Tenancy Tribunal Rules: Tenant Must Clean Premises Before Leaving

OUTCOME: Allowed

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[2026] NZTT 5387604

TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA

APPLICANT: [redacted]

Landlord

RESPONDENT: [redacted]

Tenant

TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]

ORDER

1. [RESPONDENT] must pay [APPELLANT] [NAME] $1,522.36 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

Description Landlord Tenant Cleaning $651.16 Rubbish removal: exterior $579.16 Rubbish removal: interior $136.13 Oven/stove cleaning $155.91 Total award $1,522.36 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,522.36

Reasons:

1. The landlord attended the hearing which was held by video conference.

2. The tenant did not seek to be admitted to the hearing at the scheduled time nor seek an adjournment. The tenant was served notice of the hearing to his email. The landlord provided information that the tenant had confirmed in writing that his email address could be used as an address for service.

3. Because I am satisfied the tenant has been served notice of the hearing in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act, 1986, (the “RTA”) I conducted the hearing in the tenant’s absence.

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4. The landlord has applied for compensation for cleaning, oven cleaning and rubbish removal following the end of the tenancy.

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

5. At the end of the tenancy the tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and remove all rubbish. See section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.

6. The landlord said the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove all rubbish.

7. The landlord produced photographs that show belongings and rubbish to have been left behind throughout the inside and outside of the house. The photographs show no sign of the tenant having made any attempt to clean the house at the end of the tenancy. Walls, kitchen and bathrooms are all dirty and there are stains on the carpet, particularly in bedroom 4.

8. I am persuaded the landlord’s claims are reasonable to return the premises to a reasonably clean and tidy condition.

9. The claims and the amounts ordered above are proved.

C [NAME]

03 June 2026

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Please read carefully: Visit justice.govt.nz/tribunals/tenancy/rehearings-appeals for more information on rehearings and appeals.

Rehearings You can apply for a rehearing if you believe that a substantial wrong or miscarriage of justice has happened. For example: • you did not get the letter telling you the date of the hearing, or • the adjudicator improperly admitted or rejected evidence, or • new evidence, relating to the original application, has become available.

You must give reasons and evidence to support your application for a rehearing. A rehearing will not be granted just because you disagree with the decision. You must apply within five working days of the decision using the Application for Rehearing form: justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Forms/TT-Application-for-rehearing.pdf

Right of Appeal Both the landlord and the tenant can file an appeal. You should file your appeal at the District Court where the original hearing took place. The cost for an appeal is $260. You must apply within 10 working days after the decision is issued using this Appeal to the District Court form: justice.govt.nz/tribunals/tenancy/rehearings-appeals

Grounds for an appeal You can appeal if you think the decision was wrong, but not because you don’t like the decision. For some cases, there’ll be no right to appeal. For example, you can’t appeal: • against an interim order • a final order, or the failure to make an order, where the amount in dispute on appeal is

less than $1000 • a final order to undertake work, or the failure to make an order, where the value of the

work in dispute on appeal is less than $1000.

Enforcement Where the Tribunal made an order about money or property this is called a civil debt. The Ministry of Justice Collections Team can assist with enforcing civil debt. You can contact the collections team on [PHONE] or go to justice.govt.nz/fines/civil-debt for forms and information.

Notice to a party ordered to pay money or vacate premises, etc. Failure to comply with any order may result in substantial additional costs for enforcement. It may also involve being ordered to appear in the District Court for an examination of your means or seizure of your property.

If you require further help or information regarding this matter, visit [NAME]/disputes/enforcing- decisions or phone Tenancy Services on [PHONE].

Mēna ka hiahia koe ki ētahi atu awhina, kōrero ranei mo tēnei take, haere ki tenei ipurangi [NAME]/disputes/enforcing-decisions, waea atu ki Ratonga Takirua ma runga [PHONE] ranei.

https://www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/tenancy/rehearings-appeals https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Forms/TT-Application-for-rehearing.pdf https://www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/tenancy/rehearings-appeals/ https://www.justice.govt.nz/fines/about-civil-debt/ https://www.[NAME] https://www.[NAME] http://www.[NAME]

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A manaomia nisi faamatalaga poo se fesoasoani, e uiga i lau mataupu, asiasi ifo le matou aupega tafailagi: [NAME]/disputes/enforcing-decisions, pe fesootai mai le Tenancy Services i le numera [PHONE].

Reasons: