Tenant Ordered to Pay $2,329.73 for Cleaning and Rubbish Removal
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $2,329.73 for cleaning and removal of rubbish at the end of the tenancy. The tenant did not leave the premises clean and tidy, leading to the order.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and remove all rubbish 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. When a tenancy ends, the tenant must leave the property in a reasonably clean and tidy state 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 $2,329.73 for cleaning and removal of rubbish.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $2,329.73 for cleaning and removal of rubbish at the end of the tenancy. The tenant failed to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5203412 1
[2025] NZTT 5203412
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], Palmerston North, Palmerston North 4410
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay Palmerston North City Council $2,329.73 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Previous order application 5164752 dated 3 March 2025
$2,056.28
Cleaning and rubbish removal Proceeds from sale of refrigerator and washing machine
$371.45 $125.00
Filing fee reimbursement Award
$27.00 $2,454.73 $125.00
Net award $2,329.73 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $2,329.73
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing which was held by teleconference. The tenant was unable to be contacted on the number specified in the Notice of Hearing, which was duly served.
2. The landlord has applied for compensation and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5203412 2
3. The tenancy was ended by an Order of the Tribunal dated 3 March 2025 in application 5164752. That Order released the bond to the landlord and ordered payment of the remaining arrears. The sum due is incorporated into this Order.
4. In accordance with the March Order the landlord has received proceeds from disposal of goods belonging to the tenant for which credit is given in the amount Ordered. No other sale proceeds need to be accounted for.
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.
6. Exit inspection photographs provide by the landlord prove that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish.
7. The amount claimed is reasonable and is proved by invoice provided by the landlords ordered are proved.
8. Because Palmerston North City Council has succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME]
03 June 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5203412 3
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/
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5203412 4
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 landlord proved that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy.
- The landlord proved that the tenant did not remove all rubbish from the premises.
- The amount the landlord claimed for cleaning and rubbish removal was reasonable and supported by an invoice.
- The landlord was reimbursed for the filing fee because they succeeded with their claim.
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 $2,329.73 for cleaning and removal of rubbish.
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 the landlord for cleaning and rubbish removal because the tenant left the premises unclean and untidy.
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 did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, as required by law.
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, this means they must ensure the premises are left clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy to avoid similar orders.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Photographs provided by the landlord proving the state of the premises were crucial.