Tenant Ordered to Pay $1,160.41 for Rent Arrears and Cleaning Fees in Auckland
📌 In brief
In this case, the Tenancy Tribunal ruled that a tenant must pay the landlord $1,160.41 for unpaid rent and cleaning costs because the tenant did not leave the premises clean or remove rubbish as required by law.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to leave premises reasonably clean and tidy, remove all rubbish, return keys and security devices, and leave chattels provided for their benefit upon termination of a tenancy agreement.
📖 What the law says
This section outlines a tenant's responsibilities, including paying rent on time, keeping the property reasonably clean and tidy, and notifying the landlord of any damage or needed repairs. When a tenancy ends, the tenant must move out, remove all their belongings, leave the property reasonably clean and tidy, and take out all rubbish.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The claimant was awarded damages for rent arrears and cleaning costs due to the respondent's failure to comply with tenancy obligations.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,160.41 for rent arrears and cleaning expenses due to the tenant's failure to comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy agreement.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
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[2026] NZTT 5413930
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/[ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [RESPONDENT] must pay [APPELLANT] [NAME] $1,160.41 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $167.68 Cleaning: House $200.00 Oven/stove cleaning $165.86 Cleaning: Kitchen $52.13 Rubbish removal $574.74 Total award $1,160.41 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,160.41
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant did not appear and was telephoned on the number provided in the application form, but there was no answer.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and compensation following the end of the tenancy.
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How much is owed for rent ?
3. The tenancy began on 15 August 2024 and ended on 17 October 2025. The landlord provided rent records to the end of the tenancy which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?
4. 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.
5. The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish.
6. There were a lot of items left inside the premises being a lot of clothes and small household items in the kitchen drawers, also a chair ,and a cot and a set clothes drawers in a wardrobe. This amount is awarded as claimed.
7. The photographs provided did not support the amount claimed for cleaning the whole house. It was established that the tenant had left many items behind, and the landlord said that this showed that they had not tried to clean. The requirement is that the premises were not left reasonably clean, not that an attempt had been made.
8. The oven required cleaning and again the kitchen drawers and cupboards showed items left but no substantial cleaning required.
9. The amounts ordered reflect the evidence provided.
[NAME]
29 May 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:
📊 How courts decide similar cases
Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:
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A snapshot of this collection — not a prediction of your case's outcome.
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- Tenant returns the property in a reasonably clean and tidy state.
- Tenant complies with payment terms set by the Tenancy Tribunal.
- Landlord is entitled to dispose of abandoned goods after giving reasonable notice.
- Tenant does not abandon the premises without reasonable excuse.
- Landlord provides robust documentary evidence for claims.
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 $1,160.41 to the landlord for rent arrears and cleaning fees.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant leaving the premises unreasonably dirty and failing to 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 $1,160.41 because the tenant did not meet their obligations to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, specifically section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v), was 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, leaving behind numerous items and requiring extensive cleaning.
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?
For tenants in a similar situation, it means they must ensure the premises are left reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy to avoid financial penalties.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Photographs showing the state of the premises and the landlord's records of rent arrears were key pieces of evidence.