What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5434032 about?

The tribunal order states: An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal

How much money was awarded in case 5434032?

Cleaning: $300.00 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $300.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $20,142.86 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $695.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5434032?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5434032?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13552214-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5434032 about?

The tribunal order states: An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal

How much money was awarded in case 5434032?

Cleaning: $300.00 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $300.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $20,142.86 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $695.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5434032?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5434032?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13552214-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5434032 — Rent arrears

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5434032 — net $21,465.86 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 1 December 2025	$20,142.86	Rent arrears to 1 December 2025
Carpet Cleaning	$300.00	Carpet Cleaning
Cleaning (part	$300.00	Cleaning (part
Rubbish removal	$695.00	Rubbish removal
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$21,465.86
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$21,465.86

The landlord attended the hearing, set down to be conducted via video conference. There was no entry into the conference by the tenant, nor any call in to the conference by one of the telephone numbers provided on the Notice of Hearing. I was satisfied adequate service had completed and I continued with the hearing.

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

A party who brings a claim to the Tenancy Tribunal must prove on the balance of probabilities (more likely than not) that their version of events took place. Independent witnesses, corroborating documents and photographs are an important part of discharging this burden of proof.

The issue of evidence at Tenancy Tribunal hearings was considered by the District Court in Kaipo v Clarke & McCarthy (DC) TT233/02. Judge Mather stated: “...[the applicant] needs to be reminded that like anyone who brings an application before a Tribunal or a Court, it is incumbent upon the applicant to provide the evidence necessary to prove the case. If the applicant fails to do that, then their application will be dismissed whether it has merit or not because it is up to the applicant to provide the necessary evidence. It is not up to the other parties and it is certainly not up to the Tribunal to extract evidence.”

How much is owed for rent?

The tenancy ended on 1 December 2025. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy is as ordered.

I raised mitigation of loss with the landlord, in particular whether the landlord acted reasonably having regard to all the circumstances of the case. I have accepted the landlord’s submissions regarding this, including the promise of pending hardship funds to clear the growing arrears, as well as a consideration of what appears to have been sub-letting or boarder arrangements that will have provided the tenants with income that did not flow to the landlord as rent.

I consider it would be inequitable to reduce the rent arrears in this instance.

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 did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove all rubbish.

The landlord provided invoices and photos that clearly establish tenant liability for the rubbish removal ($695.00) and carpet cleaning ($300.00). These are awarded in full.

The claimed internal cleaning costs ($450.00 contractor invoice and $300.00 landlord labour) do not align with the limited exit photos provided. Having reviewed the photos with the landlord, I have determined a part-award of $300.00 is appropriate based on the evidence. This is awarded.

The amounts ordered are proved. Filing fee

Because [The applicant/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee. Suppression

Section 95A RTA states regarding suppression orders that the Tribunal must, on the application of a party that has wholly or substantially succeeded in proceedings, order that the party’s name or identifying particulars not be published, unless the Tribunal considers that publication is in the public interest or is justified because of the party’s conduct or any other circumstances of the case.

The landlord requested suppression in its application. As it has been wholly successful, suppression is ordered.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5434032 — net $21,465.86 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 1 December 2025	$20,142.86	Rent arrears to 1 December 2025
Carpet Cleaning	$300.00	Carpet Cleaning
Cleaning (part	$300.00	Cleaning (part
Rubbish removal	$695.00	Rubbish removal
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$21,465.86
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$21,465.86

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlord name and identifying details.
Rosalie Anne Billcliff and James Rolf Parkinson must pay [The landlord/s] $21,465.86 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

Reasons

The landlord attended the hearing, set down to be conducted via video conference. There was no entry into the conference by the tenant, nor any call in to the conference by one of the telephone numbers provided on the Notice of Hearing. I was satisfied adequate service had completed and I continued with the hearing.
The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
A party who brings a claim to the Tenancy Tribunal must prove on the balance of probabilities (more likely than not) that their version of events took place. Independent witnesses, corroborating documents and photographs are an important part of discharging this burden of proof.
The issue of evidence at Tenancy Tribunal hearings was considered by the District Court in Kaipo v Clarke & McCarthy (DC) TT233/02. Judge Mather stated: “...[the applicant] needs to be reminded that like anyone who brings an application before a Tribunal or a Court, it is incumbent upon the applicant to provide the evidence necessary to prove the case. If the applicant fails to do that, then their application will be dismissed whether it has merit or not because it is up to the applicant to provide the necessary evidence. It is not up to the other parties and it is certainly not up to the Tribunal to extract evidence.”

How much is owed for rent?

The tenancy ended on 1 December 2025. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy is as ordered.
I raised mitigation of loss with the landlord, in particular whether the landlord acted reasonably having regard to all the circumstances of the case. I have accepted the landlord’s submissions regarding this, including the promise of pending hardship funds to clear the growing arrears, as well as a consideration of what appears to have been sub-letting or boarder arrangements that will have provided the tenants with income that did not flow to the landlord as rent.
I consider it would be inequitable to reduce the rent arrears in this instance.

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 did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove all rubbish.
The landlord provided invoices and photos that clearly establish tenant liability for the rubbish removal ($695.00) and carpet cleaning ($300.00). These are awarded in full.
The claimed internal cleaning costs ($450.00 contractor invoice and $300.00 landlord labour) do not align with the limited exit photos provided. Having reviewed the photos with the landlord, I have determined a part-award of $300.00 is appropriate based on the evidence. This is awarded.
The amounts ordered are proved. Filing fee
Because [The applicant/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee. Suppression
Section 95A RTA states regarding suppression orders that the Tribunal must, on the application of a party that has wholly or substantially succeeded in proceedings, order that the party’s name or identifying particulars not be published, unless the Tribunal considers that publication is in the public interest or is justified because of the party’s conduct or any other circumstances of the case.
The landlord requested suppression in its application. As it has been wholly successful, suppression is ordered.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5434032 — Rent arrears

At a glance

Award balance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5434032 — Rent arrears

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

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

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