Tenant Ordered to Pay $2,158.62 for Cleaning and Lock Replacement
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $2,158.62 for cleaning and replacing locks because the tenant left the premises unclean and did not return the keys.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay the landlord for leaving the premises unclean and requiring lock changes.
📖 What the law says
This rule states that a tenant must keep the rented property reasonably clean and tidy. It also requires the tenant, when moving out, to 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 $2,158.62 for various charges including cleaning and lock replacement.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $2,158.62 for cleaning and replacing locks due to the premises being left unclean and requiring new locks.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5155633
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Room 1, [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. This order incorporates the Tribunal order made on 7 January 2025 under application 5079389.
2. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As [COMPANY]. $2,158.62 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Previous order application 5079389 dated 07/01/2025 $1,675.00 Lock/key replacement $197.87 Cleaning $258.75 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $2,158.62 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $2,158.62
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant did not.
2. I am satisfied that the tenant had received proper notice of the hearing time, date and place and chose not to attend.
3. On 7Janaury 2025 the Tribunal made an order under application 5079389 terminating the tenancy, awarding $2,768.00 of rent arrears, reimbursing the filing fee of $27.00 and refunding the $1,120.00 bond to the landlord. The
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previous order is incorporated into this order for enforcement purposes. The amount still owing from this order is $1,675.00.
4. 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?
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 premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish.
7. The locks had to be changed as part of the eviction process.
8. The amounts ordered are proved.
Reimbursement of filing fee
9. Because the landlord has wholly succeeded with its application, I must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME]
21 March 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 locks had to be replaced due to the tenant's actions.
- The landlord incurred costs for cleaning and replacing locks.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not provide any defense or explanation for the state of the premises.
- The tenant did not attend the hearing to contest the charges.
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 $2,158.62 for cleaning and replacing locks.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant leaving the premises unclean and not returning the keys, leading to cleaning and lock replacement costs.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the costs because they failed to meet 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.
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 and return all keys to avoid such costs.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment mentions the previous order and the specific costs incurred by the landlord.