Tenant Ordered to Pay $749 for Cleaning and Rubbish Removal After Messy Departure
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that a tenant must leave the rental property clean and tidy, remove all rubbish, and return all keys upon moving out. In this case, the tenant was ordered to pay $749 for cleaning, rubbish removal, and key replacement after failing to comply with these requirements.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, remove all rubbish, and return all keys upon termination 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 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 claimant successfully recovered costs from the respondent for cleaning, rubbish removal, and key replacement.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $749 for cleaning, rubbish removal, and key replacement after the tenant failed to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy upon termination of the tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5108930 1
[2025] NZTT 5108930
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $749.00 immediately, as calculated in the table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Lock/key replacement $177.00 Rubbish removal (hire a [NAME]) $382.50 Rubbish removal (skip bin hire) $483.00 Cleaning and garden work $760.00 Rubbish removal (heavy rubbish) $314.50 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $2,144.00 Bond $1,395.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $749.00
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,395.00 (3036507-012) to [COMPANY] immediately.
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant did not attend the hearing and did not respond when telephoned on the number ending in 546.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5108930 2
2. The landlord has applied for compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
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 property was not cleaned and there was significant amounts of rubbish left at the property that required removal, together with exterior garden work. Photographs have been provided of the premises that show significant amounts of rubbish at the property, including large pieces of furniture. In addition is it is evident that the property was dirty and the lawns/garden unkempt.
5. Several invoices have been provided including three rubbish removal invoices of $382.50, $483.00, and $314.50. These were for skip bin hire, a hire a [NAME] rubbish removal and dump trip and a further rubbish removal invoice for heavy rubbish/furniture.
6. In addition, an invoice for cleaning and exterior garden work of $905.00 has been provided. The invoice includes an entire house cleaning, together with an oven clean, lawns and garden. There is also some work to repair the cupboards in the kitchen and laundry, however the landlord did not seek the repair amount of $145.00 at the hearing, and this has been deducted from the ordered amount.
7. I am satisfied that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish.
8. The tenant also did not return the keys. The landlord was required to engage a locksmith at the invoiced cost of $177.00.
9. The amounts ordered are proved.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5108930 3
10. [COMPANY] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME] 27 March 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5108930 4
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 [NAME]/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 [NAME]/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.[NAME]/disputes/enforcing-decisions https://www.[NAME]/disputes/enforcing-decisions http://www.[NAME]/disputes/enforcing-decisions/
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5108930 5
A manaomia nisi faamatalaga poo se fesoasoani, e uiga i lau mataupu, asiasi ifo le matou aupega tafailagi: [NAME]/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 photographs showing significant rubbish and a dirty, unkempt property, which satisfied the tribunal that the tenant failed to clean and remove rubbish.
- The landlord provided several invoices for rubbish removal, proving the costs incurred for skip bin hire and heavy rubbish disposal.
- The landlord provided an invoice for cleaning and exterior garden work, which included house cleaning, oven cleaning, and lawn/garden maintenance.
- The landlord proved the tenant did not return the keys, requiring a locksmith at a cost of $177.00.
- The landlord's claim for the filing fee was accepted because they wholly succeeded with their application.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The landlord's claim for kitchen and laundry cupboard repairs was not pursued at the hearing and was therefore deducted from the ordered amount.
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 $749 for cleaning, rubbish removal, and key replacement.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the state of the rental property after the tenant moved out, specifically regarding cleaning, rubbish removal, and returning keys.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, remove all rubbish, and return all keys. This decision was based on the fact that the property was left in a messy condition requiring significant cleaning and rubbish removal.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, 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 leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, which included leaving significant amounts of rubbish and requiring extensive cleaning.
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 rental property is left clean and tidy, with all rubbish removed and keys returned upon moving out.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Photographs showing the state of the property, invoices for cleaning and rubbish removal services, and the cost of replacing locks were presented as evidence.