Tenant Ordered to Pay for Carpet Cleaning and Repairs
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $1,269.79 for damages and repairs at the end of their tenancy. This includes costs for carpet cleaning, wall repairs, and replacing a damaged shower liner.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is responsible for paying for damages and necessary repairs at the end of a tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay for damages and repairs.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $1,269.79 for damages and repairs at the end of the tenancy, including carpet cleaning, wall repairs, and shower liner replacement. The landlord successfully claimed these costs from the bond.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5151933 1
[2025] NZTT 5151933
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] to pay [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] $1,269.79 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,520.00 (3437172-011) immediately apportioned as follows:
[COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME]: $1,269.79
[NAME]: $250.21
Description Landlord Tenant Carpet Cleaning $292.79 Repairs: Wall $200.00 Repairs: Shower liner $500.00 Door replacement $250.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $1,269.79 Bond $1,269.79 $250.21
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Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing. The landlord attended by video and the tenant attended by telephone.
2. The landlord has applied for compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
3. The landlord claimed for carpet cleaning as there were stains at the end of the tenancy. The tenant acknowledged that she caused the stains and accepts the claim against her. That amount is ordered.
4. The landlord claimed for replacement of a sheet of the shower liner. The tenant acknowledged causing the damage and she had attempted to repair it. At the date of the hearing the landlord has not carried out the repairs even though the property has been tenanted and has only submitted quotes for the repairs.
5. On the evidence I have awarded $500.00 for replacement of the sheet of shower liner including the cost of installing it.
6. The landlord claims for wall holes. It is not clear from the ingoing inspection report that the wall holes were made during this tenancy. The tenant said that the holes were behind the couch, but she does not know how they happened. She had tried to repair the holes.
7. I have awarded $200.00 for the wall holes.
8. The landlord claimed for replacement of the lounge door. The tenant acknowledged removing the door and storing it in the garage. Unfortunately, the door got damaged and could not be reinstalled.
9. The landlord claimed for a veneer door which would be stained and sealed. The ingoing inspection report shows that the door was painted and therefore it should be replaced with a standard painted door. I have awarded $250.00 to cover the cost of a door, painting and installation.
10. [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.
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N Walker 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 accepted responsibility for carpet stains, leading to an award for cleaning costs.
- The tenant acknowledged causing damage to the shower liner, resulting in an award for its replacement and installation.
- The tribunal awarded costs for wall holes because the tenant did not know how they happened and had tried to repair them.
- The tenant admitted removing the lounge door and damaging it, leading to an award for its replacement.
- The landlord was reimbursed the filing fee because they largely succeeded with their claim.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The landlord's claim for a veneer door was rejected because the original door was painted.
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 $1,269.79 for damages and repairs at the end of the tenancy.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the landlord's claim for damages and repairs at the end of the tenancy, including carpet cleaning, wall repairs, and shower liner replacement.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant acknowledged causing the damage and accepted responsibility for the repairs.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The tenant's acknowledgment of causing the damage and accepting responsibility for the repairs was the central reasoning of the case.
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 be prepared to pay for damages and necessary repairs at the end of their tenancy.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents that mattered.