How much money was awarded in case 5428972?

Cleaning: $890.00 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $2,457.56 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $432.50 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $28.50 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $480.00 awarded to landlord; Skip Bin Hirer: $448.50 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5428972?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness. Related themes: Rent arrears, Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5428972?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13662828-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

How much money was awarded in case 5428972?

Cleaning: $890.00 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $2,457.56 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $432.50 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $28.50 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $480.00 awarded to landlord; Skip Bin Hirer: $448.50 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5428972?

The primary dispute was Cleanliness. Related themes: Rent arrears, Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5428972?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13662828-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5428972 — Cleanliness

Q: What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5428972 about?

The tribunal order states: [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s] and [The tenant/s] must pay [The landlord/s] $4,765.06

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5428972 — net $4,765.06 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears	$480.00	Rent arrears
Skip bin hirer	$448.50	Skip bin hirer
Carpet Cleaning	$890.00	Carpet Cleaning
Lock/key replacement	$432.50	Lock/key replacement
Cleaning	$2,457.56	Cleaning
Balance of repairs	$28.50	Balance of repairs
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$4,765.06
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$4,765.06

[The tenant/s], [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s] and [The tenant/s] must pay [The landlord/s] $4,765.06 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

The applicant has sought a suppression order. Given they have been wholly successful it is appropriate to suppress the details of the applicant and the address of the property.

Reasons

The case proceeded before me today by teleconference.

Mr Tohiariki, Mr Fatafehi, and Mr Ngamanu failed to make themselves available for the hearing. They did not link into the hearing, and I rang on their cell phone numbers but there was no answer. They did not seek an adjournment. The remaining tenants made themselves available.

The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

How much is owed for rent?

The tenancy ended on 31 December 2025. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.

Whilst the tenant who appeared believed this may have been an error in calculations, there had been a previous mediation in respect to rent arrears and the rent has been inconsistent throughout the tenancy.

I am satisfied on the evidence that the amount is proven as being outstanding.

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 is required to replace worn out smoke alarm batteries during the tenancy. See section 40(1)(ca) Residential Tenancies Act 1986. The tenant must also replace standard light bulbs.

The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove all rubbish. The photo evidence shows the condition that the tenants left the property. It is to be noted that not all of the tenants were present on the day the exit inspection was carried out. However I am told that at the pre exit inspection, the property was in a better condition than at the exit inspection.

The tenants did not dispute this.

The tenant did not return the keys. Some keys were missing, and locks had been damaged. The tenants did not dispute this.

Having considered all of the evidence I am satisfied that the amounts ordered are proven.

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.

Where the damage is careless, and occurs after 27 August 2019, section 49B RTA applies. If the landlord becomes aware of the damage after 27 August, the damage is presumed to have occurred after that date unless the tenant proves otherwise.

Where the damage is caused carelessly, and is covered by the landlord's insurance, the tenant's liability is limited to the lesser of the insurance excess or four weeks' rent (or four weeks' market rent in the case of a tenant paying income-related rent). See section 49B(3)(a) RTA.

Where the damage is careless and is not covered by the landlord's insurance, the tenant's liability is limited to four weeks' rent (or market rent). See section 49B(3)(b) RTA. Where insurance money is irrecoverable because of the tenant's conduct, the property is treated as if it is not insured against the damage. See section 49B(3A)(a) 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 following damage was caused during the tenancy:

There were several holes in walls, the roof cavity had been entered and the insulation thrown to the floor. The cost of the damages was paid for with the bond that was returned to the owner by consent of the tenants, however the remainder of the invoice of $28.50 remains to be paid. The damage is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenants did not dispute this claim.

The amounts ordered are proved.

As I explained to the tenants, they are all liable for this debt. I encourage all tenants to pay their share of the debt.

I have taken into account betterment and depreciation. The landlord should be returned to the position they would have been in had the tenant not breached their obligations, and should not be better or worse off. In calculating depreciation, I have taken into account the age and condition of the items at the start of the tenancy and their likely useful lifespan.

Because [The landlord/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5428972 — net $4,765.06 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears	$480.00	Rent arrears
Skip bin hirer	$448.50	Skip bin hirer
Carpet Cleaning	$890.00	Carpet Cleaning
Lock/key replacement	$432.50	Lock/key replacement
Cleaning	$2,457.56	Cleaning
Balance of repairs	$28.50	Balance of repairs
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$4,765.06
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$4,765.06

Order

[The tenant/s], [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s], [The tenant/s] and [The tenant/s] must pay [The landlord/s] $4,765.06 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
The applicant has sought a suppression order. Given they have been wholly successful it is appropriate to suppress the details of the applicant and the address of the property.

Reasons

The case proceeded before me today by teleconference.
Mr Tohiariki, Mr Fatafehi, and Mr Ngamanu failed to make themselves available for the hearing. They did not link into the hearing, and I rang on their cell phone numbers but there was no answer. They did not seek an adjournment. The remaining tenants made themselves available.
The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

How much is owed for rent?

The tenancy ended on 31 December 2025. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy.
Whilst the tenant who appeared believed this may have been an error in calculations, there had been a previous mediation in respect to rent arrears and the rent has been inconsistent throughout the tenancy.
I am satisfied on the evidence that the amount is proven as being outstanding.

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 is required to replace worn out smoke alarm batteries during the tenancy. See section 40(1)(ca) Residential Tenancies Act 1986. The tenant must also replace standard light bulbs.
The tenant did not leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove all rubbish. The photo evidence shows the condition that the tenants left the property. It is to be noted that not all of the tenants were present on the day the exit inspection was carried out. However I am told that at the pre exit inspection, the property was in a better condition than at the exit inspection.
The tenants did not dispute this.
The tenant did not return the keys. Some keys were missing, and locks had been damaged. The tenants did not dispute this.
Having considered all of the evidence I am satisfied that the amounts ordered are proven.

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.
Where the damage is careless, and occurs after 27 August 2019, section 49B RTA applies. If the landlord becomes aware of the damage after 27 August, the damage is presumed to have occurred after that date unless the tenant proves otherwise.
Where the damage is caused carelessly, and is covered by the landlord's insurance, the tenant's liability is limited to the lesser of the insurance excess or four weeks' rent (or four weeks' market rent in the case of a tenant paying income-related rent). See section 49B(3)(a) RTA.
Where the damage is careless and is not covered by the landlord's insurance, the tenant's liability is limited to four weeks' rent (or market rent). See section 49B(3)(b) RTA. Where insurance money is irrecoverable because of the tenant's conduct, the property is treated as if it is not insured against the damage. See section 49B(3A)(a) 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 following damage was caused during the tenancy:
There were several holes in walls, the roof cavity had been entered and the insulation thrown to the floor. The cost of the damages was paid for with the bond that was returned to the owner by consent of the tenants, however the remainder of the invoice of $28.50 remains to be paid. The damage is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenants did not dispute this claim.
The amounts ordered are proved.
As I explained to the tenants, they are all liable for this debt. I encourage all tenants to pay their share of the debt.
I have taken into account betterment and depreciation. The landlord should be returned to the position they would have been in had the tenant not breached their obligations, and should not be better or worse off. In calculating depreciation, I have taken into account the age and condition of the items at the start of the tenancy and their likely useful lifespan.
Because [The landlord/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5428972 — Cleanliness

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5428972 — Cleanliness

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for rent?

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

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for rent?

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

Frequently asked questions