Tenant Ordered to Pay $2360 From Bond for Cleaning and Costs
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $2360 from the bond to the landlord for cleaning and other costs because the tenant failed to leave the premises clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay for damages and costs incurred due to their failure to comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy.
📖 What the law says
This section outlines a tenant's responsibilities, including paying rent, keeping the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and notifying the landlord of damage or needed repairs. At the end of a tenancy, it requires the tenant to leave the premises in a reasonably clean and tidy condition and remove all rubbish and their belongings.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $2360 from the bond for various costs.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $2360 from the bond for cleaning, water rates, and other costs due to the tenant's failure to comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5109649
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted] For [NAME]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/[ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] $2360.00 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Cleaning $900.00 Water rates $96.26 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Rubbish removal $1,250.00 Storage costs $86.74 Total award $2,360.00 Bond $2,360.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $0.00
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,360.00 (6273012-001) to [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] immediately.
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Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing, set down to be conducted via video. Two calls to the tenant went unanswered and to voicemail. After the first call went to voicemail, a brief message was left introducing myself and explaining the purpose of the call. The message concluded with the advice I would try a second time after waiting some minutes. I was satisfied adequate service had completed and I continued with the hearing after the second call also went unanswered.
2. The landlord has applied for, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
3. The tenant is believed to have moved overseas. Given likely enforcement challenges, the landlord capped the total claimed at the bond.
How much is owed for water rates?
4. The landlord provided water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy was $96.26.
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.
6. The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove all rubbish. The house lot was effectively abandoned and the [NAME] had to undertake significant cleaning and removal of rubbish. The large amount of items abandoned were removed by the [NAME] and stored for a long period before disposal after no response or engagement by the tenant.
7. The [NAME] undertook all work themselves and provided an accounting of their time.
8. I am satisfied that the quantum costs incurred and claimed by the landlord, due to the tenant failures, are well in excess of the balance of the bond. A large number of photos support the claimed effort.
9. The amounts ordered are proved. Given the claims cap at the bond amount, further claims for door and window repairs are acknowledged but not subject to any determination here.
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Filing fee
10. [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME]
28 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 must pay for damages and costs due to failing to clean the premises.
- The landlord provided proof of water rates owed at the end of the tenancy.
- The landlord successfully claimed for storage costs related to abandoned items.
- The filing fee was reimbursed to the landlord since they wholly succeeded with the claim.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant's obligation to replace worn-out smoke alarm batteries was not enforced in this case.
- Further claims for door and window repairs were acknowledged but not determined in this decision.
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 $2360 from the bond to the landlord for various costs including cleaning and water rates.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's failure to comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy, leading to additional costs for the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the costs because they left the premises in poor condition and did not remove all rubbish as required.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, specifically 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, leaving the premises in a state requiring significant cleaning and rubbish removal.
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 clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy to avoid additional costs.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Evidence included water rates invoices and a detailed account of cleaning and rubbish removal costs.