Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5423968 — Rent arrears at 32 Cheshire Street, Cannons Creek, Porirua 5024
Published 7 May 2026 · Application 5423968
- Rent arrears
- Cleanliness
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Porirua
Tribunal region
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $13,318.40
- Bond payment as ordered
- −$2,380.00
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $10,938.40
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent arrears as at 26 March 2026 | $9,000.00 | Rent arrears as at 26 March 2026 | |
| Break lease - admin | $460.00 | Break lease - admin | |
| Break lease - 2 credit checks | $60.00 | Break lease - 2 credit checks | |
| Cleaning, rubbish removal weed spray etc | $3,446.92 | Cleaning, rubbish removal weed spray etc | |
| Carpet Cleaning | $323.48 | Carpet Cleaning | |
| Filing fee reimbursement | $28.00 | Filing fee reimbursement | |
| Net award | $10,938.40 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $10,938.40 |
Claims and awards for application 5423968 — net $10,938.40 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Rent arrears as at 26 March 2026
- Amount
- $9,000.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rent arrears as at 26 March 2026
Break lease - admin
- Amount
- $460.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Break lease - admin
Break lease - 2 credit checks
- Amount
- $60.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Break lease - 2 credit checks
Cleaning, rubbish removal weed spray etc
- Amount
- $3,446.92
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Cleaning, rubbish removal weed spray etc
Carpet Cleaning
- Amount
- $323.48
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Carpet Cleaning
Filing fee reimbursement
- Amount
- $28.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Filing fee reimbursement
Net award
Landlord $10,938.40
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $10,938.40
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Shannyn Francis Howe must pay Seddon Street Property Management Limited As Agent For Raewar Property Holding Trust (Warwick Walbran) $10,938.40 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,380.00 (BN-10001885) to Seddon Street Property Management Limited As Agent For Raewar Property Holding Trust (Warwick Walbran) immediately.
Reasons
- This application was scheduled to be heard by video conference. The tenant did not connect to the Teams link provided to her in the Notice of Hearing sent to her. Nor did she ring in to the hearing as directed in that same Notice of Hearing. The hearing proceeded in her absence.
- The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, payment of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent?
- The tenant entered into a fixed term tenancy agreement which commenced on 2 June 2025 and was due to expire on 6 June 2026.
- Near the end of November 2025 the landlord explained to the tenant what happens when a fixed term tenancy is broken. On 9 December 2025 an inspection of the premises took place and the tenant was still living there.
- On 20 December 2025 the landlord issued a 14 day notice to the tenant requiring her to pay rent arrears. The tenant then advised that she was no longer living at the premises.
- When a fixed term tenancy is broken this way, tenants are required to pay rent until a new tenant is found or until the expiry of the fixed term, whichever is the earlier.
- I accept the evidence that the premises were re-tenanted on 27 March 2026. The tenant is therefore required to pay rent to 26 March 2026.
- The rent record shows that as at 26 March 2026 rent arrears amounted to $9,000.00. Break lease fee
- When a tenant breaks a fixed term tenancy they are also obliged to pay the reasonable costs to the landlord of getting a new tenant.
- I accept the evidence indicating that the reasonable costs were the costs of 2 credit checks, plus the administration costs of getting a new tenant. This administration fee includes the cost of advertising.
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 evidence shows that the tenant left the premises in an egregious condition. There was a significant amount of rubbish left behind, both inside and outside the house, including under the house. The curtains had been pulled down, the weeds were very high, there was food left in the house and there was also a significant amount of mould. The premises had clearly not been cleaned for quite some time.
- After discussing the state of the premises with the landlord at the hearing, I accept that it cost $3,446.92 to get the premises back to a reasonable condition. This amount was proved with an invoice.
- I am dismissing the further claims for cleaning ($245.00) and weed spraying ($230.00) because I consider that the earlier large invoice returned the premises to a reasonable condition. I also note that the weed spraying included spraying the gravel driveway which was not in good condition at the start of the tenancy.
- I also accept the evidence showing that although the carpet was stained at the beginning of the tenancy, it was in much worse condition at the end of the tenancy. The tenant is therefore required to pay the invoiced cost of cleaning the carpet - $323.48. Filing fee reimbursement
- The landlord was substantially successful with this claim made against the tenant and so the tenant is ordered to reimburse the filing fee to the landlord. C ter Haar 07 May 2026
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Residential Tenancies Act sections
s40(1)
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 5423968?
The tribunal order states: Shannyn Francis Howe must pay Seddon Street Property Management Limited
How much money was awarded in case 5423968?
Break Lease - 2 Credit Checks: $60.00 awarded to landlord; Break Lease - Admin: $460.00 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $323.48 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $9,000.00 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $3,446.92 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5423968?
The primary dispute was Rent arrears. Related themes: Cleanliness.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5423968?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13558828-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.