What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5436148 about?

The tribunal order states: [The tenant/s] to pay Mid North Real Estate Limited As Agent For Mike

How much money was awarded in case 5436148?

Cleaning: $200.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5436148?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5436148?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13861936-Tribunal_Order.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5436148 about?

The tribunal order states: [The tenant/s] to pay Mid North Real Estate Limited As Agent For Mike

How much money was awarded in case 5436148?

Cleaning: $200.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5436148?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5436148?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13861936-Tribunal_Order.pdf.

10A Morningside Road, Morningside, Whangarei 0110 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5436148 — Cleanliness

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5436148 — net $228.00 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Cleaning (part	$200.00	Cleaning (part
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$228.00
Bond	$450.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$228.00

[The tenant/s] to pay Mid North Real Estate Limited As Agent For Mike & Maryanne Blair Family Trust (Jodie And [The landlord/s] $228.00 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $450.00 (3497451-016) immediately apportioned as follows: Mid North Real Estate Limited As Agent For Mike & Maryanne Blair Family Trust (Jodie And [The landlord/s]: $228.00 [The tenant/s]: $222.00

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 compensation for cleaning via the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy. The landlord has previously released the bulk of the bond to the tenant, with $450.00 retained until this application concluded.

The first hearing on 28 April 2026 was adjourned as the tenant had earlier engaged with the Registry, suggesting she wanted to appear. That order explained:

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

The landlord claims the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy.

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 statutory requirement is that tenants leave the premises in a reasonably clean and reasonably tidy condition. The RTA allows for fair wear and tear. A tenant is not required to leave a property spotless or even in a condition where the landlord would be happy to rent it out to a new tenant. What is required is that premises including the stove and bathroom fittings are cleaned and all personal items removed. A tenant is not required to rigorously clean all walls, ceilings lightshades, skirtings, behind appliances or the outside of the house. It is common that a landlord wishes to clean to this “extra” level so that they can re-tenant or sell. However, that is a business decision that a landlord makes at their cost.

The landlord provided a series of exit photos and a detailed invoice. These were reviewed at the hearing. I raised with the landlord that the detailed task list in the invoice included tasks not typically required of a tenant unless there is some direct causation. The photos left an overall impression of a premises that had been cleaned. There were areas missed, or part cleaned, that required further attention. Particularly the shower, especially the glass, and the kitchen.

Having considered the submissions and evidence, I accept the need for some extra cleaning but assess that, after attempting to align the invoiced effort and photo, $200.00 is a reasonable contribution from the tenant. The extra cost remains with the landlord. Filing fee

Because Mid North Real Estate Limited As Agent For Mike & Maryanne Blair Family Trust (Jodie And [The landlord/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5436148 — net $228.00 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Cleaning (part	$200.00	Cleaning (part
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$228.00
Bond	$450.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$228.00

Order

[The tenant/s] to pay Mid North Real Estate Limited As Agent For Mike & Maryanne Blair Family Trust (Jodie And [The landlord/s] $228.00 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $450.00 (3497451-016) immediately apportioned as follows: Mid North Real Estate Limited As Agent For Mike & Maryanne Blair Family Trust (Jodie And [The landlord/s]: $228.00 [The tenant/s]: $222.00

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 compensation for cleaning via the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy. The landlord has previously released the bulk of the bond to the tenant, with $450.00 retained until this application concluded.
The first hearing on 28 April 2026 was adjourned as the tenant had earlier engaged with the Registry, suggesting she wanted to appear. That order explained:

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

The landlord claims the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy.
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 statutory requirement is that tenants leave the premises in a reasonably clean and reasonably tidy condition. The RTA allows for fair wear and tear. A tenant is not required to leave a property spotless or even in a condition where the landlord would be happy to rent it out to a new tenant. What is required is that premises including the stove and bathroom fittings are cleaned and all personal items removed. A tenant is not required to rigorously clean all walls, ceilings lightshades, skirtings, behind appliances or the outside of the house. It is common that a landlord wishes to clean to this “extra” level so that they can re-tenant or sell. However, that is a business decision that a landlord makes at their cost.
The landlord provided a series of exit photos and a detailed invoice. These were reviewed at the hearing. I raised with the landlord that the detailed task list in the invoice included tasks not typically required of a tenant unless there is some direct causation. The photos left an overall impression of a premises that had been cleaned. There were areas missed, or part cleaned, that required further attention. Particularly the shower, especially the glass, and the kitchen.
Having considered the submissions and evidence, I accept the need for some extra cleaning but assess that, after attempting to align the invoiced effort and photo, $200.00 is a reasonable contribution from the tenant. The extra cost remains with the landlord. Filing fee
Because Mid North Real Estate Limited As Agent For Mike & Maryanne Blair Family Trust (Jodie And [The landlord/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5436148 — Cleanliness at 10A Morningside Road, Morningside, Whangarei 0110

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5436148 — Cleanliness at 10A Morningside Road, Morningside, Whangarei 0110

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

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

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

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

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions