What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5419916 about?

The tribunal order states: [The tenant/s] must pay Riverstone Rentals Limited Mel Baker $2,922.64

How much money was awarded in case 5419916?

Cleaning: $143.99 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $120.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $770.50 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $696.00 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $1,164.15 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5419916?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5419916?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13762841-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5419916 about?

The tribunal order states: [The tenant/s] must pay Riverstone Rentals Limited Mel Baker $2,922.64

How much money was awarded in case 5419916?

Cleaning: $143.99 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $120.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $770.50 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $696.00 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $1,164.15 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5419916?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5419916?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13762841-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

124B Paramount Parade, Tikipunga, Whangarei 0112 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5419916 — Property damage

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5419916 — net $2,922.64 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Water rates as at end of tenancy	$1,164.15	Water rates as at end of tenancy
Cleaning	$143.99	Cleaning
Rubbish removal, including skip bin hire	$696.00	Rubbish removal, including skip bin hire
Window repair plus lock change	$770.50	Window repair plus lock change
Lawns and Garden work	$120.00	Lawns and Garden work
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$2,922.64
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$2,922.64

This application was scheduled to be heard remotely. The tenant did not connect to the Teams link and nor did he ring in to the hearing as directed in the Notice of Hearing. Further, my call to the telephone number provided for him went unanswered. The hearing therefore proceeded in his absence.

This application was made more than 2 months after the tenancy ended. Special service provisions, set out in s91A(2) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, therefore apply.

S91A(2)(e) provides that effective service takes place if the landlord files an application no later than 2 years after the termination of the tenancy by emailing to an email address given by the tenant as an address for service.

No tenancy agreement was supplied with this application and so there is no evidence of the tenant having supplied his email address as an address for service.

However, pursuant to s91B(2)(c) I am dispensing with the requirement for service and proceeding as if notice and documentation has been served in accordance with the Act.

I do so because I accept that the email address is the only method by which the landlords have been able to contact the tenant. While he has not replied to emails, they have not bounced back.

I am satisfied at that effective service has taken place by sending notices and documentation to the tenant’s email address.

The landlord makes claims for compensation for vacated costs and reimbursement of the filing fee.

How much is owed for water rates?

The landlord provided water rates invoices which prove that as at the end of the tenancy $1,164.15 was owing in outstanding water charges.

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 photographs show that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy. They also show that a considerable amount of rubbish was left behind.

I accept the evidence that the lawn had not been mown or the garden kept in a reasonable condition.

Further to this, no keys were returned and so a change of lock was required.

The amounts ordered to remedy these issues are proved with invoices.

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.

I accept the evidence that a bedroom window was broken during this tenancy. This is more than fair wear and tear.

The cost of repair is proved with an invoice. Filing fee reimbursement

I am ordering the tenant to reimburse the filing fee to the landlord because the landlord was wholly successful with this claim against him C ter Haar 17 June 2026

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5419916 — net $2,922.64 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Water rates as at end of tenancy	$1,164.15	Water rates as at end of tenancy
Cleaning	$143.99	Cleaning
Rubbish removal, including skip bin hire	$696.00	Rubbish removal, including skip bin hire
Window repair plus lock change	$770.50	Window repair plus lock change
Lawns and Garden work	$120.00	Lawns and Garden work
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$2,922.64
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$2,922.64

Order

[The tenant/s] must pay Riverstone Rentals Limited Mel Baker $2,922.64 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

Reasons

This application was scheduled to be heard remotely. The tenant did not connect to the Teams link and nor did he ring in to the hearing as directed in the Notice of Hearing. Further, my call to the telephone number provided for him went unanswered. The hearing therefore proceeded in his absence.
This application was made more than 2 months after the tenancy ended. Special service provisions, set out in s91A(2) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, therefore apply.
S91A(2)(e) provides that effective service takes place if the landlord files an application no later than 2 years after the termination of the tenancy by emailing to an email address given by the tenant as an address for service.
No tenancy agreement was supplied with this application and so there is no evidence of the tenant having supplied his email address as an address for service.
However, pursuant to s91B(2)(c) I am dispensing with the requirement for service and proceeding as if notice and documentation has been served in accordance with the Act.
I do so because I accept that the email address is the only method by which the landlords have been able to contact the tenant. While he has not replied to emails, they have not bounced back.
I am satisfied at that effective service has taken place by sending notices and documentation to the tenant’s email address.
The landlord makes claims for compensation for vacated costs and reimbursement of the filing fee.

How much is owed for water rates?

The landlord provided water rates invoices which prove that as at the end of the tenancy $1,164.15 was owing in outstanding water charges.

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 photographs show that the tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy. They also show that a considerable amount of rubbish was left behind.
I accept the evidence that the lawn had not been mown or the garden kept in a reasonable condition.
Further to this, no keys were returned and so a change of lock was required.
The amounts ordered to remedy these issues are proved with invoices.

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.
I accept the evidence that a bedroom window was broken during this tenancy. This is more than fair wear and tear.
The cost of repair is proved with an invoice. Filing fee reimbursement
I am ordering the tenant to reimburse the filing fee to the landlord because the landlord was wholly successful with this claim against him C ter Haar 17 June 2026

Tenancy Tribunal case 5419916 — Property damage at 124B Paramount Parade, Tikipunga, Whangarei 0112

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5419916 — Property damage at 124B Paramount Parade, Tikipunga, Whangarei 0112

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for water rates?

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

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for water rates?

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