Tenant Ordered to Pay Rent Arrears and Cleaning Fees
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $4,645.26, including rent arrears, water rates, and cleaning fees, after the tenant failed to comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay rent arrears, water rates, and cleaning fees when they fail to comply with their obligations at the end of a tenancy.
📖 What the law says
This section outlines a tenant's responsibilities, including paying rent on time, keeping the property reasonably clean, and leaving it in a clean and tidy condition with all rubbish removed when the tenancy ends. In this case, the tenant was ordered to pay for rent arrears and cleaning fees because they did not meet these obligations.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay rent arrears, water rates, and cleaning fees.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $4,645.26, including rent arrears, water rates, and cleaning fees, after the tenant failed to comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5146588
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted] [NAME]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: Unit/[ADDRESS], Te Atatu Peninsula, Auckland 0610
ORDER
1. [NAME] and [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] [NAME] as agent for [NAME] $4,645.26 immediately, as calculated in the table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 31 January 2025 $6,085.71 Water rates to 31 January 2025 $289.55 Carpet Cleaning $275.00 Cleaning $368.00 Filing fee reimbursement $27.00 Total award $7,045.26 Bond $2,400.00 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $4,645.26
2. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,400.00 (6416596-007) to [COMPANY] [NAME] as agent for [NAME] immediately.
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing. The tenants did not attend and did not respond when telephoned on the numbers ending in 011 and 133.
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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 and water rates?
3. The tenancy ended on 31 January 2025. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amounts owing of $289.55 for outstanding water rates and $6,085.71 for rental arrears at the end of the tenancy.
Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?
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 says that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy. In particular, the bathroom and kitchen required further cleaning and the carpet had staining that required professional carpet cleaning. Photographs have been provided in support of the claims made, together with invoices for cleaning of $368.00 and carpet cleaning of $275.00.
6. The amounts ordered are proved.
7. [COMPANY] [NAME] As Agent For [NAME] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must also reimburse the filing fee.
[NAME]
20 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 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 landlord proved the amounts owed for rent arrears and water rates with records and invoices.
- The landlord provided photographs and invoices to support claims for cleaning and carpet cleaning.
- The tenant did not attend the hearing or respond to calls, so their claims were not heard.
- The landlord succeeded entirely with their claim, so the filing fee was reimbursed.
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 $4,645.26, including rent arrears, water rates, and cleaning fees.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant's failure to pay rent arrears, water rates, and cleaning fees at the end of the tenancy.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay the specified amount because they did not comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, requiring additional cleaning and carpet cleaning.
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 financial penalties.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The evidence included rent records, water rates invoices, photographs, and cleaning invoices.