What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5459410 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 5459410?

Cleaning: $400.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $200.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $300.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $6,117.24 awarded to landlord; Hinges: $100.00 awarded to landlord; Holes In Bathroom And Bedroom Door: $600.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $400.00 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $650.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5459410?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5459410?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13855587-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5459410 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 5459410?

Cleaning: $400.00 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $200.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $300.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $6,117.24 awarded to landlord; Hinges: $100.00 awarded to landlord; Holes In Bathroom And Bedroom Door: $600.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $400.00 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $650.00 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5459410?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5459410?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13855587-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

11 Rangiora Street, Mangakino, Mangakino 3421 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5459410 — Rent arrears

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5459410 — net $8,795.24 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears	$6,117.24	Rent arrears
Repairs: holes in bathroom and bedroom door	$600.00	Repairs: holes in bathroom and bedroom door
Repairs: Laundry bench removed/repairs	$400.00	Repairs: Laundry bench removed/repairs
Lock/key replacement	$300.00	Lock/key replacement
Rubbish removal	$650.00	Rubbish removal
Repairs: Hinges	$100.00	Repairs: Hinges
Cleaning	$400.00	Cleaning
Lawns and Garden work	$200.00	Lawns and Garden work
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$8,795.24
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$8,795.24

The landlords attended the hearing by video. The tenant did not appear and was called on two phone numbers provided but these were not answered. The hearing continued in their absence.

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 January 2026. 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 leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish. There were clothes, household appliances, 2 couches, an outside fireplace, tables and items in an outside storage shed to be removed.

There was little sign of cleaning in the kitchen area and items left throughout the house suggest no floors were cleaned. There was not a lot of other evidence provided to support the cleaning claim and the amount awarded reflects this.

The lawns and gardens were not left reasonably tidy.

The tenant did not return the keys.

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 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: a) The bathroom door and a bedroom door had holes in them b) The laundry bench was removed c) Hinges from a flat pack cupboard required replacing

I find the damage to the doors and hinges careless and the damage to the laundry bench intentional. The landlords said that the bench was installed for front loading machines and was removed by the tenant to allow for the top loading washing machine.

The repairs to this did not include reinstatement of the bench. The area was sanded plastered and repainted, and compensation awarded reflects this.

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.

Because [The applicant/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee and grant name suppression as requested.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5459410 — net $8,795.24 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears	$6,117.24	Rent arrears
Repairs: holes in bathroom and bedroom door	$600.00	Repairs: holes in bathroom and bedroom door
Repairs: Laundry bench removed/repairs	$400.00	Repairs: Laundry bench removed/repairs
Lock/key replacement	$300.00	Lock/key replacement
Rubbish removal	$650.00	Rubbish removal
Repairs: Hinges	$100.00	Repairs: Hinges
Cleaning	$400.00	Cleaning
Lawns and Garden work	$200.00	Lawns and Garden work
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$8,795.24
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$8,795.24

Order

ORDER

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the Landlord name and identifying details.
[The tenant/s] must pay [The landlord/s] $8,795.24 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

Reasons

The landlords attended the hearing by video. The tenant did not appear and was called on two phone numbers provided but these were not answered. The hearing continued in their absence.
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 January 2026. 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 leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy and did not remove all rubbish. There were clothes, household appliances, 2 couches, an outside fireplace, tables and items in an outside storage shed to be removed.
There was little sign of cleaning in the kitchen area and items left throughout the house suggest no floors were cleaned. There was not a lot of other evidence provided to support the cleaning claim and the amount awarded reflects this.
The lawns and gardens were not left reasonably tidy.
The tenant did not return the keys.
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 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: a) The bathroom door and a bedroom door had holes in them b) The laundry bench was removed c) Hinges from a flat pack cupboard required replacing
I find the damage to the doors and hinges careless and the damage to the laundry bench intentional. The landlords said that the bench was installed for front loading machines and was removed by the tenant to allow for the top loading washing machine.
The repairs to this did not include reinstatement of the bench. The area was sanded plastered and repainted, and compensation awarded reflects this.
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.
Because [The applicant/s] has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee and grant name suppression as requested.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5459410 — Rent arrears at 11 Rangiora Street, Mangakino, Mangakino 3421

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5459410 — Rent arrears at 11 Rangiora Street, Mangakino, Mangakino 3421

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

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

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