What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 4709016?

The tribunal order states: This order incorporates the Tribunal Order for $2,643.30 made on 26 October

How much money was awarded in case 4709016?

Rubbish Removal: $638.25 awarded to landlord; Previous Order Application 4709016 D…: $2,643.30 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $736.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $230.00 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $1,204.90 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 4709016?

The primary dispute was Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 4709016?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/9984010-Tribunal_Order.pdf.

What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 4709016?

The tribunal order states: This order incorporates the Tribunal Order for $2,643.30 made on 26 October

How much money was awarded in case 4709016?

Rubbish Removal: $638.25 awarded to landlord; Previous Order Application 4709016 D…: $2,643.30 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $736.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $230.00 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $1,204.90 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 4709016?

The primary dispute was Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 4709016?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/9984010-Tribunal_Order.pdf.

Unit/Flat 2, 99 Archers Road, Hillcrest, Auckland 0629 Tenancy Tribunal Case 4709016 — Property damage

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 4709016 — net $5,452.45 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Previous order application 4709016 dated 26/10/2023	$2,643.30	Previous order application 4709016 dated 26/10/2023
Water rates: (to 26/10/2023	$1,204.90	Water rates: (to 26/10/2023
Window and door repairs	$736.00	Window and door repairs
Lock replacement	$230.00	Lock replacement
Cleaning: (house, weeding and rubbish removal	$638.25	Cleaning: (house, weeding and rubbish removal
Net award	$5,452.45
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$5,452.45

The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant did not.

I am satisfied that the tenant had received proper notice of the hearing time, date and place and chose not to attend.

On 26 October 2023 the Tribunal made an order relating to this tenancy under application 4709016, for rent arrears to 26 October 2023 of $4,662.86, refund of the bond of $2,0404 and reimbursement of the filing fee of $20.44. The previous order is incorporated into this order for enforcement purposes.

The landlord has applied compensation for costs and general damages incurred following the end of the tenancy.

How much is owed for water rates?

The tenancy ended on 26 October 2023. The landlord provided water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy as being $1,204.90.

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 and did not remove all rubbish.

The tenant did not return the keys.

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.

Where the damage is careless, and occurs after 27 August 2019, section 49B RTA applies. If the landlord becomes aware of the damage after 27 August, the damage is presumed to have occurred after that date unless the tenant proves otherwise.

Where the damage is caused carelessly, and is covered by the landlord's insurance, the tenant's liability is limited to the lesser of the insurance excess or four weeks' rent (or four weeks' market rent in the case of a tenant paying income-related rent). See section 49B(3)(a) RTA.

Where the damage is careless and is not covered by the landlord's insurance, the tenant's liability is limited to four weeks' rent (or market rent). See section 49B(3)(b) RTA. Where insurance money is irrecoverable because of the tenant's conduct, the property is treated as if it is not insured against the damage. See section 49B(3A)(a) RTA.

Tenants are liable for the cost of repairing damage that is intentional or which results from any activity at the premises that is an imprisonable offence. This applies to anything the tenant does and anything done by a person they are responsible for. See section 49B(1) RTA.

Damage is intentional where a person intends to cause damage and takes the necessary steps to achieve that purpose. Damage is also intentional where a person does something, or allows a situation to continue, knowing that damage is a certainty. See Guo v Korck [2019] NZHC 1541.

The following damage was caused during the tenancy: a. A window and door were left damaged.

The damage is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage.

The amounts ordered are proved.

I have considered betterment and depreciation. The landlord should be returned to the position they would have been in had the tenant not breached their obligations and should not be better or worse off. In calculating depreciation, I have considered the age and condition of the items at the start of the tenancy and their likely useful lifespan. Reimbursement of the filing fee

Because Mission Property Management Limited As Agent For Lihua He has wholly succeeded with the claim Adjudicator Edison reimbursed the filing fee on 26 October 2023 and it is included in the debt payable by the tenants.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 4709016 — net $5,452.45 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Previous order application 4709016 dated 26/10/2023	$2,643.30	Previous order application 4709016 dated 26/10/2023
Water rates: (to 26/10/2023	$1,204.90	Water rates: (to 26/10/2023
Window and door repairs	$736.00	Window and door repairs
Lock replacement	$230.00	Lock replacement
Cleaning: (house, weeding and rubbish removal	$638.25	Cleaning: (house, weeding and rubbish removal
Net award	$5,452.45
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$5,452.45

Order

This order incorporates the Tribunal Order for $2,643.30 made on 26 October 2023 under application 4709016.
Dion Robert Taiapa and Amber Barbara Wereta must pay Mission Property Management Limited As Agent For Lihua He $5,452.45 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

Reasons

The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant did not.
I am satisfied that the tenant had received proper notice of the hearing time, date and place and chose not to attend.
On 26 October 2023 the Tribunal made an order relating to this tenancy under application 4709016, for rent arrears to 26 October 2023 of $4,662.86, refund of the bond of $2,0404 and reimbursement of the filing fee of $20.44. The previous order is incorporated into this order for enforcement purposes.
The landlord has applied compensation for costs and general damages incurred following the end of the tenancy.

How much is owed for water rates?

The tenancy ended on 26 October 2023. The landlord provided water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy as being $1,204.90.

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 and did not remove all rubbish.
The tenant did not return the keys.
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.
Where the damage is careless, and occurs after 27 August 2019, section 49B RTA applies. If the landlord becomes aware of the damage after 27 August, the damage is presumed to have occurred after that date unless the tenant proves otherwise.
Where the damage is caused carelessly, and is covered by the landlord's insurance, the tenant's liability is limited to the lesser of the insurance excess or four weeks' rent (or four weeks' market rent in the case of a tenant paying income-related rent). See section 49B(3)(a) RTA.
Where the damage is careless and is not covered by the landlord's insurance, the tenant's liability is limited to four weeks' rent (or market rent). See section 49B(3)(b) RTA. Where insurance money is irrecoverable because of the tenant's conduct, the property is treated as if it is not insured against the damage. See section 49B(3A)(a) RTA.
Tenants are liable for the cost of repairing damage that is intentional or which results from any activity at the premises that is an imprisonable offence. This applies to anything the tenant does and anything done by a person they are responsible for. See section 49B(1) RTA.
Damage is intentional where a person intends to cause damage and takes the necessary steps to achieve that purpose. Damage is also intentional where a person does something, or allows a situation to continue, knowing that damage is a certainty. See Guo v Korck [2019] NZHC 1541.
The following damage was caused during the tenancy: a. A window and door were left damaged.
The damage is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage.
The amounts ordered are proved.
I have considered betterment and depreciation. The landlord should be returned to the position they would have been in had the tenant not breached their obligations and should not be better or worse off. In calculating depreciation, I have considered the age and condition of the items at the start of the tenancy and their likely useful lifespan. Reimbursement of the filing fee
Because Mission Property Management Limited As Agent For Lihua He has wholly succeeded with the claim Adjudicator Edison reimbursed the filing fee on 26 October 2023 and it is included in the debt payable by the tenants.

Tenancy Tribunal case 4709016 — Property damage at Unit/Flat 2, 99 Archers Road, Hillcrest, Auckland 0629

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 4709016 — Property damage at Unit/Flat 2, 99 Archers Road, Hillcrest, Auckland 0629

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for water rates?

Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for water rates?

Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions