Tenant Ordered to Pay $810.18 for Rent Arrears and Cleaning Fees
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $810.18, including rent arrears, cleaning fees, and water rates, after determining that the tenant did not leave the rental property clean and tidy when the tenancy ended.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears, cleaning fees, and water rates when leaving the premises.
📖 What the law says
This section states that a tenant must pay rent on time as agreed in their tenancy agreement. It also requires a tenant to keep the premises reasonably clean and tidy during the tenancy and to leave them in a reasonably clean and tidy condition, with all rubbish removed, when the tenancy ends.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears, cleaning fees, and water rates.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $810.18, including rent arrears, cleaning fees, and water rates, after finding that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy upon termination of the tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5096408 1
[2025] NZTT 5096408
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/Flat [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] and [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] - as agent for [NAME] $810.18 immediately, as calculated in the table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 13 January 2025 $2,871.97 Cleaning $225.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Water rates $86.21 Total award $3,210.18 Bond $2,400.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $810.18
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,400.00 (6458400-005) to [COMPANY] - as agent for [NAME] immediately.
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing, together with one of the tenants. The other tenant did not respond when telephoned on the number ending in 686.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5096408 2
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent and water rates?
3. The tenancy ended on 13 January 2025. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amounts owing of $2,871.97 for rent and $86.21 for water rates, at the end of the tenancy.
Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?
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. See section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
5. The landlord has provided an exit report for the premises that shows that although most of the house was left reasonably clean and tidy, certain items were not. These included the oven and parts of the kitchen. The landlord engaged a cleaner to do a full clean of the property at the invoiced cost of $517.50 but only seeks a portion of this invoice.
6. I am satisfied that the tenant did not leave some aspects of the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and I have awarded $225.00 towards the total cleaning cost.
7. The amount ordered is proved.
8. [COMPANY] - as agent for [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME] 28 March 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5096408 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.
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/
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5096408 4
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 $2,871.97 for rent arrears as proven by the landlord's rent records.
- The tenant owes $86.21 for water rates as shown by the landlord's invoices.
- The tenant did not leave the oven and parts of the kitchen reasonably clean and tidy, requiring a partial cleaning fee of $225.00.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant did not provide evidence or proof to dispute the rent arrears or water rates claimed by the landlord.
- The tenant did not challenge the necessity of the cleaning fee based on the condition of the premises left at the end of the tenancy.
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 $810.18, including rent arrears, cleaning fees, and water rates.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's obligation to leave the rental property clean and tidy and to pay outstanding rent and water bills.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the specified amount because they did not comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy.
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 leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, as required by the Residential Tenancies Act.
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 that they leave the rental property clean and tidy and that all rent and utility bills are paid before the tenancy ends.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence that mattered included rent records, water rates invoices, and an exit report showing the state of the property at the end of the tenancy.