Tenant Ordered to Pay Rubbish Removal and Lawnmowing Costs
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,969.44 for removing the rubbish and mowing the lawn after the tenant abandoned the premises and left behind a lot of trash and personal items.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must remove all rubbish and leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord for rubbish removal and lawnmowing costs.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $1,969.44 for rubbish removal and lawnmowing costs after the tenant abandoned the premises and left behind a substantial amount of rubbish and personal belongings.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5183031 1
[2025] NZTT 5183031
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT WHANGAREI | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA KI WHANGĀREI-TERENGA-PARĀOA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $1,969.44 immediately, being rubbish removal and lawnmowing costs.
Reasons:
Background
1. The tenancy was terminated by an order from the Tribunal dated 15 January 2025. Termination was granted on the grounds that [NAME] abandoned the premises and the rent was in arrears. That order also awarded rent arrears to [NAME] and released the bond to them.1
2. This application sought rent arrears, the cost of repairs carried out during the tenancy, and rubbish removal.
3. [NAME] withdrew the claims for rent arrears and repairs. The remaining claim is for rubbish removal, which includes lawn mowing and removal of green waste.
1 [NAME] and [NAME] v [NAME] [2025] NZTT 5117368
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5183031 2
4. The hearing took place in Whangarei on 30 May 2025. [NAME] represented [NAME] at the hearing. [NAME] attended by phone with the consent of the Tribunal. There was no appearance by [NAME].
Findings
5. Tenants must remove all rubbish and leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy at the end of the premises.
6. [NAME] provided a copy of the final inspection report dated 16 January 2025, including photographs.
7. The photographs show that [NAME] left behind a substantial amount of rubbish and personal belongings, including large items of furniture.
8. The lawns were very overgrown.
9. [NAME]’s invoice shows that 12m3 of rubbish was disposed of.
10. The amount claimed, which labour, transport, and dumping costs, is proven and is fair and reasonable.
[NAME]
30 May 2025
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5183031 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/
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5183031 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 tenant left behind a substantial amount of rubbish and personal belongings.
- The lawns were very overgrown and required extensive mowing.
- The landlord provided a detailed invoice showing the cost of removing 12 cubic meters of rubbish.
- The cost of labor, transport, and dumping was proven to be fair and reasonable.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The tenant's claim for rent arrears and repairs was withdrawn.
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 the landlord $1,969.44 for rubbish removal and lawnmowing costs.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant leaving behind a lot of rubbish and overgrown lawns after abandoning the premises.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided that the tenant must pay for the rubbish removal and lawnmowing costs because tenants are required to leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was that the tenant had abandoned the premises and left behind a substantial amount of rubbish and personal belongings.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was against the tenant who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
For someone in a similar situation, they should ensure that the premises are left clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy to avoid having to pay for rubbish removal and lawnmowing costs.
What evidence or documents mattered?
Photographs showing the state of the premises and an invoice for the rubbish removal and lawnmowing costs were presented as evidence.