What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5400410 about?

The tribunal order states: The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $562.00 (BN-00132601) to Property

How much money was awarded in case 5400410?

Cleaning: $80.50 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Bedroom Door: $445.64 awarded to landlord; Dining Room Window: $211.37 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5400410?

The primary dispute was Property damage. Related themes: Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5400410?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/14024172-Tribunal_Order.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5400410 about?

The tribunal order states: The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $562.00 (BN-00132601) to Property

How much money was awarded in case 5400410?

Cleaning: $80.50 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Bedroom Door: $445.64 awarded to landlord; Dining Room Window: $211.37 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5400410?

The primary dispute was Property damage. Related themes: Cleanliness.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5400410?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/14024172-Tribunal_Order.pdf.

11 Harata Street, Turangi, Turangi 3334 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5400410 — Property damage

Tenantcheck Insights

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5400410 — net $203.51 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Repairs: Dining room window	$211.37	Repairs: Dining room window
Repairs: Bedroom door	$445.64	Repairs: Bedroom door
Carpet Cleaning	$80.50	Carpet Cleaning
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$203.51
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$203.51

The Landlord attended the hearing. A representative for the Tenant’s estate did not appear.

The landlord has applied for compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy. The Landlord confirmed they are not seeking to enforce the outstanding debt of $203.51 once the bond has been refunded to the Landlord.

The Landlord submitted that Ms Pauline Collins passed away on 19 October 2025 however her family stayed at the property until 18 November 2025. The Landlord submitted Ms Collin’s children confirmed to her the damages that had occurred at the property whilst the family stayed there.

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 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 tenant did not leave the carpets reasonably clean and tidy. There were dirt stains on the carpet which the Landlord submitted was due to the heavy foot traffic during the funeral of Ms Collins. Photographs of the carpet were provided and an email from the carpet cleaner confirming the service. .

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 careless, and occurs after 27 August 2019, section 49B RTA applies. If the landlord becomes aware of the damage after 27 August, the damage is presumed to have occurred after that date unless the tenant proves otherwise.

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 hole in the kitchen cupboard and lounge wall, damage to the garage wall, a broken dining room window, and cracks to the right-hand bedroom door. Photographs were provided showing the condition of the areas before the damage occurred and the subsequent damage. Invoices were also provided to substantiate the costs claimed.

The Landlord submitted that Ms Collin’s children admitted to causing the damage to the dining room window and to hitting the bedroom door. The damage to the garage wall appeared consistent with someone having fallen into the wall. The damage goes beyond fair wear and tear, and the Tenant has not disproved liability for the damage.

The amounts ordered are proved.

I have taken into account betterment and depreciation. The landlord 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 items at the start of the tenancy and their likely useful lifespan.

As Property Brokers Limited On Behalf Of Michelle Woodfield has wholly succeeded with the claim the estate of the Tenant must reimburse the filing fee.

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5400410 — net $203.51 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Repairs: Dining room window	$211.37	Repairs: Dining room window
Repairs: Bedroom door	$445.64	Repairs: Bedroom door
Carpet Cleaning	$80.50	Carpet Cleaning
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$203.51
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$203.51

The Landlord attended the hearing. A representative for the Tenant’s estate did not appear.

Did the tenant comply with their obligations at the end of the tenancy?

The amounts ordered are proved.

Is the tenant responsible for the damage to the premises?

The amounts ordered are proved.

As Property Brokers Limited On Behalf Of Michelle Woodfield has wholly succeeded with the claim the estate of the Tenant must reimburse the filing fee.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5400410 — Property damage at 11 Harata Street, Turangi, Turangi 3334

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5400410 — Property damage at 11 Harata Street, Turangi, Turangi 3334

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

Reduce avoidable tribunal risk with proper tenant checks.

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

Reduce avoidable tribunal risk with proper tenant checks.