Tenant Ordered to Pay Part of Carpet Cleaning Costs
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay $504.25 from the bond to cover part of the carpet cleaning costs. The Tribunal found that the premises were not left reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is responsible for leaving the premises reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
📖 What the law says
This section states that a tenant must keep the rented property reasonably clean and tidy during the tenancy. It also requires the tenant to leave the property in a reasonably clean and tidy condition, and remove all rubbish, when the tenancy ends.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay part of the carpet cleaning costs from the bond.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $504.25 from the bond towards carpet cleaning costs, finding that the premises were not left reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5227832
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] $504.25 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,920.00 (3054912-013) immediately apportioned as follows:
[COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME]: $504.25
[NAME]: $1,415.75 Description Landlord Tenant Carpet Cleaning $477.25 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $504.25 Bond $504.25 $1,415.75
Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing which was held by teleconference. Ricky-[NAME] appeared for the landlord.
2. The landlord has applied for compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
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3. The tenancy ran for two years and eight months and ended on 10 March 2023.
4. 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.
5. The landlord claims that at the end of the tenancy the carpet throughout the house had many stains which required a professional clean and stain treatment. The landlord produced photographs and an invoice for $954.50 in support of her claim.
6. The photographs from the start of tenancy show some burn marks in the carpet and some stains. The photographs from the end of tenancy do not show the stains that [NAME] refers to; the carpet looks similar to the start of tenancy.
7. The standard for carpets is the same as for the rest of the premises; at the end of the tenancy they must be left reasonably clean and tidy. A landlord may choose to conduct a deep clean, including carpets between tenancies, but this standard goes beyond what is required of a tenant.
8. [NAME] accepts that there were more stains at the end of the tenancy than at the beginning particularly in the end bedrooms. However, she did not accept the whole house needed the carpets cleaned.
9. On the oral evidence and the documentary evidence provided today, I find it proved that some of the carpet required a professional treatment to return it to a reasonably clean standard. I do not find it proved that this was the case in all rooms, and I do not make a full award against the tenant. On the information I heard in the hearing, I consider it reasonable that the parties should split the carpet treatment costs on a fifty-fifty basis.
10. The amount ordered is proved.
11. [COMPANY] As Agent For [NAME] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.
[NAME]
19 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 [NAME]/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 [NAME]/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.[NAME]/disputes/enforcing-decisions https://www.[NAME]/disputes/enforcing-decisions http://www.[NAME]/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: [NAME]/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 must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
- Some stains on the carpets required professional treatment to meet the reasonable cleanliness standard.
- The landlord provided photographic evidence showing the condition of the carpets at the start and end of the tenancy.
- The tenant accepted that there were more stains at the end of the tenancy than at the beginning.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The entire cost of carpet cleaning ($954.50) was not awarded to the landlord due to insufficient proof of excessive stains in all rooms.
- The tenant was not fully responsible for all carpet cleaning costs, as the tribunal decided to split the costs fifty-fifty.
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 $504.25 from the bond towards carpet cleaning costs.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about whether the tenant was responsible for the carpet cleaning costs at the end of the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay part of the carpet cleaning costs because the premises were not left reasonably clean and tidy.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, s 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was that the tenant was responsible for leaving the premises reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
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 that the premises are left reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy to avoid having to pay for cleaning costs.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Photographs and an invoice for carpet cleaning costs were presented as evidence.