Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Cleaning Costs
📌 In brief
In this case, the Tenancy Tribunal ruled that a tenant must pay the landlord $2,952.86 for unpaid rent and cleaning costs incurred when they left the rental property in breach of their responsibilities as outlined by law.
⚖️ Legal holding
A landlord is entitled to recover unpaid rent and cleaning costs when a tenant vacates the property in breach of their obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
📖 Technical summary
The claimant successfully recovered rent arrears, cleaning costs, and bond from the tenant.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $2,952.86 for rent arrears and cleaning expenses after vacating the property without fulfilling their obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
📚 Full judgment Official document
OUTCOME: Allowed
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[2026] NZTT 5460770
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/[ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [RESPONDENT] must pay [COMPANY] T/A [NAME] [COMPANY] $2,952.86 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,740.00 (BN-00096347) to [COMPANY] T/A [NAME] [APPELLANT] immediately.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 4 May 2026 $4,043.86 Cleaning: and rubbish removal $621.00 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $4,692.86 Bond $1,740.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $2,952.86
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing which was conducted by video conference. The tenant did not seek to be admitted to the hearing at the scheduled time. Because the tenant has been served notice of the hearing to his email address which is an address for service on his tenancy agreement, I am satisfied the
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service requirements of the Residential Tenancies Act, 1986, (the “RTA”) have been satisfied, and the hearing was conducted in his absence.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent?
3. The landlord said the tenant gave 21 days written notice to end his tenancy. The notice period expired on 4 May 2026 at which time the tenant was $4,043.86 in arrear. The landlord provided a rent summary in support of the claim.
4. The claim and amount ordered are proved.
Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?
5. 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.
6. The landlord said the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably tidy and did not remove all their rubbish. The landlord provided photographs in support of this claim.
7. The landlord is claiming $621.00 for rubbish removal and cleaning.
8. The claims and amount ordered are proved.
9. [COMPANY] [NAME] [COMPANY] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME]
09 June 2026
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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, or the failure to make an order, where the amount in dispute on appeal is
less than $1000 • a final order to undertake work, or the failure to make an order, where the value of the
work in dispute on appeal is 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:
📊 How courts decide similar cases
Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenancy Terminated Due to Rent Arrears
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant's Tenancy Terminated for Rent Arrears
- Tenancy Tribunal Claimant Awarded Rent Arrears by Tenancy Tribunal
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Filing Fee
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Rubbish Removal Costs
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenancy Terminated Due to Rent Arrears
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenancy Terminated Due to Rent Arrears
- Tenancy Tribunal Tenancy Terminated Due to Rent Arrears
A snapshot of this collection — not a prediction of your case's outcome.
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- Tenant vacates property after due date for rent payment.
- Tenant terminates tenancy without paying in advance as agreed.
- Significant rent arrears exist at the time of termination.
- Tenant fails to pay rent for at least 21 days when application is filed.
- Landlord provides evidence supporting claims and tenant owes rent arrears and cleaning costs.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $2,952.86 for unpaid rent and cleaning expenses.
Who was involved?
A landlord and a tenant were involved in this dispute over rental arrears and property condition at the end of tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The tribunal decided that the tenant owed money for rent arrears and cleaning costs because they left the property without fulfilling their legal obligations.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 was used to determine the tenant's responsibilities at the end of a tenancy.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The landlord argued successfully that the tenant owed money for rent and cleaning costs due to non-compliance with their legal obligations.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was in favour of the landlord, who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
If you are a tenant leaving a property, make sure to fulfill your legal obligations regarding rent and cleaning costs to avoid disputes.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The landlord provided a rent summary and photographs showing the condition of the property at the end of tenancy.
Can a decision like this be appealed?
Yes, either party can appeal within 10 working days if they believe there was an error in the decision.
Is it worth getting a lawyer for a case like this?
It is advisable to seek legal advice from a qualified lawyer regarding your specific situation.