Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5423410 — Cleanliness at Flat 16, 26 Dover Street, St Albans, Christchurch 8014,
Published 9 April 2026 · Application 5423410
- Cleanliness
- Property damage
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Christchurch
Tribunal region
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $776.56
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $776.56
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | $460.00 | Cleaning | |
| Oven clean | $115.00 | Oven clean | |
| Repair hole in bathroom wall | $173.56 | Repair hole in bathroom wall | |
| Filing fee reimbursement | $28.00 | Filing fee reimbursement | |
| Net award | $776.56 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $776.56 |
Claims and awards for application 5423410 — net $776.56 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Cleaning
- Amount
- $460.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Cleaning
Oven clean
- Amount
- $115.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Oven clean
Repair hole in bathroom wall
- Amount
- $173.56
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Repair hole in bathroom wall
Filing fee reimbursement
- Amount
- $28.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Filing fee reimbursement
Net award
Landlord $776.56
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $776.56
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Katherine Guthrie must pay Otautahi Community Housing Trust $776.56 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Reasons
- This application was scheduled to be heard by video conference. The tenant did not connect to the Teams link and nor did she ring in to hearing as directed in the Notice of Hearing. The hearing proceeded in her absence.
- The landlord has applied for compensation and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
- I note that this application was made more than 2 months after the tenancy ended and so special service provisions apply. If an application is made more than 2 months after a tenancy ends then one of the ways that documents and notices may be served on the tenant is by posting it to a contact address that the tenant has supplied to the landlord in writing within 2 months of the hearing date.
- At today’s hearing I was advised that the tenant now lives in another of the landlord’s properties and the address for service is now her current address.
- I was satisfied that the service provisions have been met and the hearing proceeded.
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 photographs show that the tenant left the premises in a dirty condition, with the oven needing particular attention.
- The amounts ordered to remedy these issues have been 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.
- I saw a photograph of a large hole in the bathroom wall. This damage is clearly beyond fair wear and tear and the tenant is required to pay the cost of its repair.
- This was proven as being $173.56. Filing fee reimbursement
- I am also ordering the tenant to reimburse the filing fee to the landlord because the landlord was wholly successful with this claim against her. C ter Haar 09 April 2026
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Residential Tenancies Act sections
s40(1), s40(2)
Key findings
- Dispute theme: cleaning
- Dispute theme: property damage
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 5423410?
The tribunal order states: Katherine Guthrie must pay Otautahi Community Housing Trust $776.56
How much money was awarded in case 5423410?
Cleaning: $460.00 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $115.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $173.56 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5423410?
The primary dispute was Cleanliness. Related themes: Property damage.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5423410?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13420846-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.