Tenant Ordered to Pay $622.43 for Cleaning and Property Improvements
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $622.43 from the bond to cover cleaning and property improvement costs because the tenant did not leave the rental property clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy 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 during the tenancy. It also states that when a tenancy ends, the tenant must leave the premises 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 $622.43 from the bond to cover cleaning and property improvement costs.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $622.43 from the bond to cover cleaning and property improvement costs after finding that the tenant failed to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5138831, 5146734
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted] as agent for [NAME] and [NAME]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] and [NAME] to pay Highland Real Estate Group [NAME] as agent for [NAME] and [NAME] $622.43 from the bond, as calculated in the table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Key replacement $10.43 Cleaning $300.00 All in 1 property improvement invoice $235.00 Lawns and Garden work $50.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $622.43 Bond $622.43 $1,497.57
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,120.00 (5767871-006) immediately apportioned as follows:
Highland Real Estate Group [NAME] as agent for [NAME] and [NAME]:
$622.43
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[NAME] and [NAME]: $1,497.57
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing.
2. The landlord has applied for compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy. The tenant disputes the amounts being claimed and has also applied for refund of the bond.
Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?
3. 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.
4. The landlord claims that the tenant did not leave the premises clean and tidy, and they were required to engage professional cleaners to reach that standard. They have provided an invoice for $600.00 for the required cleaning together with evidence from the cleaners who state that the kitchen cupboards were particularly bad, together with the bathroom, walls and floors in the kitchen and the laundry area. Photographs from before and after the tenancy have also been provided.
5. The landlord also claims for removing rubbish from the property ([COMPANY]) and tidying the back garden lawns and has provided two invoices of $235.00 and $105.00 for this work. The rubbish removal invoice also includes other move out items such as rehanging curtains and disposing of a microwave.
6. The tenant says that the property was cleaned to a reasonable standard and that the requirement is not for the property to be left to a professionally cleaned standard, as is being claimed. They submit similarly for the gardens that they had mowed and tidied the grounds, and that the standard being sought by the landlord is higher than what is required from tenants at the end of a tenancy.
7. The tenant accepts that there was some rubbish left in the bins and doesn’t specifically dispute any other items in the rubbish removal invoice. The tenant did dispute the claim relating to furniture left on the road, but this isn’t included in the invoice.
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8. In my view and based on the evidence, although the property was left relatively clean and tidy there was some specific items that required further cleaning, such as the kitchen cupboards and the bathroom. The tenant is required to make some payment towards these items, and I have accordingly ordered the tenant to pay $300.00 towards the claimed cleaning invoice. I have similarly considered the grounds work done by the tenant but note that the photographs show that some further work was required to the lawns/garden, and the tenant is to pay $50.00 towards this work.
9. I am satisfied that the items in the rubbish removal invoice were required at the end of the tenancy and this invoice amount is ordered.
10. In addition, the tenant did not return all the keys. The tenant returned one key, but evidence provided shows that three keys were given at the commencement of the tenancy. The landlord was required to have further keys cut at a cost of $10.43.
11. The amounts ordered are proved.
12. Because Highland Real Estate Group [NAME] as agent for [NAME] and [NAME] has substantially succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME] 20 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 landlord provided an invoice and cleaner's evidence showing specific areas like kitchen cupboards and bathrooms needed further cleaning.
- The landlord provided an invoice for rubbish removal and other move-out items, which the tribunal found were required.
- Photographs showed that additional work was needed for the lawns and garden.
- The tenant did not return all the keys, with evidence showing three keys were given but only one was returned.
- The landlord substantially succeeded with their claim, entitling them to reimbursement of the filing fee.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant argued that the property was cleaned to a reasonable standard, not requiring professional cleaning.
- The tenant claimed they had mowed and tidied the grounds, and the landlord was seeking a higher standard than required.
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 $622.43 from the bond to cover cleaning and property improvement costs.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about whether the tenant had left the rental property clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay for the cleaning and property improvements because the property was left in a condition requiring professional cleaning and garden work.
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 was required to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy at the end of 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?
For someone in a similar situation, leaving the rental property clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy is crucial to avoid having to pay for professional cleaning and property improvements.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence that mattered included invoices for cleaning and property improvements, as well as photographs showing the condition of the property before and after the tenancy.