Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5422930 — Rent arrears at 51 Corrin Street, Melville, Hamilton 3206
Published 25 March 2026 · Application 5422930
- Rent arrears
- Cleanliness
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Hamilton
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
C Lamdin
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $3,933.32
- Bond payment as ordered
- −$2,400.00
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $1,533.32
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 6 February 2026 | $3,257.15 | Rent arrears to 6 February 2026 | |
| Cleaning | $50.00 | Cleaning | |
| Lawns and Garden work | $100.00 | Lawns and Garden work | |
| Rubbish removal | $95.09 | Rubbish removal | |
| Meth testing/Cleaning | $136.42 | Meth testing/Cleaning | |
| Letting fee | $266.66 | Letting fee | |
| Filing fee reimbursement | $28.00 | Filing fee reimbursement | |
| Net award | $1,533.32 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $1,533.32 |
Claims and awards for application 5422930 — net $1,533.32 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Rent arrears to 6 February 2026
- Amount
- $3,257.15
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rent arrears to 6 February 2026
Cleaning
- Amount
- $50.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Cleaning
Lawns and Garden work
- Amount
- $100.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Lawns and Garden work
Rubbish removal
- Amount
- $95.09
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rubbish removal
Meth testing/Cleaning
- Amount
- $136.42
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Meth testing/Cleaning
Letting fee
- Amount
- $266.66
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Letting fee
Filing fee reimbursement
- Amount
- $28.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Filing fee reimbursement
Net award
Landlord $1,533.32
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $1,533.32
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Samantha Leigh Catherall and Quintin Penetito must pay Monarch Realty Limited As Agent For Kristina Healy & Cleve Langdon $1,533.32 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,400.00 (BN-00138143) to Monarch Realty Limited As Agent For Kristina Healy & Cleve Langdon immediately.
Reasons
- The landlord attended the hearing and was represented by Ms Horgan. The tenants did not attend or request an adjournment. Because the tenants were served notice of the hearing to an email address which is an address for service on their tenancy agreement, I conducted the hearing in their absence.
- The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent?
- The parties signed a fixed-term tenancy to begin on 8 September 2025 and end on 7 September 2026.
- The landlord said that on 29 December 2025 the tenants gave 21 days’ notice to end their “periodic” tenancy. Because the tenancy was for a fixed-term, the tenants are liable (within reason) for rent until a replacement tenant is found. The landlord found a replacement tenant who took up a tenancy starting on 7 February 2026. The tenants are therefore liable for rent until 6 February 2026. The landlord provided rent records that prove this amount is $3,257.15.
- This claim is proved.
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 landlord said the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove all rubbish. The photographs provided by the landlord show the premises to have been left in what I consider to be reasonably clean and tidy, except for a few belongings that have been left behind. The landlord said the tenants also missed a few skirting boards and a bit of vacuuming.
- The landlord is claiming $200.00 for four hours cleaning, $95.09 for disposing of rubbish, and $100.00 for lawns. I determine the cleaning needed to get the premises to reasonably clean would take no longer than one hour. My award is based on that. The landlord can expect to do further cleaning in order to get the premises up to a ready-to-rent standard, but that is not the standard required of an exiting tenant.
- The landlord said they conduct baseline meth tests at the beginning of each tenancy. This is a cost that is the responsibility of the landlord. However, because the tenancy ended early, the landlord has had to incur the expense of another baseline meth test earlier than expected. The landlord is seeking the proportion of the baseline meth test that relates to the unfulfilled fixed-term tenancy. The landlord said the tenancy lasted four months, so they are seeking reimbursement for two-thirds of the $288.85 cost.
- I accept the reasonableness of this claim. However 9 September – 6 February is five months, or more accurately 21 weeks. This means the landlord should be reimbursed 31/52 of the baseline cost.
- The claims and amounts ordered are proved.
- The landlord is entitled to be reimbursed for the reasonable re-letting costs of the property, see Residential Tenancies Act, 1986 section 44A. The landlord has provided an invoice for $1,143.43 of which $415.00 has already been paid by the tenant.
- This is an expense which the tenant would not be liable for if the fixed-term tenancy had continued for the full period. As with the baseline meth test, I determine the reasonable amount that the tenant is liable for, only covers the portion of the tenancy they failed to fulfil. The landlord would have been liable for the full cost in a further 31 weeks, and therefore the tenant is only liable for this portion, that is $1,143.43 multiplied by 31/52. This amounts to $681.66. The tenant has already paid $415.00 of this. The remainder is $266.66.
- The amount ordered is proved.
- Because Monarch Realty Limited As Agent For Kristina Healy & Cleve Langdon 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), s44A
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 5422930?
The tribunal order states: Samantha Leigh Catherall and Quintin Penetito must pay Monarch Realty
How much money was awarded in case 5422930?
Cleaning: $50.00 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $136.42 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $100.00 awarded to landlord; Letting Fee: $266.66 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $3,257.15 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $95.09 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5422930?
The primary dispute was Rent arrears. Related themes: Cleanliness.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5422930?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13343943-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.