How much money was awarded in case 5432990?

Cleaning: $575.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Blinds, laundry sink door, lock fram…: $448.50 awarded to landlord; Broken Toilet Seat: $172.50 awarded to landlord; Mailbox: $207.00 awarded to landlord; Replace Frontdoor Lock: $784.02 awarded to landlord; Unblock Kitchen Sink: $253.01 awarded to landlord; Replace Furnishings: Heatpump Remote: $235.46 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $440.74 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $146.77 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5432990?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5432990?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13644279-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

How much money was awarded in case 5432990?

Cleaning: $575.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Blinds, laundry sink door, lock fram…: $448.50 awarded to landlord; Broken Toilet Seat: $172.50 awarded to landlord; Mailbox: $207.00 awarded to landlord; Replace Frontdoor Lock: $784.02 awarded to landlord; Unblock Kitchen Sink: $253.01 awarded to landlord; Replace Furnishings: Heatpump Remote: $235.46 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $440.74 awarded to landlord; Water Rates: $146.77 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5432990?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5432990?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13644279-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5432990 — Property damage

Q: What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5432990 about?

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

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5432990 — net $1,091.00 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Water rates	$146.77	2. The landlord has applied for water rates arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
Rubbish removal	$440.74	Rubbish removal
Repairs: Blinds, laundry sink door, lock frame	$448.50	Repairs: Blinds, laundry sink door, lock frame
Repairs: Replace frontdoor lock	$784.02	Repairs: Replace frontdoor lock
Cleaning	$575.00	Cleaning
Repairs: Mailbox	$207.00	Repairs: Mailbox
Repairs: Broken toilet seat	$172.50	Repairs: Broken toilet seat
Repairs: Unblock kitchen sink	$253.01	Repairs: Unblock kitchen sink
Replace furnishings: Heatpump remote	$235.46	Replace furnishings: Heatpump remote
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$1,091.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,091.00

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlords name and identifying details.

Vaiari Mamatu Samuela must pay [The landlord/s] $1,091.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,200.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.

Reasons

The Landlord attended the hearing. The Tenant did not appear.

The landlord has applied for water rates arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

How much is owed for water rates arrears?

The tenancy ended on 3 November 2025. The landlord provided water rates invoices 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 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 failed to remove all rubbish. The tenant left behind bed slats and bed frames in the kitchen, as well as mattresses and a couch outside the premises. The carpets were not cleaned, there were marks on the walls, and the blinds and windowsills were dirty. The kitchen cabinets were dirty, dishes were left in the sink, and the ensuite cabinet, door, and sink were unclean. There were also dirty power points throughout the premises.

The following chattels were missing at the end of the tenancy: Heatpump remote. The landlord had to replace this and provided an invoice.

The Tenant did not return the keys so a locksmith attended to change the lock. An invoice was provided to substantiate the cost.

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.

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: Blinds, broken laundry door, lock frame, front door lock, mailbox, toilet seat, blocked kitchen sink, hole in the wall. Entry and exit inspection reports were provided along with invoices. The damage is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage.

The amounts ordered are proved.

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.

As [The applicant/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim the Tenant must reimburse the filing fee and name suppression is granted to the Landlord.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5432990 — net $1,091.00 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Water rates	$146.77	2. The landlord has applied for water rates arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
Rubbish removal	$440.74	Rubbish removal
Repairs: Blinds, laundry sink door, lock frame	$448.50	Repairs: Blinds, laundry sink door, lock frame
Repairs: Replace frontdoor lock	$784.02	Repairs: Replace frontdoor lock
Cleaning	$575.00	Cleaning
Repairs: Mailbox	$207.00	Repairs: Mailbox
Repairs: Broken toilet seat	$172.50	Repairs: Broken toilet seat
Repairs: Unblock kitchen sink	$253.01	Repairs: Unblock kitchen sink
Replace furnishings: Heatpump remote	$235.46	Replace furnishings: Heatpump remote
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$1,091.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,091.00

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlords name and identifying details.
Vaiari Mamatu Samuela must pay [The landlord/s] $1,091.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,200.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately.

Reasons

The Landlord attended the hearing. The Tenant did not appear.
The landlord has applied for water rates arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.

How much is owed for water rates arrears?

The tenancy ended on 3 November 2025. The landlord provided water rates invoices 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 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 failed to remove all rubbish. The tenant left behind bed slats and bed frames in the kitchen, as well as mattresses and a couch outside the premises. The carpets were not cleaned, there were marks on the walls, and the blinds and windowsills were dirty. The kitchen cabinets were dirty, dishes were left in the sink, and the ensuite cabinet, door, and sink were unclean. There were also dirty power points throughout the premises.
The following chattels were missing at the end of the tenancy: Heatpump remote. The landlord had to replace this and provided an invoice.
The Tenant did not return the keys so a locksmith attended to change the lock. An invoice was provided to substantiate the cost.
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.
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: Blinds, broken laundry door, lock frame, front door lock, mailbox, toilet seat, blocked kitchen sink, hole in the wall. Entry and exit inspection reports were provided along with invoices. The damage is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage.
The amounts ordered are proved.
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.
As [The applicant/s] has wholly succeeded with the claim the Tenant must reimburse the filing fee and name suppression is granted to the Landlord.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5432990 — Property damage

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5432990 — Property damage

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

How much is owed for water rates arrears?

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 water rates arrears?

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