Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 5424569 — Rent arrears at 11 Kelvin Street, Aramoho, Whanganui 4500
Published 25 March 2026 · Application 5424569
Landlord favoured
- Rent arrears
- Property damage
- Cleanliness
Order
- Miringatekakara Rihi Johnson-Rio and Ahi Nganehu Johnson-rio must pay Property Brokers Limited as agent for Epenesa & Elijah Tafa / Ah Chong $1,694.68 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,480.00 (BN-00098791) to Property Brokers Limited as agent for Epenesa & Elijah Tafa / Ah Chong immediately. DescriptionLandlord Rent arrears to 25 February 2026$1,647.14 Cleaning$481.75 Light bulb$7.00 Temporary power supply$194.36 Carpet Cleaning$170.00 Rubbish removal$514.19 Mowing, weeding, lawn repair, green waste removal$759.24 Lock/key/knob replacement$373.00 Filing fee reimbursement$28.00 Subtotal$4,174.68 Bond$2,480.00 Total amount the tenant must pay the landlord$1,694.68
Reasons
- The Tribunal conducted the hearing on Microsoft Teams.
- Sarah Cribb attended the hearing for the landlord by video.
- The tenants did not attend.
- The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, reimbursement of the filing fee, and payment over of the bond following the end of the tenancy on 25 February 2026.
How much do the tenants owe for rent?
- The landlord provided a rent summary substantiating the arrears.
Did the tenants comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?
- The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, did not remove all their rubbish, returned only two of the eight keys, and did not replace a light bulb.
- 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. 1 The tenant must also replace standard light bulbs.
- The landlord submitted photographs that show the tenants failed to leave the premises including the lawns and garden reasonably clean and tidy. Ms Cribb gave evidence that only two keys were returned by a previously unknown person whose trustworthiness had not been vouched for and that a light bulb needed replacing.
- The landlord submitted invoices confirming its costs to remediate the tenants’ breaches.
- The landlord had to have the power put back on for the cleaning contractors. That was a foreseeable cost that the tenant is also liable for. The landlord provided an invoice for the cost.
- The amounts ordered are proved. 1 Residential Tenancies Act 1986 s 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v). Filing fee
- The tenants must reimburse the landlord for the filing fee. Bond
- The Tribunal directs the Bond Centre to pay out the bond to the landlord in part payment of what the tenant owes the landlord.