Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5481150 — Cleanliness at 16 Heale Street, Matata, Matata 3194
Decided 22 May 2026 · Published 22 May 2026 · Application 5481150
- Cleanliness
- Property damage
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Matata
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
A Macpherson
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $1,826.58
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $1,826.58
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oven/stove cleaning | $170.00 | Oven/stove cleaning | |
| Cleaning including carpets | $766.04 | Cleaning including carpets | |
| Lock/key replacement | $620.00 | Lock/key replacement | |
| Repairs: bathroom door, pantry door | $270.54 | Repairs: bathroom door, pantry door | |
| Net award | $1,826.58 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $1,826.58 |
Claims and awards for application 5481150 — net $1,826.58 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Oven/stove cleaning
- Amount
- $170.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Oven/stove cleaning
Cleaning including carpets
- Amount
- $766.04
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Cleaning including carpets
Lock/key replacement
- Amount
- $620.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Lock/key replacement
Repairs: bathroom door, pantry door
- Amount
- $270.54
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Repairs: bathroom door, pantry door
Net award
Landlord $1,826.58
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $1,826.58
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Julie Suzanne Ecclestone to pay Lavina Emani $1,826.58 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,320.00 (BN-00096412) immediately apportioned as shown in table below.
Reasons
- Both parties attended the hearing.
- The tenant applied for a partial refund of her bond.
- The landlord has applied for compensation from the bond.
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 (RTA). Tenants are liable for careless or intentional damages incurred during the tenancy, beyond fair wear and tear (see section 49B RTA).
- The tenant does not dispute the amounts claimed for oven and general cleaning, lock replacement, and repairs to the bathroom and pantry doors.
- I find that the tenant is not liable for exterior cleaning and the landlord did not provide any evidence to prove the claim for garden work. This part of the claim ($169.94) is dismissed.
- The landlord also claimed one week of lost rent ($580.00) while cleaning and repairs were carried out.
- Tenants are not required to leave premises in such a condition that a new tenant can move in straight away. A realistic landlord’s business plan should, therefore, include an allowance for some loss of rent between tenancies, particularly where a tenancy has lasted for some time.
- This part of the claim is dismissed
- I decline to make any award for the respective filing fees.
- The Bond Centre is ordered to pay the bond in accordance with the table above.
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Residential Tenancies Act sections
s40(1), s49B
Key findings
- Dispute theme: cleaning
- Dispute theme: property damage
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5481150?
The tribunal order states: Julie Suzanne Ecclestone to pay Lavina Emani $1,826.58 from the bond,
How much money was awarded in case 5481150?
Cleaning: $170.00 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $766.04 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $620.00 awarded to landlord; Bathroom Door, Pantry Door: $270.54 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5481150?
The primary dispute was Cleanliness. Related themes: Property damage.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5481150?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13640485-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.