Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5426348 — Rent arrears at 5C Tahurangi Place, Spotswood, New Plymouth 4310
Published 27 May 2026 · Application 5426348
- Rent arrears
- Property damage
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
New Plymouth
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
J Tam
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $5,995.45
- Bond payment as ordered
- −$2,400.00
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $3,595.45
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent arrears to 15 December 2025 | $3,342.86 | Rent arrears to 15 December 2025 | |
| Repairs: door (kicked in), jamb and walls | $1,239.39 | Repairs: door (kicked in), jamb and walls | |
| Rubbish removal: (agreed at mediation | $298.70 | Rubbish removal: (agreed at mediation | |
| Rubbish removal: under the house | $612.50 | Rubbish removal: under the house | |
| Lawns and Garden work | $390.00 | Lawns and Garden work | |
| Lock/key replacement | $84.00 | Lock/key replacement | |
| Filing fee reimbursement | $28.00 | Filing fee reimbursement | |
| Net award | $3,595.45 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $3,595.45 |
Claims and awards for application 5426348 — net $3,595.45 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Rent arrears to 15 December 2025
- Amount
- $3,342.86
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rent arrears to 15 December 2025
Repairs: door (kicked in), jamb and walls
- Amount
- $1,239.39
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Repairs: door (kicked in), jamb and walls
Rubbish removal: (agreed at mediation
- Amount
- $298.70
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rubbish removal: (agreed at mediation
Rubbish removal: under the house
- Amount
- $612.50
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rubbish removal: under the house
Lawns and Garden work
- Amount
- $390.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Lawns and Garden work
Lock/key replacement
- Amount
- $84.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Lock/key replacement
Filing fee reimbursement
- Amount
- $28.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Filing fee reimbursement
Net award
Landlord $3,595.45
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $3,595.45
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Ani Manukonga must pay Property Management New Plymouth 2020 Limited T/A Ray White New Plymouth As Agent For Benjamin Lindsay $3,595.45 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,400.00 (BN-00015934) to Property Management New Plymouth 2020 Limited T/A Ray White New Plymouth As Agent For Benjamin Lindsay immediately.
Reasons
- Only the landlord attended the hearing.
- The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent?
- The tenancy ended on 15 December 2025. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
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 did not remove all rubbish.
- The tenant changed the original lock without permission to which the landlord changed had a key recut.
- 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.
- 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 front door was kicked-in during the tenancy. The damage to the door, door jamb and walls in the premises are more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage.
- The amounts ordered are proved.
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Residential Tenancies Act sections
s40(1), s40(2), s49B(1)
Key findings
- Dispute theme: rent arrears
- Dispute theme: property damage
Property management
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5426348?
The tribunal order states: Ani Manukonga must pay Property Management New Plymouth 2020 Limited
How much money was awarded in case 5426348?
Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $390.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $84.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $3,342.86 awarded to landlord; Door (Kicked In), Jamb And Walls: $1,239.39 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $298.70 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $612.50 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5426348?
The primary dispute was Rent arrears. Related themes: Property damage.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5426348?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13662087-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.