Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5432249 — Cleanliness at 3 Nathan Place, West End, Palmerston North 4412
Published 20 April 2026 · Application 5432249
- Cleanliness
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Palmerston North
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
S Young
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $2,025.21
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $1,716.65
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning: Oven | $172.88 | Cleaning: Oven | |
| Rubbish removal | $1,198.05 | Rubbish removal | |
| Lawns and Garden work | $500.00 | a reasonable sum for lawnmowing as best as I can, the tenant is ordered to pay $500.00. S Young 20 April 2026 _________________________________________________… | |
| Rent credit | $154.28 | Rent credit | |
| Total award | $1,870.93 | $154.28 | |
| Net award | $1,716.65 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $1,716.65 |
Claims and awards for application 5432249 — net $1,716.65 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Cleaning: Oven
- Amount
- $172.88
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Cleaning: Oven
Rubbish removal
- Amount
- $1,198.05
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rubbish removal
Lawns and Garden work
- Amount
- $500.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- a reasonable sum for lawnmowing as best as I can, the tenant is ordered to pay $500.00. S Young 20 April 2026 _________________________________________________…
Rent credit
- Amount
- $154.28
- Awarded to
- Tenant
- Reason
- Rent credit
Total award
Landlord $1,870.93 · Tenant $154.28
Net award
Landlord $1,716.65
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $1,716.65
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Stephen William Moss must pay Kāinga Ora–Homes And Communities $1,716.65 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Reasons
- The landlord attended the remote hearing.
- The tenant did not attend by Teams video link. The Tribunal may hear matters in the absence of a party where satisfied that notice of the hearing has been given. I am satisfied that notice of the hearing was given to the tenant.
- The landlord has applied for compensation, following the end of the tenancy. Rent
- The tenancy ended on 3 December 2025. There was a rent credit of $154.28 on that date. That sum is included in this order.
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 and remove all rubbish. See section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
- The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish.
- The landlord provided photos of the premises. I accept that it is more likely than not that the condition of the premises was unchanged at the end of the tenancy.
- The photos show that the oven required further cleaning and that substantial rubbish removal was required. The amounts ordered are proven.
- The landlord seeks $1,169.82 for lawnmowing. The landlord provided photos that show the grassed area was not substantial, but that the lawns were very overgrown. I consider a claim for in excess of $1,100.00 for lawnmowing is not reasonable in the circumstances. Having viewed the photos and assessing what might be a reasonable sum for lawnmowing as best as I can, the tenant is ordered to pay $500.00.
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: cleaning
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5432249?
The tribunal order states: Stephen William Moss must pay Kāinga Ora–Homes And Communities
How much money was awarded in case 5432249?
Cleaning: $172.88 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $500.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Credit: $154.28 awarded to tenant; Rubbish Removal: $1,198.05 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5432249?
The primary dispute was Cleanliness.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5432249?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13470879-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.