Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 5107330 — Cleanliness at 3 Piriti Place, Weymouth, Auckland 2103
Decided 28 Feb 2025 · Published 28 Feb 2025 · Application 5107330
Mixed / unclear
- Cleanliness
Order
- Swastika Nair and Dev Prasad are to pay Barfoot and Thompson Limited $2,438.77 immediately, calculated as follows: DescriptionAmount Rent owed up to 10 December 2024$1,234.29 Total unpaid water rates$712.98 Cleaning fee for exit clean$375.00 German cockroach treatment fee$89.50 Filing Fee Reimbursement$27.00 Total Amount Awarded$2,438.77
Reasons
- The Landlord attended the hearing by phone. The Tenant did not answer when called.
- The Landlord has applied for rent and water arrears, compensation, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent and water rates?
- The tenancy ended on 10 December 2024. The Landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy: a. 1,234.29 rent to 10/12/24 b. Water rates: i. For October 2024, the water and wastewater bill is $298.97, with no payments made, leaving a balance of $298.97. ii. For November 2024, the bill is $233.08, also unpaid, resulting in a remaining balance of $233.08. iii. For December 2024, the water bill from November 13 to December 12 is $101.34, with no payments made, leaving a balance of $101.34. iv. For August to September 2024, a total of $197.63 was billed with payments totalling $118.04, resulting in a balance of $79.59. v. The total amount due across these periods is $830.02, with $118.04 paid and a remaining balance of $712.98.
Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?
- 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. The tenant is required to replace worn out smoke alarm batteries during the tenancy. See section 40(1)(ca) Residential Tenancies Act 1986. The tenant must also replace standard light bulbs.
- The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy. The Landlord engaged a cleaner to undertake an exit clean, to restore the premises to a reasonably clean and tidy state. I have considered the invoice narration and approved the total amount of $375.00. I grant $89.50 for German cockroach treatment also based on the Landlord’s uncontested evidence of this being a consequence of the untidy and unclean state the Tenant kept the premises in.
- The Landlord has wholly succeeded in its claim, and I award it the Filing Fee.