Tenant Ordered to Pay $1,384.00 for Failing to Remove Rubbish
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,384.00 for failing to remove extensive rubbish at the end of the tenancy. The landlord provided invoices and photographs proving the amount.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and remove all rubbish at the end of the tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,384.00 for rubbish removal costs.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,384.00 for failing to remove extensive rubbish at the end of the tenancy. The landlord provided invoices and photographs proving the amount.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2026] NZTT 5444309
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $1,384.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Rubbish removal $1,384.00 Total award $1,384.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,384.00
Reasons:
1. Only the applicant landlord attended the hearing.
2. The landlord has applied for reimbursement of rubbish removal costs following the end of the tenancy.
Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?
3. At the end of the tenancy the tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and remove all rubbish.
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4. The tenant did not leave the premises including the section in a reasonably clean and tidy condition and did not remove extensive rubbish.
5. The amount ordered is proved by the invoices and photographs provided.
[NAME]
17 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 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 clean and tidy.
- Extensive rubbish was left behind by the tenant.
- Invoices and photographs prove the amount ordered.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not attend the hearing to defend themselves.
- There is no mention of any counter-evidence provided by the tenant.
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 $1,384.00 for failing to remove extensive rubbish at the end of the tenancy.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's obligation to remove rubbish at the end of the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the landlord $1,384.00 because the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove extensive rubbish.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were cited in the judgment.
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 extensive rubbish.
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.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence that mattered included invoices and photographs provided by the landlord.