Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 5476633 — Lost Rent at 419A Sunset Road, Sunnybrook, Rotorua 3015
Decided 6 May 2026 · Published 6 May 2026 · Application 5476633
- Lost Rent
- Property damage
- Cleanliness
- Rent arrears
Order
- [The tenant/s] is to pay Larisa Ivanova Yushkova $718.57 immediately, calculated as follows: Remaining rent arrears to 17 March 2026$338.57 Lost rent (1 ½ weeks)$920.00 Rubbish removal – tip fees (estimated)$300.00 Carpet clean$180.00 Professional cleaning (interior)$345.00 Rekeying locks$345.00 Reglazing shed side window$250.00 Damage to six (6) avocado trees (purchase and planting)$600.00 Total award$3,278.57 Minus Bond$2,560.00 Balance payable to tenant$718.57
- Bond Services to pay the bond of $2,560.00 to Larisa Ivanova Yushkova immediately.
Reasons
- The Landlord attended the hearing. The Tenant did not attend.
- The Landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
- I may only deal with those claims that are clearly set out in the Landlord’s application which has been served on the Tenant.
How much is owed for rent?
- The tenancy ended on 27 February 2026. The tenant did not vacate immediately but left and moved out all her belongings on 17 March 2026. The Landlord also received payments from Work and Income on behalf of the tenant, during this time and up until 24 March 2026. The Landlord’s rent records indicate a total rent balance of $7,859.43 at the end of the tenancy, and I approve the amount of $338.57 for this Order.
- The Landlord claims three weeks of lost rent, at $640 per week, for restoring the house for rental. I have approved $920.00 (1 ½ weeks).
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 tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish. a. I award the estimated $300.00 for tip fees associated with removal of the rubbish, although I have not seen a paid invoice, I accept the Landlord’s evidence regarding the extent of rubbish and tenant items left behind. b. I award $180.00 for carpet cleaning based on the landlord’s description of the carpets, dirty and soiled. c. I award $345.00 for professional cleaning as invoiced (six hours of cleaning), based on the Landlord’s description of the state of the premises following the Tenant’s departure, that it was not reasonably clean and tidy and there had been limited cleaning done.
- The tenant did not return the keys. I award $345.00 to the Landlord as compensation for its actual and reasonable costs in having the house locks rekeyed.
- Six avocado trees were cut down by the Tenant and the Landlord has bought six replacements which together with a nominal provision for labour associated with planting them, came to $600.00. I approve this amount.
- There was a broken shed window, which the Landlord says was not broken at the start of the tenancy. I award $250.00 for the repair of the glass window.