

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the landlord’s name and identifying details.

Sulunga Lakai and Luseane Lakai must pay [The landlord/s] $1,447.39 immediately, as calculated in the table below:

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,640.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.

Reasons

The landlord attended the hearing. The tenants did not attend, and the hearing proceeded in their absence.

The landlord has applied for rent arrears, outgoings, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

How much is owed for rent and water rates?

The tenancy ended on 8 December 2025. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amounts owing of $1,054.28 for rent and $69.98 for water at the end of the tenancy.

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 (RTA). The tenant is required to replace worn out smoke alarm batteries during the tenancy. See section 40(1)(ca) RTA. The tenant must also replace standard light bulbs.

The landlord says that the tenants did not meet the statutory standard, and they were required to carry out further general cleaning, carpet cleaning (for staining) and rubbish removal. Photographs have been provided in support of these claims. The landlord claims for the invoiced amounts of $1,069.50 for cleaning and $422.63 for rubbish removal.

On review of the evidence, I am satisfied that the tenants did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish.

The amounts ordered are proved.

The landlord also claims for the cost to replace standard ceiling lightbulbs amounting to $51.75 and the amount ordered is proved.

There was an additional amount claimed ($52.90) for rubbish removal relating to rubbish left in a cupboard, however, I consider that I have insufficient evidence to support this claim and it is dismissed.

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 careless, and occurs after 27 August 2019, section 49B RTA applies. If the landlord becomes aware of the damage after 27 August, the damage is presumed to have occurred after that date unless the tenant proves otherwise.

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.

Tenants are liable for the cost of repairing damage that is intentional or which results from any activity at the premises that is an imprisonable offence. This applies to anything the tenant does and anything done by a person they are responsible for. See section 49B(1) RTA.

Damage is intentional where a person intends to cause damage and takes the necessary steps to achieve that purpose. Damage is also intentional where a person does something, or allows a situation to continue, knowing that damage is a certainty. See Guo v Korck [2019] NZHC 1541.

The landlord claims for repairs to a damaged section of the laundry wall, damage to the laundry floor (rotten floorboards), a shower door handle and two heat lamps. The total amount claimed for these items was $749.80 and the landlord has provided photographs and the repair invoice in support.

On review of the evidence, I consider that it was more likely than not that the following damage was caused during the tenancy: Damage to the laundry wall and the shower door handle. The damage is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage.

It is not clear what has caused the rotten laundry floorboards, and it is likely that this was normal landlord maintenance, rather than being caused by any tenant breach. In addition, tenants are not responsible for replacement of specialist heat lamps.

It is not clear what the cost split is between the shower handle and the heat lamps, so I have awarded $52.00 for the shower handle and (in accordance with the invoice provided) $339.25 for the laundry wall damage.

The amounts ordered are proved.

The application form recorded the bond as $1,800.00 however, on review it appears that the bond held is $1,640.00 and I have used this figure instead.

Because [The applicant/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I must also reimburse the filing fee. R Harvey-Lane 22 May 2026

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5416748 — net $1,447.39 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 8 December 2025	$1,054.28	Rent arrears to 8 December 2025
Water rates to 8 December 2025	$69.98	Water rates to 8 December 2025
Cleaning and carpet cleaning	$1,069.50	Cleaning and carpet cleaning
Rubbish removal	$422.63	Rubbish removal
Repairs	$391.25	Repairs
Light bulbs	$51.75	Light bulbs
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$1,447.39
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,447.39

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the landlord’s name and identifying details.
Sulunga Lakai and Luseane Lakai must pay [The landlord/s] $1,447.39 immediately, as calculated in the table below:

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,640.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.

Reasons

The landlord attended the hearing. The tenants did not attend, and the hearing proceeded in their absence.
The landlord has applied for rent arrears, outgoings, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

How much is owed for rent and water rates?

The tenancy ended on 8 December 2025. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amounts owing of $1,054.28 for rent and $69.98 for water at the end of the tenancy.

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 (RTA). The tenant is required to replace worn out smoke alarm batteries during the tenancy. See section 40(1)(ca) RTA. The tenant must also replace standard light bulbs.
The landlord says that the tenants did not meet the statutory standard, and they were required to carry out further general cleaning, carpet cleaning (for staining) and rubbish removal. Photographs have been provided in support of these claims. The landlord claims for the invoiced amounts of $1,069.50 for cleaning and $422.63 for rubbish removal.
On review of the evidence, I am satisfied that the tenants did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish.
The amounts ordered are proved.
The landlord also claims for the cost to replace standard ceiling lightbulbs amounting to $51.75 and the amount ordered is proved.
There was an additional amount claimed ($52.90) for rubbish removal relating to rubbish left in a cupboard, however, I consider that I have insufficient evidence to support this claim and it is dismissed.

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 careless, and occurs after 27 August 2019, section 49B RTA applies. If the landlord becomes aware of the damage after 27 August, the damage is presumed to have occurred after that date unless the tenant proves otherwise.
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.
Tenants are liable for the cost of repairing damage that is intentional or which results from any activity at the premises that is an imprisonable offence. This applies to anything the tenant does and anything done by a person they are responsible for. See section 49B(1) RTA.
Damage is intentional where a person intends to cause damage and takes the necessary steps to achieve that purpose. Damage is also intentional where a person does something, or allows a situation to continue, knowing that damage is a certainty. See Guo v Korck [2019] NZHC 1541.
The landlord claims for repairs to a damaged section of the laundry wall, damage to the laundry floor (rotten floorboards), a shower door handle and two heat lamps. The total amount claimed for these items was $749.80 and the landlord has provided photographs and the repair invoice in support.
On review of the evidence, I consider that it was more likely than not that the following damage was caused during the tenancy: Damage to the laundry wall and the shower door handle. The damage is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage.
It is not clear what has caused the rotten laundry floorboards, and it is likely that this was normal landlord maintenance, rather than being caused by any tenant breach. In addition, tenants are not responsible for replacement of specialist heat lamps.
It is not clear what the cost split is between the shower handle and the heat lamps, so I have awarded $52.00 for the shower handle and (in accordance with the invoice provided) $339.25 for the laundry wall damage.
The amounts ordered are proved.
The application form recorded the bond as $1,800.00 however, on review it appears that the bond held is $1,640.00 and I have used this figure instead.
Because [The applicant/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I must also reimburse the filing fee. R Harvey-Lane 22 May 2026

Tenancy Tribunal case 5416748 — Cleanliness

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5416748 — Cleanliness

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for rent and water rates?

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

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for rent and water rates?

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