How much money was awarded in case 5448729?

Cleaning: $235.98 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $425.50 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $8,785.71 awarded to landlord; Replace Garage Remote: $180.00 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $298.95 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5448729?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5448729?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13820708-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

How much money was awarded in case 5448729?

Cleaning: $235.98 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $425.50 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $8,785.71 awarded to landlord; Replace Garage Remote: $180.00 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $298.95 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5448729?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5448729?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13820708-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5448729 — Rent arrears

Q: What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5448729 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 5448729 — net $9,954.14 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 28/01/2026	$8,785.71	Rent arrears to 28/01/2026
Water rates to end of tenancy	$298.95	Water rates to end of tenancy
Replace garage remote	$180.00	Replace garage remote
Carpet Cleaning	$235.98	Carpet Cleaning
Lawns and Garden work	$425.50	Lawns and Garden work
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$9,954.14
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$9,954.14

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

[The tenant/s] must pay [The landlord/s] $9,954.14 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below. DescriptionLandlord Rent arrears to 28/01/2026$8,785.71 Water rates to end of tenancy$298.95 Replace garage remote$180.00 Carpet Cleaning$235.98 Lawns and Garden work$425.50 Filing fee reimbursement$28.00 Total award$9,954.14 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord$9,954.14

Reasons

Only the applicant landlord attended the hearing which took place by video conference.

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

How much is owed for rent and water rates?

The landlord advised that the tenancy ended on 28 January 2026 by mutual agreement. The tenant signed the bond refund form and this has been applied to reduce the amount sought today. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy as recorded in Order 2.

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 is required to replace worn out smoke alarm batteries during the tenancy. See section 40(1)(ca) Residential Tenancies Act 1986. The tenant must also replace standard light bulbs.

The landlord claimed that the tenant did not leave the premises including the carpet and the exterior reasonably clean and tidy and provided exit photographs and invoices for cleaning and carpet cleaning and lawns/garden work.

It is not always easy to define what "reasonably clean and tidy" means. However, a tenant is not required to leave a property immaculate 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. It is common that a landlord wishes to clean to an extra level so that they can re-tenant the premises, that is a business decision that a landlord makes at their cost.

Having carefully considered the evidence I am satisfied that the landlord has proved on the balance of probabilities that the carpet in the master bedroom, bedroom 3 and the lounge were not reasonably clean and tidy as they had stains and required further cleaning. The invoice provided is for cleaning of five rooms so I have ordered the tenant to pay 3/5 of the invoice totalling $235.98.

I am satisfied that the landlord has proved that the lawns were not done at the end of the tenancy. The landlord advised that the tenant ran out of time to do this. The amount of $425.50 is ordered as sought.

I am not satisfied on the evidence that the landlord has proved on the balance of probabilities that the premises in general were not left reasonably clean and tidy. The invoice provided is for a general move out clean together with a further amount non itemised charge for ceilings and kitchen cabinets. The exit photographs show that the property has been cleaned. Having considered the evidence provided I find that the landlord has failed to prove the claim for reimbursement of this invoice.

The following chattels were missing at the end of the tenancy: The garage remote. The landlord has provided an invoice for the replacement. Suppression/filing fee

The Tribunal may on the application of any party or on its own initiative make a suppression order, having regard to the interests of the parties and to the public interest. Section 95A (4) Residential Tenancies Act 1986. The landlord seeks suppression of all party names and has been substantially successful with their claim. Having considered the factors in this case, in particular the difficult family circumstances of the tenant at the time, the Tribunal grants suppression as sought.

Because [The applicant/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5448729 — net $9,954.14 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 28/01/2026	$8,785.71	Rent arrears to 28/01/2026
Water rates to end of tenancy	$298.95	Water rates to end of tenancy
Replace garage remote	$180.00	Replace garage remote
Carpet Cleaning	$235.98	Carpet Cleaning
Lawns and Garden work	$425.50	Lawns and Garden work
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$9,954.14
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$9,954.14

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the parties’ names and identifying details.
[The tenant/s] must pay [The landlord/s] $9,954.14 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below. DescriptionLandlord Rent arrears to 28/01/2026$8,785.71 Water rates to end of tenancy$298.95 Replace garage remote$180.00 Carpet Cleaning$235.98 Lawns and Garden work$425.50 Filing fee reimbursement$28.00 Total award$9,954.14 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord$9,954.14

Reasons

Only the applicant landlord attended the hearing which took place by video conference.
The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

How much is owed for rent and water rates?

The landlord advised that the tenancy ended on 28 January 2026 by mutual agreement. The tenant signed the bond refund form and this has been applied to reduce the amount sought today. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy as recorded in Order 2.

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 is required to replace worn out smoke alarm batteries during the tenancy. See section 40(1)(ca) Residential Tenancies Act 1986. The tenant must also replace standard light bulbs.
The landlord claimed that the tenant did not leave the premises including the carpet and the exterior reasonably clean and tidy and provided exit photographs and invoices for cleaning and carpet cleaning and lawns/garden work.
It is not always easy to define what "reasonably clean and tidy" means. However, a tenant is not required to leave a property immaculate 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. It is common that a landlord wishes to clean to an extra level so that they can re-tenant the premises, that is a business decision that a landlord makes at their cost.
Having carefully considered the evidence I am satisfied that the landlord has proved on the balance of probabilities that the carpet in the master bedroom, bedroom 3 and the lounge were not reasonably clean and tidy as they had stains and required further cleaning. The invoice provided is for cleaning of five rooms so I have ordered the tenant to pay 3/5 of the invoice totalling $235.98.
I am satisfied that the landlord has proved that the lawns were not done at the end of the tenancy. The landlord advised that the tenant ran out of time to do this. The amount of $425.50 is ordered as sought.
I am not satisfied on the evidence that the landlord has proved on the balance of probabilities that the premises in general were not left reasonably clean and tidy. The invoice provided is for a general move out clean together with a further amount non itemised charge for ceilings and kitchen cabinets. The exit photographs show that the property has been cleaned. Having considered the evidence provided I find that the landlord has failed to prove the claim for reimbursement of this invoice.
The following chattels were missing at the end of the tenancy: The garage remote. The landlord has provided an invoice for the replacement. Suppression/filing fee
The Tribunal may on the application of any party or on its own initiative make a suppression order, having regard to the interests of the parties and to the public interest. Section 95A (4) Residential Tenancies Act 1986. The landlord seeks suppression of all party names and has been substantially successful with their claim. Having considered the factors in this case, in particular the difficult family circumstances of the tenant at the time, the Tribunal grants suppression as sought.
Because [The applicant/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5448729 — Rent arrears

At a glance

Award balance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5448729 — Rent arrears

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for rent and water rates?

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 and water rates?

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

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Frequently asked questions