Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Carpet Cleaning Costs
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ruled that the tenant must pay the landlord $220.32, which includes rent arrears and carpet cleaning costs, with a credit for a previous payment.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to pay rent arrears and approved cleaning costs to the landlord.
📖 What the law says
This rule allows a tenant to ask the Tenancy Tribunal to cancel a landlord's notice to end a tenancy if the tenant believes the landlord gave the notice because the tenant complained or tried to use their rights.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and carpet cleaning costs, while crediting the tenant for a previous payment.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $220.32 to the landlord, including rent arrears and carpet cleaning costs, with a credit for a previous payment.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5071868
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted] For [NAME]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] For [NAME] $220.32 immediately, calculated as shown in table below:
2. [COMPANY] is to pay the bond of $2,160.00 (6204901-015) to [COMPANY] For [NAME] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $2,232.89 Carpet Cleaning $172.50 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Credit $52.07 Total award $2,432.39 $52.07 Net award $2,380.32 Bond $2,160.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $220.32
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Reasons:
1. Both parties attended the hearing, conducted via teleconference.
2. The landlord sought rent arrears and carpet cleaning costs.
3. The rent summary as provided was accepted by the tenant. She submitted that earlier arrears demands from the landlord appeared higher, hence no prior resolution. I have no evidence regarding this but record the comment.
4. The tenant has previously accepted the cost of carpet cleaning; being $172.50.
5. A credit to the tenant for $52.07 was advised by the landlord and it is applied to the debt in this order.
6. [COMPANY] For [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
M Brennan
17 March 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 the amount of rent arrears as provided by the landlord.
- The tenant had previously accepted the cost of carpet cleaning.
- The landlord provided a credit to the tenant which was applied to the debt.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant's comment about previous arrears demands appearing higher was noted but not used as evidence.
- There were no specific arguments presented by the tenant that were rejected.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The tenant must pay the landlord $220.32, including rent arrears and carpet cleaning costs, with a credit for a previous payment.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears and carpet cleaning costs to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the landlord the specified amount because the tenant accepted the cost of carpet cleaning and the rent arrears were agreed upon.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was the acceptance of the rent arrears and carpet cleaning costs by the tenant.
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 they accept the costs and arrears agreed upon to avoid disputes.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the exact evidence or documents used.