How much money was awarded in case 5370526?

Cleaning: $640.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $192.00 awarded to landlord; Lightbulbs: $614.11 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $130.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $3,062.01 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $2,891.43 awarded to landlord; Replace Curtains And Blinds, Rail An…: $280.00 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $372.66 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5370526?

The primary dispute was Property damage. Related themes: Rent arrears, Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5370526?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13218146-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

How much money was awarded in case 5370526?

Cleaning: $640.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $192.00 awarded to landlord; Lightbulbs: $614.11 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $130.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $3,062.01 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $2,891.43 awarded to landlord; Replace Curtains And Blinds, Rail An…: $280.00 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $372.66 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5370526?

The primary dispute was Property damage. Related themes: Rent arrears, Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5370526?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13218146-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

20B Paul Street, Whakatane, Whakatane 3120 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5370526 — Property damage

Q: What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5370526 about?

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

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5370526 — net $6,470.21 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears as at 20 November 2025	$2,891.43	Rent arrears as at 20 November 2025
Water rates as at 20 November 2025	$372.66	Water rates as at 20 November 2025
Cleaning	$640.00	Cleaning
Lawns and garden waste removal	$192.00	Lawns and garden waste removal
Lock/key replacement	$130.00	Lock/key replacement
Light bulbs and electrical repair work	$614.11	Light bulbs and electrical repair work
Repair holes in walls and replace bedroom door	$3,062.01	Repair holes in walls and replace bedroom door
Replace curtains and blinds, rail and hooks	$280.00	Replace curtains and blinds, rail and hooks
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$6,470.21
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$6,470.21

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlord’s name and identifying details.

Jolene Wiremu must pay [The landlord/s] $6,470.21 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,740.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.

Reasons

This application was scheduled to be heard by video conference. The tenant did not connect to the Teams link provided to her and nor did she ring in to the hearing as directed by the Notice of Hearing. The hearing proceeded in her absence.

This Order is to be read together with the Tribunal’s previous order dated 14 January 2026.

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

How much is owed for rent and wate rates?

In the previous Order rent arrears was put at $4,074.29. This was because the end date of the tenancy was said to have been 8 December 2025. However, at today’s hearing I accepted evidence that the final date of the tenancy was in fact 20 November 2025. The rent record shows that as at this date $2,891.43 was owing in rent arrears.

Further to this, at today’s hearing I accepted corrected water invoices which show that as at the end of the tenancy $372.66 was owing in water.

Did the tenant comply with her 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 photographs show that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean. However, the evidence does not establish that an invoice for cleaning amounting to $1,966.40 was warranted, especially as the invoice specifically excludes rubbish removal. I have allowed $640.00 for cleaning which I consider is reasonable, given the evidence.

I also accept the evidence that the lawns needed to be mowed and garden waste to be removed. The cost of doing so was proved with an invoice.

The tenant did not return the keys and so she is required to pay for the cost of replacing the locks. This cost was proved with an invoice.

The evidence also shows that the tenant had removed light bulbs and that electrical repair work was required to replace broken or missing battens. The amount ordered to remedy these issues was proved with an invoice.

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.

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 evidence shows that during the tenancy several holes were made in the walls of bedroom 3, the kitchen and the dining area. I also accept the evidence that the tenant had replaced the door of bedroom 3 with a smaller door and so that door needed to be replaced with a door that fitted.

The cost of remedying these issues was proved with invoices.

I also accept the evidence that the tenant had removed curtains in bedrooms 2 and 3, the blind in the kitchen needed to be replaced and the curtain rail in the lounge also needed to be replaced.

In ordering the tenant to pay $280.00 to remedy these issues, I have taken depreciation into account.

In calculating depreciation, I have taken into account the age and condition of the items at the start of the tenancy and their likely useful lifespan. Filing fee reimbursement

The landlord has been substantially successful with this claim and so I am ordering the tenant to reimburse them the filing fee. Suppression of name

For the same reason I am allowing the landlord’s application for suppression of their name. C ter Haar 03 March 2026

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5370526 — net $6,470.21 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears as at 20 November 2025	$2,891.43	Rent arrears as at 20 November 2025
Water rates as at 20 November 2025	$372.66	Water rates as at 20 November 2025
Cleaning	$640.00	Cleaning
Lawns and garden waste removal	$192.00	Lawns and garden waste removal
Lock/key replacement	$130.00	Lock/key replacement
Light bulbs and electrical repair work	$614.11	Light bulbs and electrical repair work
Repair holes in walls and replace bedroom door	$3,062.01	Repair holes in walls and replace bedroom door
Replace curtains and blinds, rail and hooks	$280.00	Replace curtains and blinds, rail and hooks
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$6,470.21
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$6,470.21

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlord’s name and identifying details.
Jolene Wiremu must pay [The landlord/s] $6,470.21 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,740.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.

Reasons

This application was scheduled to be heard by video conference. The tenant did not connect to the Teams link provided to her and nor did she ring in to the hearing as directed by the Notice of Hearing. The hearing proceeded in her absence.
This Order is to be read together with the Tribunal’s previous order dated 14 January 2026.
The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, payment of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

How much is owed for rent and wate rates?

In the previous Order rent arrears was put at $4,074.29. This was because the end date of the tenancy was said to have been 8 December 2025. However, at today’s hearing I accepted evidence that the final date of the tenancy was in fact 20 November 2025. The rent record shows that as at this date $2,891.43 was owing in rent arrears.
Further to this, at today’s hearing I accepted corrected water invoices which show that as at the end of the tenancy $372.66 was owing in water.

Did the tenant comply with her 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 photographs show that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean. However, the evidence does not establish that an invoice for cleaning amounting to $1,966.40 was warranted, especially as the invoice specifically excludes rubbish removal. I have allowed $640.00 for cleaning which I consider is reasonable, given the evidence.
I also accept the evidence that the lawns needed to be mowed and garden waste to be removed. The cost of doing so was proved with an invoice.
The tenant did not return the keys and so she is required to pay for the cost of replacing the locks. This cost was proved with an invoice.
The evidence also shows that the tenant had removed light bulbs and that electrical repair work was required to replace broken or missing battens. The amount ordered to remedy these issues was proved with an invoice.

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.
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 evidence shows that during the tenancy several holes were made in the walls of bedroom 3, the kitchen and the dining area. I also accept the evidence that the tenant had replaced the door of bedroom 3 with a smaller door and so that door needed to be replaced with a door that fitted.
The cost of remedying these issues was proved with invoices.
I also accept the evidence that the tenant had removed curtains in bedrooms 2 and 3, the blind in the kitchen needed to be replaced and the curtain rail in the lounge also needed to be replaced.
In ordering the tenant to pay $280.00 to remedy these issues, I have taken depreciation into account.
In calculating depreciation, I have taken into account the age and condition of the items at the start of the tenancy and their likely useful lifespan. Filing fee reimbursement
The landlord has been substantially successful with this claim and so I am ordering the tenant to reimburse them the filing fee. Suppression of name
For the same reason I am allowing the landlord’s application for suppression of their name. C ter Haar 03 March 2026

Tenancy Tribunal case 5370526 — Property damage at 20B Paul Street, Whakatane, Whakatane 3120

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5370526 — Property damage at 20B Paul Street, Whakatane, Whakatane 3120

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for rent and wate rates?

Did the tenant comply with her 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

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for rent and wate rates?

Did the tenant comply with her 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

Frequently asked questions