Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5364202 — Property damage at 1 Ribbonwood Close, Te Kauwhata, Te Kauwhata 3710
Decided 8 January 2026 · Published 8 January 2026 · Application 5364202
- Property damage
- Cleanliness
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Te Kauwhata
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
G Baker
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $6,661.47
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $6,661.47
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Previous order application 5364202 dated 20/11/2025 | $3,593.71 | Previous order application 5364202 dated 20/11/2025 | |
| Cleaning | $667.00 | Cleaning | |
| Lawns and Garden work | $1,378.85 | Lawns and Garden work | |
| Repairs: wall damage | $700.00 | Repairs: wall damage | |
| Repairs: door | $200.00 | Repairs: door | |
| Water rates | $121.91 | Water rates | |
| Net award | $6,661.47 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $6,661.47 |
Claims and awards for application 5364202 — net $6,661.47 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Previous order application 5364202 dated 20/11/2025
- Amount
- $3,593.71
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Previous order application 5364202 dated 20/11/2025
Cleaning
- Amount
- $667.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Cleaning
Lawns and Garden work
- Amount
- $1,378.85
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Lawns and Garden work
Repairs: wall damage
- Amount
- $700.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Repairs: wall damage
Repairs: door
- Amount
- $200.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Repairs: door
Water rates
- Amount
- $121.91
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Water rates
Net award
Landlord $6,661.47
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $6,661.47
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- This order amends that made by the Tribunal for application 5391502 on 7 January 2026 to include reference to the separate application 5364202 which was determined at the same hearing. In all other respects, this order is the same as that previously issued.
- Teia Rangimaria Sarah Marsh and Rehutai Lee Jerome Taingahue must pay Baseden Property Management Limited $6,661.47 immediately, calculated as shown in the table below. DescriptionLandlord Previous order application 5364202 dated 20/11/2025 $3,593.71 Cleaning$667.00 Lawns and Garden work$1,378.85 Repairs: wall damage$700.00 Repairs: door$200.00 Water rates$121.91 Total award$6,661.47 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord$6,661.47
Reasons
- Both parties attended the hearing by telephone.
- One of the tenants did not attend. He was telephoned twice but did not answer and messages were left.
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 and remove all rubbish. See section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) Residential Tenancies Act 1986.
- The landlord provided photographic evidence that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove all rubbish.
- 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 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. Upon moving out damage was caused to one wall requiring plastering and painting. b. The front door handle was broken and required replacement.
- The damage is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage. During the hearing the tenant accepted the reduced amounts claimed by the landlord.
- The amounts ordered are proved.
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), s49B(1), s49B(3), s49B(3A)
Key findings
- Dispute theme: cleaning
- Dispute theme: property damage
Property management
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5364202?
The tribunal order states: This order amends that made by the Tribunal for application 5391502 on 7
How much money was awarded in case 5364202?
Cleaning: $667.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $1,378.85 awarded to landlord; Previous Order Application 5364202 D…: $3,593.71 awarded to landlord; Door: $200.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $700.00 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $121.91 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5364202?
The primary dispute was Property damage. Related themes: Cleanliness.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5364202?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/12941262-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.