Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 5416349 — Cleanliness at 18 Durham Street, Cannons Creek, Porirua 5024
Published 1 April 2026 · Application 5416349
Landlord favoured
- Cleanliness
- Property damage
Order
- Jessica Dawn O'Dwyer must pay Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities $4,189.02 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $200.00 to Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities immediately. DescriptionLandlord Cleaning$692.75 Repaint due to wall damage$462.94 Reattach handrail$294.98 Rehang cabinet door$34.87 Repair two holes in walls$86.20 Lawns and garden work$2,817.28 Subtotal $4,389.02 Bond$200.00 Total amount tenant must pay landlord$4,189.02
Reasons
- The hearing was conducted remotely on Microsoft Teams.
- Roberta Perese attended for the landlord. The tenant did not attend.
- The landlord has applied for compensation and payment out of the bond following the end of the tenancy. Cleaning and lawn and garden costs
- At the end of the tenancy the tenant must leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy. 1
- The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, including in respect to the lawn and gardens which had been overgrown for several years, necessitating slashing and mowing and remediation.
- The amounts ordered for cleaning and lawn and garden work are proved. Damage
- Some of the house’s walls needed to be repainted after the tenancy ended, mainly due to irremovable scribbles, the walls had two holes, the stairs’ handrail had been pulled away, the carpets were stained and damaged, and a kitchen cabinet door had come off.
- The landlords claim for the depreciated cost of the carpet is dismissed because the carpet was more than eight years old, and I apply an eight-year lifespan to the carpet.
- The other claims are allowed. The damage is more than fair wear and tear and I am not satisfied the tenant did not carelessly or intentionally cause or permit the damage. 2
- The amounts ordered are proved. Bond
- The Tribunal orders the Bond Centre to release the bond to the landlord in part payment of the tenant’s debt under this order.