Tenant Ordered to Pay Cleaning and Repair Costs
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay the landlord for cleaning, repairs, and filing fees. This decision was made by mutual agreement between the landlord and the tenant.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay the landlord for cleaning, repairs, and filing fees as proven by invoices and accepted by the tenant.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord specific charges related to cleaning, repairs, and filing fees.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord specific charges related to cleaning, repairs, and filing fees, as agreed upon by both parties during the hearing.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5212651
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. By consent, [NAME] and [NAME] must pay Team Group Rentals Limited as agent for [NAME] $1,719.98 immediately, calculated as shown in table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Cleaning $455.00 Carpet cleaning $379.50 Rubbish removal $159.28 Repairs: damage to walls $699.20 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $1,719.98 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,719.98
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing which I conducted by phone.
2. The landlord has applied for compensation and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
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3. The bond has already been refunded – see [2025] NZTT 5104277.
4. The amounts ordered are proved by invoices and photos. The tenant [NAME] accepted all the landlord’s claims. The order is made by consent.
J Greene
28 May 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
- Cleaning fees were accepted as they were supported by invoices.
- Carpet cleaning costs were accepted since the tenant agreed to them.
- Rubbish removal charges were accepted due to proof provided by the landlord.
- Repair costs for wall damage were accepted based on the tenant's acceptance.
- Filing fee reimbursement was accepted as it was claimed by the landlord.
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 specific charges including cleaning, repairs, and filing fees.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing the landlord for cleaning, repairs, and filing fees at the end of the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided by consent, as the tenant accepted all the landlord's claims and the amounts were proven by invoices and photos.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the acceptance by the tenant of the landlord's claims and the proof provided by invoices and photos.
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 any claims made by the landlord are supported by proper documentation such as invoices.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence that mattered included invoices and photos proving the amounts claimed by the landlord.