How much money was awarded in case 5476063?

Cleaning: $320.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5476063?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5476063?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13751347-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

How much money was awarded in case 5476063?

Cleaning: $320.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5476063?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5476063?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13751347-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

29A Heathglen Avenue, Parklands, Christchurch 8083 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5476063 — Cleanliness

Q: What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5476063 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 5476063 — net $320.00 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Carpet Cleaning	$320.00	Carpet Cleaning
Net award	$320.00
Bond	$720.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$320.00

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the landlord name and identifying details.

Joshua Hayden Lowry and Lauren Rebecca Lowry to pay [The landlord/s] $320.00 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $720.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) immediately apportioned as follows: [The landlord/s]: $320.00 Joshua Hayden Lowry and Lauren Rebecca Lowry: $400.00

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing which was conducted remotely. The tenants were accompanied by a support person.

The tenants have applied for a refund of the balance of bond remaining at the Bond Centre being $720.00. The landlord originally applied for compensation for carpet cleaning and replacement kitchen vinyl but at the hearing the claim for replacement vinyl was withdrawn. The property had been sold without the vinyl being replaced and this had been highlighted by the tenants in their application with photographs of a new listing of the property 5 days later still showing the burn mark in the vinyl.

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 landlord claims that at the end of the tenancy the lounge carpet required cleaning and the removal of two stains.

The tenants acknowledge there were two stains, but they had cleaned the carpets. On more than one occasion they had requested to attend the final inspection and if they had been permitted, they believe they could have come to much more cost effective remedy for the stains and provided information relating to quotes they had received that were much cheaper than that charged by the landlords. Their main concern was they believed the cost was excessive.

The landed stated that when stain removal is undertaken the carpets do need cleaning afterwards to remove any of the chemicals that have been used to remove the stains. The tenancy ended on 22 March 2026 and the inspection was conducted on 23 March. There was some urgency for them to hand the property back to the owners as it had been sold.

There is no obligation on a landlord to give the opportunity to a tenant to remediate any defects found at the end of the tenancy although this might happen on occasion if time allows.

I find in this case that the amount claimed for stain removal and cleaning was reasonable and this cost is awarded.

As the tenants had a valid defence to the claim for the costs of replacement vinyl and this was one of the reasons they filed their application, I have therefore not awarded the filing fee to the landlord as it was in the end withdrawn at the hearing. However as the tenants have not been successful in defending their claim for carpet cleaning and stain removal suppression is not granted as requested.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5476063 — net $320.00 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Carpet Cleaning	$320.00	Carpet Cleaning
Net award	$320.00
Bond	$720.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$320.00

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the landlord name and identifying details.
Joshua Hayden Lowry and Lauren Rebecca Lowry to pay [The landlord/s] $320.00 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $720.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) immediately apportioned as follows: [The landlord/s]: $320.00 Joshua Hayden Lowry and Lauren Rebecca Lowry: $400.00

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing which was conducted remotely. The tenants were accompanied by a support person.
The tenants have applied for a refund of the balance of bond remaining at the Bond Centre being $720.00. The landlord originally applied for compensation for carpet cleaning and replacement kitchen vinyl but at the hearing the claim for replacement vinyl was withdrawn. The property had been sold without the vinyl being replaced and this had been highlighted by the tenants in their application with photographs of a new listing of the property 5 days later still showing the burn mark in the vinyl.

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 landlord claims that at the end of the tenancy the lounge carpet required cleaning and the removal of two stains.
The tenants acknowledge there were two stains, but they had cleaned the carpets. On more than one occasion they had requested to attend the final inspection and if they had been permitted, they believe they could have come to much more cost effective remedy for the stains and provided information relating to quotes they had received that were much cheaper than that charged by the landlords. Their main concern was they believed the cost was excessive.
The landed stated that when stain removal is undertaken the carpets do need cleaning afterwards to remove any of the chemicals that have been used to remove the stains. The tenancy ended on 22 March 2026 and the inspection was conducted on 23 March. There was some urgency for them to hand the property back to the owners as it had been sold.
There is no obligation on a landlord to give the opportunity to a tenant to remediate any defects found at the end of the tenancy although this might happen on occasion if time allows.
I find in this case that the amount claimed for stain removal and cleaning was reasonable and this cost is awarded.
As the tenants had a valid defence to the claim for the costs of replacement vinyl and this was one of the reasons they filed their application, I have therefore not awarded the filing fee to the landlord as it was in the end withdrawn at the hearing. However as the tenants have not been successful in defending their claim for carpet cleaning and stain removal suppression is not granted as requested.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5476063 — Cleanliness at 29A Heathglen Avenue, Parklands, Christchurch 8083

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5476063 — Cleanliness at 29A Heathglen Avenue, Parklands, Christchurch 8083

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

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