Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 5408428 — Property damage at 1A Steadman Street, Whau Valley, Whangarei 0112
Decided 24 Jun 2026 · Published 24 Jun 2026 · Application 5408428
- Property damage
Order
- [The tenant/s] must pay Kāinga Ora–Homes and Communities $4,187.19 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $118.00 (3001462-008) to Kāinga Ora– Homes and Communities immediately.
Reasons
- The adjournment order dated 20 May 2026 sets out the background to this application.
- Mr Temu reviewed the costs sought in the initial application, and submitted a significantly reduced claim.
- The second hearing took place in Whangrei on 24 June 2026. Mr Temu attended the hearing by phone with the consent of the Tribunal. There was no appearance by the tenant.
- Kāinga Ora’s claims relating to damage to the premises, set out above, are proven. Kāinga Ora’s photographs show damage to the lounge (carpet, walls), hallway (staining), kitchen (floor, rangehood, walls, stove) that is significantly beyond fair wear and tear. The damage is not intentional but it is in the category of careless.
- Kāinga Ora has applied depreciation appropriately to its claims for replacement chattels.
- The claim sought $717.00 for disposal of rubbish left outside the house and $821.05 for interior rubbish. Kāinga Ora’s photographs show numerous large items left outside the house – a dresser, a mattress, and other items. The amount claimed for disposal of exterior rubbish is fair and reasonable.
- The photographs do not support the claim for $821.05 for interior rubbish. The premises are clearly untidy, but there is no claim for cleaning. The visible rubbish is a bedframe left in the lounge and sundry small items. I will award $350.00 for disposal of interior rubbish.
- Kāinga Ora has continued to receive payments of $20 per fortnight since the end of the tenants and those payments (up to 16 June 2026) have been credited to the tenant in the table above.