Tenant Ordered to Pay $1,194.00 for Cleaning and Maintenance
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay the landlord $1,194.00 for cleaning, garden work, key replacement, and filing fees because the tenant failed to leave the premises clean and tidy, remove all rubbish, and return all keys and security devices.
⚖️ Legal holding
A 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.
📖 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 Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,194.00 for cleaning, garden work, key replacement, and filing fees.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,194.00 for cleaning, garden work, key replacement, and filing fees due to non-compliance with tenancy obligations at the end of the tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5236152
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] (Aukawa) must pay [NAME] As Trustee(S) For [COMPANY] $1,194.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Cleaning $585.00 Lawns and Garden work $200.00 Lock/key replacement $382.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $1,194.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,194.00
Reasons:
1. A representative of the landlord attended the hearing by telephone.
2. The tenants did not attend the hearing. I tried to call the tenants on three different numbers during the hearing, but all calls went to voicemail.
3. One of the tenants had advised the landlord that they would not attend the hearing as they no longer used the phone number provided in the application.
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The tenant did not contact the Tribunal and did not advise the landlord or Tribunal of an alternative contact number.
4. I am satisfied that the tenants were aware of the hearing as they contacted the landlord directly about evidence submitted by the landlord, for the hearing.
5. The landlord has applied for compensation and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?
6. 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.
7. The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish. The tenant did not return the keys at the end of the tenancy. The keys were returned a few weeks later and left in the garage; after the landlord had had the locks rekeyed.
8. The landlord provided photographs and receipts to support its claims. The amounts ordered are proved.
9. As the landlord was the successful party I have also awarded reimbursement of the Tribunal application.
R Morgan
11 June 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 premises reasonably clean and tidy.
- The tenant did not remove all rubbish from the premises.
- The tenant did not return the keys at the end of the tenancy.
- The landlord provided photographs and receipts to support their claims.
- The landlord had the locks rekeyed due to the tenant's failure to return the keys.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not attend the hearing and did not provide an alternative contact number.
- The tenant contacted the landlord directly about evidence submitted by the landlord.
- The tenant returned the keys a few weeks later instead of at the end of the tenancy.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The tenant was ordered to pay the landlord $1,194.00 for cleaning, garden work, key replacement, and filing fees.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's failure to comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy, including leaving the premises clean and tidy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the landlord $1,194.00 because the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, remove all rubbish, and return all keys and security devices.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, 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 comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy, which included leaving the premises clean and tidy.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the landlord.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they leave the premises clean and tidy, remove all rubbish, and return all keys and security devices at the end of the tenancy.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Photographs and receipts provided by the landlord mattered in supporting the claims.