Tenant Ordered to Pay $3,204.34 for Rent Arrears and Damages
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $3,204.34 for unpaid rent and damages including cleaning and repairs. The tenant failed to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish or return keys.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay the landlord for unpaid rent and damages incurred at the end of the tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $3,204.34 for unpaid rent and damages.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $3,204.34 for unpaid rent and damages including cleaning and repairs. The tenant failed to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish or return keys.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2026] NZTT 5485989
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT MANUKAU | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA KI MANUKAU
APPLICANT: [redacted] [NAME]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/Flat [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE], Ramada
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] $3,204.34 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,000.00 (BN-00165375) to [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent to 13 March 2026 $3,705.61 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Water charges to end of tenancy $546.23 Cleaning $345.00 Lock/key replacement $181.00 Rubbish removal $180.00 Blocked sink $218.50 Total award $5,204.34 Bond $2,000.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $3,204.34
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Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing today.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, outgoings, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
Rent and Water
3. The tenancy ended on 13 March 2026. The landlord provided rent records and water invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
Cleaning, Rubbish Removal, Blocked Sink
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.
5. The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish. The tenant was permitted to return to the premises to collect his belongings, and there was a small amount of rubbish left behind after he had done so. The amount awarded for cleaning was arrived at following discussion with the landlord and I consider is reasonable.
6. The bathroom sink was blocked. The sink is shown in a dirty condition, and I am willing to infer that the blockage was caused by something more than normal, careful use by the tenant. I award the cost of unblocking the hair in the waste trap.
7. The tenant did not return the keys. The landlord has claimed the cost of rekeying rather than changing the locks, to minimise the cost.
Filing Fee
8. The landlord’s application has been successful. The filing fee must be awarded.
M Edison
16 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 owes rent arrears as proven by the landlord's rent records.
- The landlord is entitled to water charges as they cover actual expenses incurred.
- Cleaning fees are justified due to the premises not being left reasonably clean.
- The landlord is owed for the blocked sink repair since the blockage likely wasn't due to normal use.
- The filing fee reimbursement is granted as the landlord's application was successful.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant's failure to return keys resulted in the landlord claiming the cost of rekeying.
- The landlord's claim for compensation includes various outgoings supported by invoices and records.
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 $3,204.34 for unpaid rent and damages including cleaning and repairs.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent and damages including cleaning and repairs at the end of the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the landlord for unpaid rent and damages because the tenant failed to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish or return keys.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was that the tenant failed to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish or return keys.
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 reasonably clean and tidy, remove all rubbish, and return all keys at the end of the tenancy.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence included rent records and water invoices proving the amount owing at the end of the tenancy, and proof of cleaning and repairs needed at the end of the tenancy.