Tenant Ordered to Pay for Cleaning and Repairs After Accepting Liability
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $2,802.59 for cleaning and repairs after the tenant accepted responsibility for damages and poor conditions at the end of the tenancy.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay for damages and cleaning if they accept liability for these issues.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord for cleaning and repairs.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $2,802.59 for cleaning and repairs after the tenant accepted liability for damages and poor condition of the rental property.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5158192
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay Whangarei Real Estate T/A [NAME] $2,802.59 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Cleaning $426.00 Repairs $2,349.59 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $2,802.59 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $2,802.59
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the teleconference hearing on 15 April 2025. However, the tenant’s phone got disconnected soon after the teleconference had started.
2. The landlord has applied for compensation for cleaning and repairs, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
3. There was damage to walls and floors, cleaning not done to a reasonably clean standard, rubbish left at the premises, garden not left reasonably tidy, broken window in the laundry and broken cooktop at the end of the tenancy.
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4. On 28 November 2024, the tenant emailed the landlord accepting liability for the above matters and agreed for the bond to be released to the landlord.
5. I am satisfied that the landlord has proven the claims to the required standard.
6. I order the tenant to pay the landlord $426.00 for exit cleaning and $2,349.59 for repairs.
7. Because Whangarei Real Estate T/A [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim, the tenant must also reimburse the filing fee.
J Yi
16 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 the damages and cleaning issues.
- The tenant agreed to have the bond released to the landlord.
- The landlord successfully proved their claims to the required standard.
- The landlord was awarded $426.00 for exit cleaning.
- The tenant must reimburse the landlord for the filing fee because the landlord won the claim entirely.
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 $2,802.59 for cleaning and repairs.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's responsibility for cleaning and repairing damages at the end of the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay for cleaning and repairs because the tenant had previously accepted liability for these issues.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The fact that the tenant had accepted liability for the damages and cleaning issues was the central argument.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was against the tenant who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should be aware that accepting liability for damages and cleaning can result in financial obligations.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The email from the tenant accepting liability for the damages and cleaning issues was the key evidence.