What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5333380 about?

The tribunal order states: The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,120.00 (5186386-012) to Property

How much money was awarded in case 5333380?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $225.40 awarded to landlord; Rent Overpaid During Tenancy: $987.14 awarded to tenant; Rubbish Removal: $1,955.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5333380?

The primary dispute was Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5333380?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12859557-Tribunal_Order.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5333380 about?

The tribunal order states: The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,120.00 (5186386-012) to Property

How much money was awarded in case 5333380?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $225.40 awarded to landlord; Rent Overpaid During Tenancy: $987.14 awarded to tenant; Rubbish Removal: $1,955.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5333380?

The primary dispute was Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5333380?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12859557-Tribunal_Order.pdf.

2 Ruapehu Crescent, Taumarunui, Taumarunui 3920 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5333380 — Property damage

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5333380 — net $101.26 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Tenant	Reason
Lock/key replacement (front door and ranch slider	$225.40		Lock/key replacement (front door and ranch slider
Cleaning and rubbish removal and lawns/weeding	$1,955.00		Cleaning and rubbish removal and lawns/weeding
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00		Filing fee reimbursement
Rent overpaid during tenancy to 25 June 2025		$987.14	Rent overpaid during tenancy to 25 June 2025
Total award	$2,208.40	$987.14
Net award	$101.26
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$101.26

The tenancy that began on 22 September 2021, although the current landlord took over management of the tenancy in May 2024. The tenancy ended on 25 June 2025.

The landlord has applied for compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

Both parties attended the hearing which was held by video conference.

The landlord was represented by Ms Bishop.

Mr Houpapa did not join the video conference but I placed a call to the mobile number provided and he was joined to the conference by phone. Approximately half-way through the hearing Mr Houpapa disconnected the call. I immediately placed multiple calls to Mr Houpapa’s mobile number he did not answer. One of the calls briefly connected and was then immediately disconnected.

The hearing therefore continued without Mr Houpapa for the final part of the hearing. Rent overpayment

The landlord said at the end of the tenancy the tenant had overpaid rent by $987.14. They produced a rent summary showing the overpayment. I have therefore included this amount in the order above to offset the amounts owing to the landlord.

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 said that the tenant left without cleaning the property, took the belongings that they wanted and left a large amount of rubbish behind. They also said that the lawns had not been mowed and that the outside was very unkempt and needed weeding.

The landlord produced both ingoing and outgoing inspection photos showing the condition of the property and an invoice in the amount of $1,955.00 for cleaning, rubbish removal and outdoor work.

The tenant said that he took all of his belongings and that someone else was staying in the property who must have left things behind.

The tenant is the only party listed on the tenancy agreement and is responsible for ensuring that the property is left reasonably clean and tidy.

The photos clearly show that the property was not left clean and tidy, that considerable rubbish was left behind, and the lawns and gardens were left very unkempt.

I consider the amount claimed, as proved by invoice, to be reasonable. The landlord’s claim is proved.

The landlord also said that the tenant did not return the keys.

They said that they instruct tenants at the end of the tenancy to return the keys to their office, but the tenant came to the office and said that he did not have the keys.

The landlord said that they had the locks replaced on both the front door and ranchslider to ensure the security of any new tenant. They produced a copy of an invoice for lock replacement in the amount of $225.40.

The tenant said that he left the keys inside the tenancy property but he could not remember where.

The landlord referred the Tribunal to the outgoing inspection report taken at the end of the tenancy and said that no keys were visible in any of the photos and none were found.

I consider that the landlord has proved that the keys were not returned. The landlord was entitled to change the locks for the sake of security. The amount claimed, as proved by invoice, is reasonable. This claim is proved.

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

The landlord claimed for repairing damage to a door and to walls. The landlord produced an invoice in the amount of $670.00.

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.

On review of the ingoing and outgoing inspection photos at the hearing it was clear that some of the damage was pre-existing at the start of the tenancy. The other damage claimed was very minor and in my view is wear and tear.

This claim is not proved and is dismissed. Filing fee

Because Property Brokers Limited has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5333380 — net $101.26 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Tenant	Reason
Lock/key replacement (front door and ranch slider	$225.40		Lock/key replacement (front door and ranch slider
Cleaning and rubbish removal and lawns/weeding	$1,955.00		Cleaning and rubbish removal and lawns/weeding
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00		Filing fee reimbursement
Rent overpaid during tenancy to 25 June 2025		$987.14	Rent overpaid during tenancy to 25 June 2025
Total award	$2,208.40	$987.14
Net award	$101.26
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$101.26

Order

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,120.00 (5186386-012) to Property Brokers Limited immediately.
[The tenant/s] must pay Property Brokers Limited $101.26 immediately, calculated as shown in table below:

Reasons

The tenancy that began on 22 September 2021, although the current landlord took over management of the tenancy in May 2024. The tenancy ended on 25 June 2025.
The landlord has applied for compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
Both parties attended the hearing which was held by video conference.
The landlord was represented by Ms Bishop.
Mr Houpapa did not join the video conference but I placed a call to the mobile number provided and he was joined to the conference by phone. Approximately half-way through the hearing Mr Houpapa disconnected the call. I immediately placed multiple calls to Mr Houpapa’s mobile number he did not answer. One of the calls briefly connected and was then immediately disconnected.
The hearing therefore continued without Mr Houpapa for the final part of the hearing. Rent overpayment
The landlord said at the end of the tenancy the tenant had overpaid rent by $987.14. They produced a rent summary showing the overpayment. I have therefore included this amount in the order above to offset the amounts owing to the landlord.

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 said that the tenant left without cleaning the property, took the belongings that they wanted and left a large amount of rubbish behind. They also said that the lawns had not been mowed and that the outside was very unkempt and needed weeding.
The landlord produced both ingoing and outgoing inspection photos showing the condition of the property and an invoice in the amount of $1,955.00 for cleaning, rubbish removal and outdoor work.
The tenant said that he took all of his belongings and that someone else was staying in the property who must have left things behind.
The tenant is the only party listed on the tenancy agreement and is responsible for ensuring that the property is left reasonably clean and tidy.
The photos clearly show that the property was not left clean and tidy, that considerable rubbish was left behind, and the lawns and gardens were left very unkempt.
I consider the amount claimed, as proved by invoice, to be reasonable. The landlord’s claim is proved.
The landlord also said that the tenant did not return the keys.
They said that they instruct tenants at the end of the tenancy to return the keys to their office, but the tenant came to the office and said that he did not have the keys.
The landlord said that they had the locks replaced on both the front door and ranchslider to ensure the security of any new tenant. They produced a copy of an invoice for lock replacement in the amount of $225.40.
The tenant said that he left the keys inside the tenancy property but he could not remember where.
The landlord referred the Tribunal to the outgoing inspection report taken at the end of the tenancy and said that no keys were visible in any of the photos and none were found.
I consider that the landlord has proved that the keys were not returned. The landlord was entitled to change the locks for the sake of security. The amount claimed, as proved by invoice, is reasonable. This claim is proved.

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

The landlord claimed for repairing damage to a door and to walls. The landlord produced an invoice in the amount of $670.00.
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.
On review of the ingoing and outgoing inspection photos at the hearing it was clear that some of the damage was pre-existing at the start of the tenancy. The other damage claimed was very minor and in my view is wear and tear.
This claim is not proved and is dismissed. Filing fee
Because Property Brokers Limited has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5333380 — Property damage at 2 Ruapehu Crescent, Taumarunui, Taumarunui 3920

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5333380 — Property damage at 2 Ruapehu Crescent, Taumarunui, Taumarunui 3920

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

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

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