How much money was awarded in case 5413378?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Other: $650.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5413378?

The primary dispute was Property damage. Related themes: Exemplary damages.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5413378?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13372511-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

How much money was awarded in case 5413378?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Other: $650.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5413378?

The primary dispute was Property damage. Related themes: Exemplary damages.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5413378?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13372511-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

222 Reid Road, Ngahinapouri, RD 2, Ohaupo 3882 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5413378 — Property damage

Q: What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5413378 about?

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

Tenantcheck Insights

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5413378. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Tenant	Reason
Other	$650.00		Other
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00		Filing fee reimbursement

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

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,400.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) immediately apportioned as follows: [The landlord/s]: $678.00 Bernadette Cordes: $1,722.00

All other claims are dismissed.

Reasons

The landlords attended the hearing. The tenant did not appear and the hearing continued in their absence.

The landlords withdrew their claims for exemplary damages and rubbish removal.

The landlords sought reimbursement of their insurance excess following testing of the premises for methamphetamine, decontamination, and reimbursement of their filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

The tenancy began on 13 September 2021. A pre-tenancy test for the presence of methamphetamine was conducted on 10 August 2021, and none was detected.

The tenancy ended on 30 November 2025.

On 2 December 2025 and a post tenancy methamphetamine test was conducted by Methsafe Limited with a cumulative result of 30.3 μg/100cm 2 from a composite sample.

On 11 December 2025 a pre-decontamination assessment was conducted with individual rooms tested, and 23 individual results provided.

The presence of methamphetamine was found was found in 22 out of the 23 tests conducted.

The highest test results were. • 17 μg/100cm 2 in hallway test one, • 13.8 μg/100cm 2 in the lounge, • 10.5 μg/100cm 2 in bedroom 2 •12.6 μg/100cm 2 in hallway test 2 •The rest of the results were under 10 μg/100cm 2

The property was decontaminated, carpets removed and replaced as well as other soft furnishings.

A final Test was conducted by Restate Property Restoration on 20 January 2026 reporting that methamphetamine levels complied with NZ.8510:2017 requirements.

The landlords had insurance with FMG which covered all testing and decontamination of the premises. The insurance excess was $650.00 and the landlord sought reimbursement of this amount.

There are currently two sources of guidance on the issue of a safe level of methamphetamine contamination in residential premises. In June 2017 Standards New Zealand published NZS 8510:2017. The standard recommended a maximum contamination level of 1.5 μg/100cm 2 for high use areas where contamination has resulted from both consumption and manufacture. It recommended a higher level of 3.8 μg/100cm 2 for limited use areas.

In May 2018 Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, the then Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, released a report "Methamphetamine contamination in residential properties: Exposures, risk levels, and interpretation of standards”. The report noted that there is a lack of scientific evidence to prove that low-level third-hand methamphetamine exposure poses a health risk to humans. It stated that guidelines should be proportionate to risk and that exposure to a level below 15μg/100cm 2 was unlikely to have an adverse effect.

A number of Tenancy Tribunal and District Court decisions have confirmed that methamphetamine levels below 15μg/100cm 2 do not require decontamination.

In two recent decisions, the District Court has confirmed the Tribunal’s approach in adopting the Gluckman recommendations as correct and observed that the NZ standards do not have the force of law.

In Acme Realty Ltd v Alexander James Hogg, Tuitui Grace Polotu, Leigh Sharyn Coughlin [2021] NZDC 3231 Judge Harrison confirmed Judge de Ridder’s approach in the earlier decision of Full Circle Real Estate Limited v Danielle Piper [2019] NZDC 4947.

Both decisions held that the Tribunal was correct to adopt and apply the levels set out in the Gluckman report, with the result that only if levels are above 15μg/100cm 2 is decontamination required to ensure the premises are safe and not injurious to the health of future occupants.

I must apply the reasoning of the District Court and following Tenancy Tribunal orders and find that the maximum contamination level to be applied is that stated by the Gluckman report.

The post tenancy methamphetamine testing revealed one level above 15μg/100cm 2, ,being 17μg/100cm 2 in hallway test 2.

On this basis the insurance excess is awarded as this area exceeded maximum contamination level stated by the Gluckman report and therefore was contaminated and required decontamination.

Because [The applicant/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee and grant name suppression as requested.

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5413378. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Tenant	Reason
Other	$650.00		Other
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00		Filing fee reimbursement