Tenant Ordered to Pay $1,030.98 for Cleaning and Waste Removal
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered a tenant to pay $1,030.98 to the landlord for cleaning and waste removal services after the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish at the end of the tenancy.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and remove all rubbish at the end of the tenancy.
📖 What the law says
This section states that a tenant must keep the rented property reasonably clean and tidy. When the tenancy ends, the tenant must leave the property in a reasonably clean and tidy condition and remove all rubbish.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,030.98 for cleaning and waste removal services.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,030.98 for cleaning and waste removal services after the tenant failed to comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5204953
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $1,030.98 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Grass slash, lawns and waste removal $728.24 Rubbish removal $302.74 Total award $1,030.98 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,030.98
Reasons:
1. Only the applicant landlord attended the hearing. The tenant was called on the number provided but there was no answer.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and compensation following the end of the tenancy.
3. Today the landlord withdrew the rent arrears application as this has previously been ordered by the Tribunal.
4. This tenancy ended on 20 January 2025.
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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, 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.
6. The tenant did not leave the exterior of the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish.
7. The amounts ordered are proved. The landlord provided exit photographs of items left in the premises and of the overgrown lawn and a copy of the scope report.
[NAME]
20 May 2025
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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 for the payment of less than $1000 • a final order to undertake work worth 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 tenancy.govt.nz/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 tenancy.govt.nz/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.tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing-decisions https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing-decisions http://www.tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing-decisions/
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A manaomia nisi faamatalaga poo se fesoasoani, e uiga i lau mataupu, asiasi ifo le matou aupega tafailagi: tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing-decisions, pe fesootai mai le Tenancy Services i le numera [PHONE].
Reasons:
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The tenant did not leave the exterior of the premises reasonably clean and tidy.
- The tenant did not remove all rubbish from the premises.
- The landlord provided exit photographs showing items left behind and an overgrown lawn.
- The landlord provided a scope report confirming the need for cleanup services.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not attend the hearing and could not provide any defense or counter-evidence.
- The tenant did not replace worn-out smoke alarm batteries during the tenancy.
- The tenant did not replace standard light bulbs as required.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,030.98 for cleaning and waste removal services.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's obligation to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and remove all rubbish at the end of the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the landlord $1,030.98 because the tenant did not comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, sections 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) and 40(1)(ca) were applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish at the end of the tenancy.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the landlord who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and remove all rubbish at the end of the tenancy to avoid similar costs.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Exit photographs of items left in the premises and of the overgrown lawn and a copy of the scope report mattered.