Tenant ordered to pay $826.25 for rent arrears and compensation
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $826.25 for unpaid rent and compensate the landlord for cleaning and weeding expenses after leaving the rental property without proper notice.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and compensate the landlord for damages and cleaning costs incurred upon termination of the tenancy.
📖 What the law says
This section outlines a tenant's responsibilities, including paying rent on time, keeping the property reasonably clean and tidy, and leaving it in a similar condition when moving out, removing all belongings and rubbish.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and compensate the landlord for cleaning and weeding expenses.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $826.25 for rent arrears and compensate the landlord for cleaning and weeding expenses incurred after the tenant left the premises without notice. The landlord succeeded in proving the amount owing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5148821
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], Stokes Valley, Lower Hutt 5019
ORDER
1. [NAME] and [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [COMPANY] $826.25 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $2,780.00 (6446850-003) to [COMPANY] As Agent For [COMPANY] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 23 January 2025 $2,780.00 Cleaning and weeding $598.00 Carpet cleaning $201.25 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $3,606.25 Bond $2,780.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $826.25
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Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing. Both tenants were called on the numbers provided but did not answer. The absence of a party does not prevent the matter from being heard and determined.
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?
3. This was a fixed term tenancy which commenced on 7 June 2024 and was due to run until 8 June 2025.
4. On 8 January 2025, the landlord received a note from the tenants which stated they had left the premises. The landlord immediately re-advertised, and a new tenant took over on 24 January 2025.
5. I find that the tenant effectively ended on 23 January 2025 and rent is due and owing to this date. The landlord provided rent records.
Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?
6. 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.
7. The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy in some areas, and the outside area needed to be weeded.
8. The amounts ordered are proved.
9. As the landlord has wholly succeeded with the claim, the tenant must reimburse the filing fee.
A Macpherson 02 April 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's claim for rent arrears was accepted because the tenancy effectively ended on January 23, 2025, and rent was due until that date.
- The landlord's claim for cleaning and weeding costs was accepted because the tenants did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy.
- The landlord was awarded reimbursement for the filing fee because they wholly succeeded with their claim.
- The bond was ordered to be paid to the landlord to offset the total amount owed by the tenants.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The tenant must pay $826.25 for rent arrears and compensate the landlord for cleaning and weeding expenses.
What was the dispute about?
The landlord claimed rent arrears and compensation for damages after the tenant left the premises without notice.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant failed to provide proper notice and left the premises unclean.
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 left the premises without notice and the property was not left in a reasonable state of cleanliness.
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 provide proper notice and leave the premises in a clean and tidy condition when ending a tenancy.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence included rent records and the landlord's testimony about the state of the property upon the tenant's departure.