How much money was awarded in case 5424120?

Cleaning: $2,980.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $455.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $1,581.43 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $1,883.39 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5424120?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness. Related themes: Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5424120?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13680879-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

How much money was awarded in case 5424120?

Cleaning: $2,980.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $455.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $1,581.43 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $1,883.39 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5424120?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness. Related themes: Rent arrears.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5424120?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13680879-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5424120 — Cleanliness

Q: What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5424120 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 5424120 — net $4,739.82 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 28 November 2026	$1,581.43	Rent arrears to 28 November 2026
Cleaning	$2,980.00	Cleaning
Rubbish removal	$1,883.39	Rubbish removal
Lawns and Garden work	$455.00	Lawns and Garden work
Net award	$4,739.82
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$4,739.82

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

Alyssa Brown must pay [The landlord/s] $4,739.82 immediately, as calculated in the table below:

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,160.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.

All other claims are dismissed.

Reasons

The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant did not attend, and the hearing proceeded in her absence.

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

How much is owed for rent?

The tenancy ended on 28 November 2025. The landlord provided rent records that prove the amount owing of $1,581.43 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 landlord says that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish. In particular, there was extensive rubbish left through the property and in the shed. Significant cleaning was required throughout, together with rubbish collection, removal and disposal. The landlord was also required to carry out lawn mowing to the exterior of the property.

The landlord claims $1,883.39 for rubbish removal, $2,980.00 for cleaning and $103.50 for lawn mowing and has provided invoices, inspection reports and photographs in support of the claims.

The amounts ordered are proved. Exemplary damages

[The landlord/s] claims that the tenant has used the premises unlawfully, by using methamphetamine at the premises during the tenancy.

A tenant must not use the premises or permit the premises to be used for an unlawful purpose. See section 40(2)(b) RTA.

Breaching this obligation is an unlawful act for which exemplary damages may be awarded up to a maximum of $1,800.00. See section 40(3A)(c) and Schedule 1A RTA

Pursuant to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, it is unlawful for a person to use any controlled drug (section 6). Methamphetamine is included as a controlled drug in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Therefore, using or allowing premises to be used for the consumption of methamphetamine would be considered an unlawful purpose.

However, the evidence provided is a composite sample reading of 3.0μg/100cm² taken at the end of the tenancy (potential maximum). There is no evidence of contamination prior to the tenancy.

Composite sampling is a screening tool and does not provide room-specific results.

Combining multiple samples taken throughout a dwelling into a single composite same, as permitted in NZS8510:2017, has limited value, cannot accurately reflect levels of risk, and depending on how the data is integrated can lead to quite misleading interpretation and false impressions of high exposure. As a result, the Tribunal has generally been cautious to rely on the results of composite testing.

Exemplary damages can only be awarded where there is clear evidence of an unlawful act, and the statutory test in section 109(3) of the RTA must be met, including proof of intention. In this case, I consider that there is insufficient evidence to establish an unlawful act or intentional contamination.

Even if I am wrong about that, I consider that in light of the evidence, the limitations of composite testing and the relatively low increase during the tenancy, it would not be just to award exemplary damages in these circumstances. See section 109(3) of the RTA.

Accordingly, the claim for exemplary damages is dismissed.

Because [The applicant/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee. R Harvey-Lane 31 May 2026

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5424120 — net $4,739.82 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 28 November 2026	$1,581.43	Rent arrears to 28 November 2026
Cleaning	$2,980.00	Cleaning
Rubbish removal	$1,883.39	Rubbish removal
Lawns and Garden work	$455.00	Lawns and Garden work
Net award	$4,739.82
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$4,739.82

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the landlord’s name and identifying details.
Alyssa Brown must pay [The landlord/s] $4,739.82 immediately, as calculated in the table below:

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,160.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.
All other claims are dismissed.

Reasons

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

How much is owed for rent?

The tenancy ended on 28 November 2025. The landlord provided rent records that prove the amount owing of $1,581.43 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 landlord says that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish. In particular, there was extensive rubbish left through the property and in the shed. Significant cleaning was required throughout, together with rubbish collection, removal and disposal. The landlord was also required to carry out lawn mowing to the exterior of the property.
The landlord claims $1,883.39 for rubbish removal, $2,980.00 for cleaning and $103.50 for lawn mowing and has provided invoices, inspection reports and photographs in support of the claims.
The amounts ordered are proved. Exemplary damages
[The landlord/s] claims that the tenant has used the premises unlawfully, by using methamphetamine at the premises during the tenancy.
A tenant must not use the premises or permit the premises to be used for an unlawful purpose. See section 40(2)(b) RTA.
Breaching this obligation is an unlawful act for which exemplary damages may be awarded up to a maximum of $1,800.00. See section 40(3A)(c) and Schedule 1A RTA
Pursuant to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, it is unlawful for a person to use any controlled drug (section 6). Methamphetamine is included as a controlled drug in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Therefore, using or allowing premises to be used for the consumption of methamphetamine would be considered an unlawful purpose.
However, the evidence provided is a composite sample reading of 3.0μg/100cm² taken at the end of the tenancy (potential maximum). There is no evidence of contamination prior to the tenancy.
Composite sampling is a screening tool and does not provide room-specific results.
Combining multiple samples taken throughout a dwelling into a single composite same, as permitted in NZS8510:2017, has limited value, cannot accurately reflect levels of risk, and depending on how the data is integrated can lead to quite misleading interpretation and false impressions of high exposure. As a result, the Tribunal has generally been cautious to rely on the results of composite testing.
Exemplary damages can only be awarded where there is clear evidence of an unlawful act, and the statutory test in section 109(3) of the RTA must be met, including proof of intention. In this case, I consider that there is insufficient evidence to establish an unlawful act or intentional contamination.
Even if I am wrong about that, I consider that in light of the evidence, the limitations of composite testing and the relatively low increase during the tenancy, it would not be just to award exemplary damages in these circumstances. See section 109(3) of the RTA.
Accordingly, the claim for exemplary damages is dismissed.
Because [The applicant/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee. R Harvey-Lane 31 May 2026

Tenancy Tribunal case 5424120 — Cleanliness

At a glance

Award balance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5424120 — Cleanliness

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Dismissed claims

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for rent?

Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Claims & awards

Dismissed claims

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for rent?

Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions