Tenant Ordered to Pay Cleaning and Carpet Cleaning Expenses
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay the landlord $607.00 for cleaning and carpet cleaning expenses after the end of the tenancy. The decision was based on photographic evidence showing the need for cleaning and the condition of the carpet.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is responsible for leaving the rental property in a reasonably clean state upon termination of the tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord for cleaning and carpet cleaning expenses.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $607.00 for cleaning and carpet cleaning expenses after the end of the tenancy. The Tribunal accepted the landlord's claim based on photographic evidence showing the need for cleaning and the condition of the carpet.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5104036
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY]- Trading As [NAME] $607.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Carpet Cleaning $180.00 Cleaning $250.00 Lawns and Garden work $150.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $607.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $607.00
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing. The landlord attended by video. The tenant attended by telephone.
2. The landlord has applied for compensation and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
3. The application concerned cleaning, garden and lawns and carpet cleaning.
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4. The tenant agreed to the claim for garden and lawns. That amount is ordered.
5. The landlord claims for cleaning the interior of the premises on the basis that it was not left reasonably clean and tidy. Only a handful of photographs were produced in support of this claim but given the evidence in the photographs I accept that the premises required cleaning. I refer to the photograph of the toilet, the light switch and door jamb and the benchtop.
6. The tenant denies that further cleaning was required, or it was not mentioned at the exit inspection. The tenant did not produce any evidence to prove that the premises were reasonably clean and tidy when she left.
7. On the evidence I am satisfied that further cleaning was required. The claim for cleaning is awarded.
8. The landlord claimed for carpet cleaning. Only one photograph of the carpet was produced but it showed very dirty carpet.
9. The tenant claimed that the carpet was stained and dirty when she moved in, and she had complained about it.
10. The landlord provided photographs of the carpet from before the tenancy. There are some stains on the carpet but nowhere near the level of staining as in the exit photograph.
11. The parties agreed that the worst stains were in the lounge. I note that the invoice mentions that the carpet in the lounge and three bedrooms was cleaned but no evidence was produced to show that the bedroom carpet needed cleaning. I have reduced the claim accordingly and award $180.00 for carpet cleaning in the lounge.
12. [COMPANY]- Trading As [NAME] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.
[NAME]
14 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 tenant did not provide evidence that the premises were reasonably clean and tidy when she left.
- Photographs showed the toilet, light switch, door jamb, and benchtop required cleaning.
- The carpet in the lounge was very dirty compared to before the tenancy.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant claimed that the carpet was stained and dirty when she moved in, but the landlord provided earlier photos showing less severe stains.
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 $607.00 for cleaning and carpet cleaning expenses.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the cleaning and carpet cleaning expenses incurred by the landlord after the tenant left the property.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord, accepting the photographic evidence showing the need for cleaning and the condition of the carpet.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were cited in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The photographic evidence showing the need for cleaning and the condition of the carpet was the most important argument.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was against the tenant, who brought the case as the respondent.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure that the rental property is left in a reasonably clean state to avoid such expenses.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Photographs of the property condition were the key evidence used in the decision.