What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5280881 about?

The tribunal order states: An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal

How much money was awarded in case 5280881?

Filing Fee: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Final Water: $222.53 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $2,456.35 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $7,283.80 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5280881?

The primary dispute was Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5280881?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12605176-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5280881 about?

The tribunal order states: An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal

How much money was awarded in case 5280881?

Filing Fee: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Final Water: $222.53 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $2,456.35 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $7,283.80 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5280881?

The primary dispute was Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5280881?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12605176-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5280881 — Property damage

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5280881 — net $9,989.68 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Repairs and rubbish removal	$7,283.80	Repairs and rubbish removal
Carpet replacement	$2,456.35	Carpet replacement
Final water	$222.53	Final water
Filing fee reimbursement	$27.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$9,989.68
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$9,989.68

The landlord attended the hearing today. The tenant did not attend.

The landlord applied for rent arrears, outgoings, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy. Since then, the bond of $2,360.00 has been refunded to the landlord. This covered the rent arrears and part of the water charges.

The remaining water charges to the end of the tenancy total $222.53. This amount is awarded to the landlord. The final invoice was for a large amount ($506.69) because the tenant left the tap running when departing. Cleaning and Rubbish Removal

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.

The premises were left in a very poor condition. The premises were soiled throughout by a pet dog resulting in an overpowering smell. The landlord had to arrange for the removal of belongings and rubbish including clothing and furniture. A 9m skip bin was hired.

The tenant did not return the keys, so the locks had to be changed to secure the premises.

The landlord had to replace light fittings and bulbs. Damage

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.

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. Where the damage is careless and is not covered by the landlord's insurance, the tenant's liability is limited to four weeks' rent. The weekly rent was $695.00. The landlord had insurance with an excess of $550.00, but it did not cover the damage, which insurers determined was intentional.

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.

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 (Guo v Korck [2019] NZHC 1541).

The claim for repairs was fully itemised in an invoice from the maintenance company dated 14 July 2025 and was supported by detailed photographs. There was damage to the lock on a sliding door, to the walls from drawings and stickers, the kitchen cabinets had missing doors, and the kitchen flooring was damaged. There were stains on the bathroom vanity that could not be removed and a broken bedroom window.

The carpeted areas had been soiled by a dog and had to be replaced. The carpet layer advised that it was the worst he had seen in his career of 40 years. The carpet was new at the start of the tenancy on 20 April 2022.

The damage is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage. I am satisfied that the damage to the carpet was intentional because the pet soiling would have occurred over time and has been permitted to continue. I decline to depreciate the carpet given the intentional nature of the damage, which must have been distressing for the owners. Filing Fee and Suppression

The landlord’s application has been successful. I award the filing fee.

The landlord is granted name suppression, as requested.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5280881 — net $9,989.68 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Repairs and rubbish removal	$7,283.80	Repairs and rubbish removal
Carpet replacement	$2,456.35	Carpet replacement
Final water	$222.53	Final water
Filing fee reimbursement	$27.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$9,989.68
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$9,989.68

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the landlord’s name and identifying details.
Dyani Tai must pay [The landlord/s] $9,989.68 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below.

Reasons

The landlord attended the hearing today. The tenant did not attend.
The landlord applied for rent arrears, outgoings, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy. Since then, the bond of $2,360.00 has been refunded to the landlord. This covered the rent arrears and part of the water charges.
The remaining water charges to the end of the tenancy total $222.53. This amount is awarded to the landlord. The final invoice was for a large amount ($506.69) because the tenant left the tap running when departing. Cleaning and Rubbish Removal
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.
The premises were left in a very poor condition. The premises were soiled throughout by a pet dog resulting in an overpowering smell. The landlord had to arrange for the removal of belongings and rubbish including clothing and furniture. A 9m skip bin was hired.
The tenant did not return the keys, so the locks had to be changed to secure the premises.
The landlord had to replace light fittings and bulbs. Damage
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.
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. Where the damage is careless and is not covered by the landlord's insurance, the tenant's liability is limited to four weeks' rent. The weekly rent was $695.00. The landlord had insurance with an excess of $550.00, but it did not cover the damage, which insurers determined was intentional.
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.
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 (Guo v Korck [2019] NZHC 1541).
The claim for repairs was fully itemised in an invoice from the maintenance company dated 14 July 2025 and was supported by detailed photographs. There was damage to the lock on a sliding door, to the walls from drawings and stickers, the kitchen cabinets had missing doors, and the kitchen flooring was damaged. There were stains on the bathroom vanity that could not be removed and a broken bedroom window.
The carpeted areas had been soiled by a dog and had to be replaced. The carpet layer advised that it was the worst he had seen in his career of 40 years. The carpet was new at the start of the tenancy on 20 April 2022.
The damage is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage. I am satisfied that the damage to the carpet was intentional because the pet soiling would have occurred over time and has been permitted to continue. I decline to depreciate the carpet given the intentional nature of the damage, which must have been distressing for the owners. Filing Fee and Suppression
The landlord’s application has been successful. I award the filing fee.
The landlord is granted name suppression, as requested.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5280881 — Property damage

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5280881 — Property damage

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Key findings

Frequently asked questions