Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5315481 — Rent arrears at 16 Milton Street, Gore, Gore 9710
Published 20 February 2026 · Application 5315481
- Rent arrears
- Property damage
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Gore
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
R Merrett
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $11,998.00
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $8,998.00
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 10 May 2025 | $10,120.00 | Rent arrears to 10 May 2025 | |
| Living room carpet damage | $350.00 | Living room carpet damage | |
| Filing fee reimbursement | $28.00 | Filing fee reimbursement | |
| Less bond paid to landlord | $1,500.00 | Less bond paid to landlord | |
| Total award | $10,498.00 | $1,500.00 | |
| Net award | $8,998.00 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $8,998.00 |
Claims and awards for application 5315481 — net $8,998.00 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Rent arrears to 10 May 2025
- Amount
- $10,120.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rent arrears to 10 May 2025
Living room carpet damage
- Amount
- $350.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Living room carpet damage
Filing fee reimbursement
- Amount
- $28.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Filing fee reimbursement
Less bond paid to landlord
- Amount
- $1,500.00
- Awarded to
- Tenant
- Reason
- Less bond paid to landlord
Total award
Landlord $10,498.00 · Tenant $1,500.00
Net award
Landlord $8,998.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $8,998.00
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Joanna Jackson must pay Karen Lorraine Robertson And David John Robertson As Trustees For The D J & K L Robertson Family Trust $8,998.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
Reasons
- Ms Robertson attended the hearing for the landlords. The tenant was phoned on the number provided but the call went to voicemail.
- The landlords have applied for rent arrears totalling $10,120.00, compensation, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent?
- The tenancy ended on 10 May 2025. The landlords provided rent records which prove the amount of rent claimed.
Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the carpet premises?
- To be successful in a claim for damage to the premises, the landlord must prove that damage occurred during the tenancy and is more than fair wear and tear. If this is established, to avoid liability the tenant must prove they, or others at the premises with their permission, did not carelessly or intentionally cause or permit the damage: sections 40(2)(a), 41 and 49B of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
- The landlords have established that the living room carpet at the premises was damaged by burns near the wood burner. The damage is more than fair wear and tear and the tenant has not disproved liability for it.
- The cost to replace the living room carpet was $3,895.00 and the landlords claim the insurance excess ($1,500.00) payable by them to have the carpet replaced.
- When assessing the amount of compensation payable for the damage, I have taken into account betterment and depreciation. The landlords 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 taken into account the age and condition of the carpets at the start of the tenancy and their likely useful lifespan. Carpets in a living room are expected to last between 8 and 12 years before requiring replacement. Ms Robertson said that they purchased the property in 2020 and she was unsure of the age of the carpets at that time but said that they were in good condition. Doing the best I can on the evidence before me I consider that the carpet was likely near the end of its useful life and that compensation of $350.00 is reasonable.
- The landlords have been successful in their claims and are therefore entitled to payment of the Tribunal application fee.
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Residential Tenancies Act sections
s40(2)
Key findings
- Dispute theme: rent arrears
- Dispute theme: property damage
Property management
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5315481?
The tribunal order states: Joanna Jackson must pay Karen Lorraine Robertson And David John
How much money was awarded in case 5315481?
Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $350.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $10,120.00 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5315481?
The primary dispute was Rent arrears. Related themes: Property damage.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5315481?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13159534-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.