Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5326501 — Cleanliness at Unit/Flat 6, 250 Gloucester Street, Christchurch Central,
Published 10 February 2026 · Application 5326501
- Cleanliness
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Christchurch
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
T Prowse
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $2,500.50
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $2,500.50
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | $891.25 | Cleaning | |
| Rubbish removal | $1,581.25 | Rubbish removal | |
| Filing fee reimbursement | $28.00 | Filing fee reimbursement | |
| Net award | $2,500.50 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $2,500.50 |
Claims and awards for application 5326501 — net $2,500.50 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Cleaning
- Amount
- $891.25
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Cleaning
Rubbish removal
- Amount
- $1,581.25
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rubbish removal
Filing fee reimbursement
- Amount
- $28.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Filing fee reimbursement
Net award
Landlord $2,500.50
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $2,500.50
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Service on Keri Kahukiwa is dispensed with. (s91B RTA)
- Keri Kahukiwa must pay Otautahi Community Housing Trust $2,500.50 immediately, calculated as shown in table below:
Reasons
- Only the landlord attended today’s hearing. The tenant was called on the numbers in the application and the number in the tenancy agreement. None of the calls were answered.
- On the 28 October 2025 I made orders returning the application to tenancy services for further service.
- Since that date the applicant says that it has taken the following steps to ascertain an address for service for the tenant. a. Conducted a further search of its records. It has located the tenant’s original application form where the tenant disclosed the same email address she later used in 2022 when communicating with the landlord. b. Contacted MSD and made an Official Information request for the tenant’s last known address – this address was made known to MOJ (not the landlord) but as I advised the landlord today, the MOJ cannot disclose this address to the Tribunal for the purposes of service. It can only be used for enforcement proceedings. c. Checked the electoral rolls. d. Conducted a google search. e. Sent an email to the tenant on the email address, that email did not bounce back. f. Texted the tenant on all numbers that the landlord had for the tenant.
- I am satisfied that the landed has taken all reasonable steps to locate the tenant and that service should be dispensed with in this application pursuant to s91B RTA. I consider it likely that the tenant is aware of the proceedings, because she has been contacted on email and text messages.
- I therefore dispense with service. Rubbish and cleaning.
- The landlord has applied for the cost of rubbish removal and cleaning following the end of the tenancy.
- Tenants must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and removal their belongings and rubbish at the end of the tenancy. (see section 40(1)(e) RTA)
- The landlord provided photographs of the tenancy taken at an inspection on the 5 May 2025 (three days after the tenancy ended), they show a property that has been left uncleaned and untidy with rubbish strewn around the property. The tenant has left old furniture including large mattresses behind.
- I am satisfied that the tenant was in breach of her obligation to leave the property clean and tidy and free of rubbish.
- The landlord provided invoices for the cleaning. I am satisfied that the invoices are reasonable for the work done, the apartment is large, on the second storey and the invoices appear reasonable for the work that was required to be completed.
- The landlord tells me that it is receiving a small amount each week by way of attachment order against the tenant’s benefit for the rent arrears awarded in TT 5134470.
- If the landlord enforces this order, and the tenant says she was not served and was not aware of the proceedings, then she may file a rehearing application.
- As the landlord has been successful in its application then it is entitled to the filing fee.
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Residential Tenancies Act sections
s40(1), s91B
Key findings
- Dispute theme: cleaning
Property management
- OTAUTAHI COMMUNITY HOUSING TRUST (applicant)
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5326501?
The tribunal order states: Service on Keri Kahukiwa is dispensed with. (s91B RTA)
How much money was awarded in case 5326501?
Cleaning: $891.25 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $1,581.25 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5326501?
The primary dispute was Cleanliness.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5326501?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13099758-Tribunal_Order.pdf.