Tenant ordered to pay rent arrears and cleaning costs
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $1,305.94 to the landlord, including rent arrears and compensation for failing to clean the premises and remove rubbish at the end of the tenancy.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears and compensation for failing to clean the premises and remove rubbish at the end of the tenancy.
📖 What the law says
This section states that a tenant must pay rent when it is due. It also requires a tenant to keep the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and when moving out, to leave the premises in a reasonably clean and tidy condition and remove all rubbish.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears and compensation for failing to clean the premises and remove rubbish.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $1,305.94 to the landlord, including rent arrears and compensation for failing to clean the premises and remove rubbish at the end of the tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5089888 1
[2025] NZTT 5089888
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $1,305.94 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears $508.86 Rubbish removal and pest control $797.08 Total award $1,305.94 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,305.94
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the video hearing.
2. The tenant did not attend the hearing by Teams video link. Telephone calls were made to the tenant on the number provided at the allocated hearing time. The call went to voicemail. The tribunal may hear matters in the absence of a party where satisfied that notice of the hearing has been given. I am satisfied that notice has been given.
3. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and compensation following the end of the tenancy.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5089888 2
How much is owed for rent ?
4. The tenancy ended on 1 November 2024. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy was $508.86.
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, See section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
6. The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove all rubbish. The landlord was required to carry out pest control and remove rubbish both during the course of the tenancy and upon its expiry. The landlord provided details of the rubbish skips provided to the tenant and the associated costs. The amounts claimed are reasonable.
7. The amounts ordered are proven.
[NAME]
26 March 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5089888 3
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/
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5089888 4
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 landlord proved the tenant owed $508.86 in rent when the tenancy ended.
- The tenant failed to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
- The tenant failed to remove all rubbish from the premises at the end of the tenancy.
- The landlord had to pay for pest control and rubbish removal, and these costs were reasonable.
- The Tribunal was satisfied that the tenant received notice of the hearing.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $1,305.94 to the landlord, including rent arrears and compensation for failing to clean the premises and remove rubbish at the end of the tenancy.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's failure to pay rent arrears and to clean the premises and remove rubbish at the end of the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the landlord $1,305.94, which includes rent arrears and compensation for failing to clean the premises and remove rubbish at the end of the tenancy.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 40(1)(e) was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The most important argument was that the tenant failed to comply with their obligation to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and to remove all rubbish 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 they comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy to avoid having to pay rent arrears and compensation.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The rent records provided by the landlord proved the amount owing at the end of the tenancy was $508.86. The landlord also provided details of the rubbish skips provided to the tenant and the associated costs.