What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5472313 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 5472313?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $74.75 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $62.80 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5472313?

The dispute type was not classified.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5472313?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13871626-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5472313 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 5472313?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $74.75 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $62.80 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5472313?

The dispute type was not classified.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5472313?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13871626-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5472313 — Tenancy dispute

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5472313 — net $165.55 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rubbish removal: tip fee	$62.80	Rubbish removal: tip fee
Lawns and Garden work	$74.75	Lawns and Garden work
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$165.55
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$165.55

Both parties attended the hearing.

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

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 has provided evidence that proves the tenant did not leave the lawns mown, and did not remove all the rubbish in the garage.

The tenant has not provided evidence to disprove these claims. He accepted the lawns were last mown two to three weeks before the tenancy ended and stated he was unable to mow them due to being “kicked out” and “not having access to a mower”. The tenant was adamant the rubbish in the landlord’s photographs dated 3 March 2026 was rubbish from the previous tenant that was in the garage at the start of the tenancy. The entry inspection photograph dated 7 November 2025 does not support this assertion.

The amounts ordered are proved.

I note that the landlords also claimed for their time, at a nominated $50.00 per hour, for the exit cleaning and rubbish removal they undertook. In New Zealand, landlords generally cannot charge or claim for their own unpaid time spent cleaning or conducting repairs. The law strictly limits reimbursement to actual out-of-pocket expenses, such as receipts for materials or invoices from professional tradespeople. The landlords claim for their time was therefore dismissed. Reimbursement of filing fee

Section 102(4) of the RTA confirms that applicants that are wholly or substantially successful in proving their claims will have their filing fee reimbursed.

Because the landlords have substantially succeeded with their claim, I must reimburse the filing fee. Name suppression

The landlords apply for non-publication of their names and identifying details.

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 landlords have substantially succeeded in their proceedings. I do not consider publication is in the public interest or justified because of the landlord’s conduct or any other circumstances of the case.

Non-publication is ordered.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5472313 — net $165.55 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rubbish removal: tip fee	$62.80	Rubbish removal: tip fee
Lawns and Garden work	$74.75	Lawns and Garden work
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$165.55
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$165.55

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlord’s name and identifying details.
[The tenant/s] must pay [The landlords] $165.55 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing.
The landlord has applied for compensation, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

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 has provided evidence that proves the tenant did not leave the lawns mown, and did not remove all the rubbish in the garage.
The tenant has not provided evidence to disprove these claims. He accepted the lawns were last mown two to three weeks before the tenancy ended and stated he was unable to mow them due to being “kicked out” and “not having access to a mower”. The tenant was adamant the rubbish in the landlord’s photographs dated 3 March 2026 was rubbish from the previous tenant that was in the garage at the start of the tenancy. The entry inspection photograph dated 7 November 2025 does not support this assertion.
The amounts ordered are proved.
I note that the landlords also claimed for their time, at a nominated $50.00 per hour, for the exit cleaning and rubbish removal they undertook. In New Zealand, landlords generally cannot charge or claim for their own unpaid time spent cleaning or conducting repairs. The law strictly limits reimbursement to actual out-of-pocket expenses, such as receipts for materials or invoices from professional tradespeople. The landlords claim for their time was therefore dismissed. Reimbursement of filing fee
Section 102(4) of the RTA confirms that applicants that are wholly or substantially successful in proving their claims will have their filing fee reimbursed.
Because the landlords have substantially succeeded with their claim, I must reimburse the filing fee. Name suppression
The landlords apply for non-publication of their names and identifying details.
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 landlords have substantially succeeded in their proceedings. I do not consider publication is in the public interest or justified because of the landlord’s conduct or any other circumstances of the case.
Non-publication is ordered.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5472313 — Tenancy dispute

At a glance

Award balance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5472313 — Tenancy dispute

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

Frequently asked questions

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

Frequently asked questions