Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5388824 — Cleanliness at 24 Rimu Road, Manurewa, Auckland 2102
Published 26 January 2026 · Application 5388824
- Cleanliness
- Property damage
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Auckland
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
B King
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $6,120.43
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $5,306.15
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning (including oven and cupboards | $962.87 | Cleaning (including oven and cupboards | |
| Rubbish removal | $3,867.00 | Rubbish removal | |
| Lawns and Garden work | $300.00 | Lawns and Garden work | |
| Wall and door repair | $231.76 | Wall and door repair | |
| Fix entrance door glass | $223.08 | Fix entrance door glass | |
| Lock/key replacement | $75.24 | Lock/key replacement | |
| Replace heat pump remote | $53.34 | Replace heat pump remote | |
| Payments since termination | $407.14 | Payments since termination | |
| Total award | $5,713.29 | $407.14 | |
| Net award | $5,306.15 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $5,306.15 |
Claims and awards for application 5388824 — net $5,306.15 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Cleaning (including oven and cupboards
- Amount
- $962.87
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Cleaning (including oven and cupboards
Rubbish removal
- Amount
- $3,867.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rubbish removal
Lawns and Garden work
- Amount
- $300.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Lawns and Garden work
Wall and door repair
- Amount
- $231.76
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Wall and door repair
Fix entrance door glass
- Amount
- $223.08
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Fix entrance door glass
Lock/key replacement
- Amount
- $75.24
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Lock/key replacement
Replace heat pump remote
- Amount
- $53.34
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Replace heat pump remote
Payments since termination
- Amount
- $407.14
- Awarded to
- Tenant
- Reason
- Payments since termination
Total award
Landlord $5,713.29 · Tenant $407.14
Net award
Landlord $5,306.15
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $5,306.15
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Syliva Alena Tefono must pay Kāinga Ora–Homes and Communities $5,306.15 immediately, calculated as shown below.
Reasons
- The landlord attended the hearing which was held by teleconference. The tenant was unable to be contacted on the number given in the Notice of Hearing.
- The tenant was served by e-mail to the e-mail address given in the tenancy agreement, which is satisfactory 1 .
- I do note however that the tenant’s notice of termination was sent to the landlord by e-mail from a different address. This Order should be sent to that e- mail address as well.
- The landlord has applied for compensation following the end of the tenancy.
Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?
- The tenancy ended on 25 September 2025 after the tenant gave notice of termination.
- At the end of the tenancy a 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. 2
- Exit inspection photographs provided by the landlord show that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy.
- A very large quantity of rubbish including heavy and bulky furniture and appliances were left, which the landlord had to have removed.
- The lawns were badly overgrown.
- The heat pump remote was not returned.
- The amounts ordered are proved by the landlord’s work order records.
Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?
- A landlord must prove that damage to the premises occurred during the tenancy and is more than fair wear and tear. If this is established, to avoid liability, the tenant must prove they did not carelessly or intentionally cause or permit the damage. Tenants are liable for the actions of people at the premises with their permission. 3
- A comparison of the entry and exit inspection photographs shows that a lot of damage was done to the premises during the tenancy. There are many large holes in walls and ceilings.
- A glass panel in the entrance door was broken, as was a door handle. 1 S.91A(1)(e) RTA 2 See section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) RTA 3 S. 40(2)(a), 41 and 49B RTA.
- That damage is more than fair wear and tear and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage.
- The landlord should be compensated for the repair cost which is proved by the work order records provided.
- The tenant has continued to make payments of $10.00 per week since the tenancy ended. There was a small rent credit at termination date.
- Those credits and payments are taken into account in this Order up to and including the $10.00 payment made on 20 January 2026. A further payment is expected tomorrow 27 January. The tenant must of course be given credit for that and any later payments.
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Residential Tenancies Act sections
s40(1)
Key findings
- Dispute theme: cleaning
- Dispute theme: property damage
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5388824?
The tribunal order states: Syliva Alena Tefono must pay Kāinga Ora–Homes and Communities $5,306.15
How much money was awarded in case 5388824?
Cleaning: $962.87 awarded to landlord; Fix Entrance Door Glass: $223.08 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $300.00 awarded to landlord; Payments Since Termination: $407.14 awarded to tenant; Property Damage: $231.76 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $75.24 awarded to landlord; Replace Heat Pump Remote: $53.34 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $3,867.00 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5388824?
The primary dispute was Cleanliness. Related themes: Property damage.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5388824?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13023875-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.