Tenant Ordered to Pay $1,751.30 for Cleaning and Other Expenses
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay the landlord $1,751.30 for cleaning and other expenses because the tenant failed to leave the premises clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay for cleaning and other expenses if they fail to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
📖 What the law says
This section outlines a tenant's responsibilities, including keeping the premises reasonably clean and tidy during the tenancy. It also requires the tenant, when moving out, to leave the premises 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 $1,751.30 for cleaning and other expenses.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,751.30 for cleaning and other expenses following the end of the tenancy, as the premises were left unreasonably clean and tidy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5202691
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/Flat [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] - As Agent For [NAME] $1,751.30 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Previous order application 5162672 dated 25/02/2025 $1,241.80 Carpet Cleaning $302.50 Cleaning $150.00 Rubbish removal $30.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $1,751.30 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,751.30
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing which was held by teleconference.
2. The landlord has applied for compensation and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
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3. The landlord has also requested that a previous order against the tenant for application number 5162672 and dated 25 February 2025 be incorporated into today’s Order. I have done so for ease of enforcement against the tenant.
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. At today’s hearing the tenant stated that he had cleaned the carpets and the premises in either February or March 2025. He also stated that he had never resided at the premises.
6. He acknowledged that he had left a fridge, microwave and couch behind.
7. The photos taken at the end of February 2025 show a house that was not left clean. There were a lot of flies and the carpet in the lounge was particularly dirty.
8. The tenant is therefore required to pay the invoiced cost of cleaning, carpet cleaning and rubbish removal.
Filing fee reimbursement
9. The landlord was wholly successful with this claim and so the tenant is required to reimburse them the filing fee.
C ter Haar
21 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 left the premises unreasonably dirty and untidy.
- The tenant left behind furniture such as a fridge, microwave, and couch.
- Photos showed the house was not left clean, with dirty carpets and many flies present.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant claimed he had cleaned the carpets and the premises.
- The tenant stated he had never resided at the premises.
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 $1,751.30 for cleaning and other expenses.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's obligation to leave the premises clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay for cleaning and other expenses because the premises were left unreasonably dirty.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, s 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was that the tenant failed to leave the premises clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
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 that the premises are left clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy to avoid having to pay cleaning and other expenses.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Photos taken at the end of February 2025 showing the house not left clean were important evidence.