Tenant ordered to pay $4,992.88 for damages and cleaning
📌 In brief
In a recent Tenancy Tribunal case, a tenant was ordered to pay $4,992.88 to the landlord for various damages and cleaning costs, including methamphetamine testing and carpet cleaning. The Tribunal found that these damages occurred during the tenancy period.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is liable for compensation claims if the landlord proves the damages occurred during the tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $4,992.88 for various damages and cleaning costs.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $4,992.88 for various damages and cleaning costs, including methamphetamine testing and carpet cleaning. The Tribunal found that the damages occurred during the tenancy period.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5131472 1
[2025] NZTT 5131472
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT [Event location suppressed]
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [Tenancy address suppressed]
ORDER
1. An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the names and identifying details of both parties.
2. [[NAME]] must pay [The landlord/s] $4,992.88 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
3. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $444.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Meth testing/Cleaning $1,839.13 Lock/key replacement: Door lock removal $86.25 Carpet Cleaning: Toilet unblocking $356.50 Lawns and Garden work $138.00 Replace furnishings: Curtain $402.50 Repairs: Wall damage $1,725.00 Repairs: Timber floorboard $862.50 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $5,436.88 Minus bond - $444.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $4,992.88
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5131472 2
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the teleconference hearing on 29 April 2025. The tenant did not.
2. The tenancy was from 8 October 2021 until 15 August 2024.
3. The landlord applied for compensation for door lock removal, toilet unblocking, lawn mowing and waste removal, door stop installation, curtain installation, touch up of interior walls, replacing damaged timer floorboards and methamphetamine testing, refund of the bond and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
4. After the teleconference hearing, the landlord provided further evidence including move in inspection photos and methamphetamine test results to support the application.
5. Having seen the move in inspection photos and move out photos together with the methamphetamine test results, I am satisfied that the landlord has proven that the tenant is liable for the compensation claims.
6. The premises was newly renovated at the beginning of the tenancy and I find that that the landlord has proven on the balance of probabilities that the methamphetamine contamination occurred during the tenancy.
7. The only claim that I do not allow is for the door stop installation, as I could not see the need to install 5 door stops at the cost of the tenant. The entry inspection photos only showed one door stop. The landlord has not proven that the other door stops existed in the first place.
8. Because [[NAME]] has substantially succeeded with the claim, I order the tenant to reimburse the landlord’s filing fee.
9. I order the tenant to pay the landlord as per the order above.
[NAME] 20 May 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5131472 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.
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].
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/
Reasons:
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The landlord provided move-in and move-out photos, along with methamphetamine test results, to support their claims.
- The tribunal was satisfied that the landlord proved the tenant was responsible for the compensation claims.
- The premises were newly renovated at the start of the tenancy, which helped prove the methamphetamine contamination happened during the tenancy.
- The landlord substantially succeeded with the claim, leading to the tenant reimbursing the filing fee.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The landlord's claim for installing five door stops was not allowed because there was no proof they existed before.
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 $4,992.88 for various damages and cleaning costs.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's responsibility for damages and cleaning costs incurred during the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant was responsible for the damages and cleaning costs because the landlord proved that they occurred during the tenancy.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the evidence provided by the landlord, including photos and test results, which proved that the damages occurred during the tenancy.
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 have clear evidence of any damages occurring during their tenancy to avoid such costs.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Photos of the move-in and move-out inspections, as well as methamphetamine test results, were crucial pieces of evidence.