Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5422980 — Cleanliness at Unit/Flat Flat 3, 114 Studholme Street, Somerfield,
Published 14 April 2026 · Application 5422980
- Cleanliness
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Christchurch
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
A Aiolupotea
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $811.37
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $811.37
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rubbish removal | $177.35 | Rubbish removal | |
| Cleaning | $502.58 | Cleaning | |
| Oven/stove cleaning | $79.14 | Oven/stove cleaning | |
| Rangehood cleaning | $52.30 | Rangehood cleaning | |
| Net award | $811.37 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $811.37 |
Claims and awards for application 5422980 — net $811.37 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Rubbish removal
- Amount
- $177.35
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rubbish removal
Cleaning
- Amount
- $502.58
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Cleaning
Oven/stove cleaning
- Amount
- $79.14
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Oven/stove cleaning
Rangehood cleaning
- Amount
- $52.30
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rangehood cleaning
Net award
Landlord $811.37
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $811.37
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- BEN RAYMOND FRANCE must pay Kāinga Ora–Homes And Communities $811.37 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
- The landlord may dispose of the items left at the premises by the tenant as the landlord sees fit.
- By consent, the landlord may dispose of the personal items held by the Landlord listed in paragraph 8 as the Landlord sees fit.
Reasons
- Both parties attended the hearing.
- The landlord has applied for compensation and disposal of the Tenants goods.
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 is required to replace worn out smoke alarm batteries during the tenancy. See section 40(1)(ca) Residential Tenancies Act 1986. The tenant must also replace standard light bulbs.
- The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove all rubbish. The Landlord had to remove approximately one cubic metre of rubbish which included black rubbish bags, paper work boxes, odds and ends on the floor. The whole house, oven, stove and rangehood required cleaning. The Landlord provided a vacate inspection report, letters to the client outlining the vacate damages and work orders to substantiate the costs.
- The Tenant submitted he was stressed at the end of the tenancy. He had left everything the way it was because he did not receive sufficient support through WINZ otherwise he would have had the means to clean and remove the rubbish. He recalls filling up the council bins and he agreed the top of the oven had grease on it.
- In considering the evidence, the Tenant is obliged to leave the property reasonably clean and tidy. The vacate inspection report indicated it was not left in this condition and the Tenant has acknowledged he did not remove all rubbish or clean everything. Whilst I acknowledge he was going through difficult period, this does not absolve him of his responsibilities as a Tenant to leave the property reasonably clean and tidy.
- The amounts ordered are proved. Disposal of goods
- The landlord seeks to dispose of personal items belonging to the Tenant and the following list of items: a) Washing machine, furniture, speakers, subwoofers, microphone, computer gaming chair, microwave, laminator keyboard printer and television.
- By consent, the Tenant has agreed for their personal items to be disposed of as this was of no personal value to him.
- The Tenant also submitted that because he relocated to Auckland, he could not collect the items or have it delivered to an address in Christchurch as suggested by the Landlord. The Tenant submitted the items were no longer of value to the Tenant.
- It is not practicable for the landlord to the return the goods to the tenant. The Tenant no longer values the items so the Landlord may dispose of the items listed at paragraph 8 as they see fit.
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Residential Tenancies Act sections
s40(1), s8
Key findings
- Dispute theme: cleaning
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5422980?
The tribunal order states: BEN RAYMOND FRANCE must pay Kāinga Ora–Homes And Communities
How much money was awarded in case 5422980?
Cleaning: $502.58 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $79.14 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $52.30 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $177.35 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5422980?
The primary dispute was Cleanliness.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5422980?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13444776-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.