What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5432956 about?

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

How much money was awarded in case 5432956?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Replace Furnishings: Blinds: $89.38 awarded to landlord; Smoke Alarms: $5.78 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5432956?

The primary dispute was Smoke alarms.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5432956?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13634819-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5432956 about?

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

How much money was awarded in case 5432956?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Replace Furnishings: Blinds: $89.38 awarded to landlord; Smoke Alarms: $5.78 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5432956?

The primary dispute was Smoke alarms.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5432956?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13634819-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

48 Red Beech Avenue, Woodridge, Wellington 6037 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5432956 — Smoke alarms

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48 Red Beech Avenue, Woodridge, Wellington 6037 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5432956 — Smoke alarms | TenantCheck

Claims & awards

What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5432956. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Replace furnishings: Blinds	$89.38	Replace furnishings: Blinds
Replace smoke alarms	$5.78	Replace smoke alarms
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement

Claims and awards for application 5432956. Verify on MoJ.

Replace furnishings: Blinds

Amount: $89.38
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Replace furnishings: Blinds

Replace smoke alarms

Amount: $5.78
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Replace smoke alarms

Filing fee reimbursement

Amount: $28.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Filing fee reimbursement

Dismissed claims

Property Damage

Claim types — money lines allowed on this order

Filing Fee Replace Smoke Alarms Exemplary damages

Order

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 $1,200.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) immediately apportioned as follows: [The landlord/s]: $123.16 Jo Elbao and Roy Elbao: $1,076.84

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing held on 21 May 2026 by video.
The landlord applied for compensation and exemplary damages.
The compensation relates to replacement of blinds and curtains for two windows and replacement of a smoke alarm and battery.
The tenant took the blinds and curtains which had some mould damage with the intention of replacing them. The tenant was unable to source identical blinds for replacement. From the photographs produced it is not clear that the blinds and curtains needed to be replaced. The landlord says that the tenant offered to replace them rather than clean them.
The landlord has replaced the blinds and curtains with a dual blind system instead of separate sheer curtains and a blind. The cost to replace the blinds and curtains was $715.00.
The premises were built in 2019, and it is likely that the blinds and curtains were original as they were there when the landlord bought the premises in 2021. Curtains have an estimated life expectancy of 8 years according to the Tribunal’s depreciation guide. After 7 years, the curtains have only about 1 year of useful life left.
The landlord should not be put in a better position than if the damage had not occurred. The compensation awarded should reflect the remaining value of the curtains, not the full replacement cost. The depreciated value of the curtains is $89.38, which is the amount awarded.
The landlord claims for replacement of one of the smoke alarms and batteries for the other one. An invoice for $65.78 has been produced.
The tenant says that when they had moved out, but were still cleaning the premises the smoke alarm was beeping. The battery was removed, and the tenant did not replace it. For the other smoke alarm the tenant misplaced it during the cleaning and moving out stage.
The landlord only seeks $5.78 compensation because an amount of $60.00 was owed to the tenant for providing a cake in December 2025. That amount is awarded.
The landlord claims exemplary damages in relation to the tenant tampering with the smoke alarms. After considering the evidence I am not satisfied that the tenanted committed an unlawful act intentionally. The landlord’s claim for exemplary damages is dismissed.
The bond is released to the parties after taking account of the awards made.
Because [The applicant/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee. For the same reason the landlord’s name is suppressed as sought.

Claims & awards

What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5432956. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Replace furnishings: Blinds	$89.38	Replace furnishings: Blinds
Replace smoke alarms	$5.78	Replace smoke alarms
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement

Claims and awards for application 5432956. Verify on MoJ.

Replace furnishings: Blinds

Amount: $89.38
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Replace furnishings: Blinds

Replace smoke alarms

Amount: $5.78
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Replace smoke alarms

Filing fee reimbursement

Amount: $28.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Filing fee reimbursement

Dismissed claims

Property Damage

Claim types — money lines allowed on this order

Filing Fee Replace Smoke Alarms Exemplary damages

Order

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 $1,200.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) immediately apportioned as follows: [The landlord/s]: $123.16 Jo Elbao and Roy Elbao: $1,076.84

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing held on 21 May 2026 by video.
The landlord applied for compensation and exemplary damages.
The compensation relates to replacement of blinds and curtains for two windows and replacement of a smoke alarm and battery.
The tenant took the blinds and curtains which had some mould damage with the intention of replacing them. The tenant was unable to source identical blinds for replacement. From the photographs produced it is not clear that the blinds and curtains needed to be replaced. The landlord says that the tenant offered to replace them rather than clean them.
The landlord has replaced the blinds and curtains with a dual blind system instead of separate sheer curtains and a blind. The cost to replace the blinds and curtains was $715.00.
The premises were built in 2019, and it is likely that the blinds and curtains were original as they were there when the landlord bought the premises in 2021. Curtains have an estimated life expectancy of 8 years according to the Tribunal’s depreciation guide. After 7 years, the curtains have only about 1 year of useful life left.
The landlord should not be put in a better position than if the damage had not occurred. The compensation awarded should reflect the remaining value of the curtains, not the full replacement cost. The depreciated value of the curtains is $89.38, which is the amount awarded.
The landlord claims for replacement of one of the smoke alarms and batteries for the other one. An invoice for $65.78 has been produced.
The tenant says that when they had moved out, but were still cleaning the premises the smoke alarm was beeping. The battery was removed, and the tenant did not replace it. For the other smoke alarm the tenant misplaced it during the cleaning and moving out stage.
The landlord only seeks $5.78 compensation because an amount of $60.00 was owed to the tenant for providing a cake in December 2025. That amount is awarded.
The landlord claims exemplary damages in relation to the tenant tampering with the smoke alarms. After considering the evidence I am not satisfied that the tenanted committed an unlawful act intentionally. The landlord’s claim for exemplary damages is dismissed.
The bond is released to the parties after taking account of the awards made.
Because [The applicant/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee. For the same reason the landlord’s name is suppressed as sought.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5432956 — Smoke alarms at 48 Red Beech Avenue, Woodridge, Wellington 6037

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5432956 — Smoke alarms at 48 Red Beech Avenue, Woodridge, Wellington 6037

At a glance

Claims & awards

Dismissed claims

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Key findings

Frequently asked questions

Claims & awards

Dismissed claims

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Key findings

Frequently asked questions