Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5388891 — Rent arrears at 52B Swanson Road, Henderson, Auckland 0610
Published 11 February 2026 · Application 5388891
- Rent arrears
- Property damage
- Cleanliness
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Auckland
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
C Lamdin
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $9,408.78
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $9,408.78
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent arrears to 21 December 2025 | $6,000.00 | Rent arrears to 21 December 2025 | |
| Water rates | $1,634.93 | Water rates | |
| Cleaning | $500.00 | Cleaning | |
| Repairs | $550.85 | Repairs | |
| Lock/key replacement | $395.00 | Lock/key replacement | |
| Rubbish removal | $300.00 | Rubbish removal | |
| Filing fee reimbursement | $28.00 | Filing fee reimbursement | |
| Net award | $9,408.78 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $9,408.78 |
Claims and awards for application 5388891 — net $9,408.78 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Rent arrears to 21 December 2025
- Amount
- $6,000.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rent arrears to 21 December 2025
Water rates
- Amount
- $1,634.93
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Water rates
Cleaning
- Amount
- $500.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Cleaning
Repairs
- Amount
- $550.85
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Repairs
Lock/key replacement
- Amount
- $395.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Lock/key replacement
Rubbish removal
- Amount
- $300.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rubbish removal
Filing fee reimbursement
- Amount
- $28.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Filing fee reimbursement
Net award
Landlord $9,408.78
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $9,408.78
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Sonia Maree McGregor must pay Ihome Property Management Limited $9,408.78 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Reasons
- The landlord attended the hearing which was held by video conference. The tenant did not seek to be admitted to the hearing. The tenant was served notice of the hearing to her e-mail. The hearing was conducted in the tenant’s absence.
- 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?
- The landlord filed an application with Tenancy Services which went to mediation on 1 December 2025. The landlord said that at this mediation the tenant advised the landlord she had moved out of the premises. The tenant said she had given notice by e-mail. The landlord checked her emails and could not find any record of the tenant giving notice to end the tenancy. The landlord then calculated 21 days from the date of mediation as the end date for the tenancy. This was 21 December 2025.
- The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which proved the amount owing at the end of the tenancy was $6,000.00 for rent arrears, and $1,634.93 for unpaid water rates invoices. The landlord said the water rates invoices had been provided to the tenant on a monthly basis, as the invoices had been received from Watercare.
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 must also replace standard light bulbs.
- The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove all rubbish.
- The landlord is claiming $920.00 for cleaning and carpet cleaning, and $300.00 for rubbish removal. The landlord produced photographs in support of these claims. When I look at the photographs I consider $920.00 an excessive amount for cleaning the premises. I expect this was needed for a deep clean, to return the premises to a condition fit for the next tenant. This is the conduct of a good landlord, but the standard goes beyond what is required of an existing tenant. An exiting tenant is required only to return the premises in a reasonably clean and tidy state. Because of this I have reduced the award for cleaning.
- The tenant did not return the keys. The landlord produced an invoice for $395.00 to rekey the premises and to replace the garage remotes which were missing at the end of the tenancy.
- The amounts ordered are proved.
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. See sections 40(2)(a), 41 and 49B RTA.
- At the end of the tenancy the landlord discovered holes in many of the walls. These needed to be filled plastered and repainted. The landlord is claiming $550.85 for these repairs.
- The damage is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage.
- The amounts ordered are proved.
- Because Ihome Property Management Limited has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Residential Tenancies Act sections
s21, s40(1), s40(2)
Key findings
- Dispute theme: rent arrears
- Dispute theme: cleaning
- Dispute theme: property damage
Property management
- IHOME PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LIMITED (applicant)
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5388891?
The tribunal order states: Sonia Maree McGregor must pay Ihome Property Management Limited
How much money was awarded in case 5388891?
Cleaning: $500.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $550.85 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $395.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $6,000.00 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $300.00 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $1,634.93 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5388891?
The primary dispute was Rent arrears. Related themes: Property damage, Cleanliness.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5388891?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13110391-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.