What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5466076 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 5466076?

Cleaning: $126.50 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $154.39 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $362.83 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $126.50 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $258.75 awarded to landlord; Perspex shed window and shower curta…: $198.95 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5466076?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5466076?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13765614-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5466076 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 5466076?

Cleaning: $126.50 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $154.39 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Lawns and Garden Work: $362.83 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $126.50 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $258.75 awarded to landlord; Perspex shed window and shower curta…: $198.95 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5466076?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5466076?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13765614-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

New Zealand Tenancy Tribunal Case 5466076 — Property damage

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5466076 — net $1,255.92 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Cleaning	$154.39	Cleaning
Carpet Cleaning	$126.50	Carpet Cleaning
Oven/stove cleaning: including rangehood	$126.50	Oven/stove cleaning: including rangehood
Lawns and Garden work	$362.83	Lawns and Garden work
Repairs: Perspex shed window and shower curtain	$198.95	Repairs: Perspex shed window and shower curtain
Repairs: bedroom patch repairs and painting	$258.75	Repairs: bedroom patch repairs and painting
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$1,255.92
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,255.92

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the landlord’s and tenant’s name and identifying details.
[The tenant/s] to pay [The landlord/s] $1,255.92 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,255.92 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $864.08 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The tenant/s] immediately.

Reasons

On 11 March 2026, the landlord filed an application seeking rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
The hearing proceeded by way of video conference. [Property Manager], Property Manager, appeared for the landlord. The tenants appeared.
At the hearing the landlord withdrew their claim for rent arrears.
The tenancy commenced on 18 December 2024 with the fixed term ending on 18 January 2026. With the landlord’s permission, the tenants vacated the property on 22 February 2026.

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 “Act”).
The landlord seeks compensation in the following amounts: a. General cleaning - $154.39 b. Carpet cleaning and stain treatment in one bedroom - $126.50 c. Oven and rangehood cleaning - $126.50 d. Lawn mowing and garden weeding, weed spraying and tidying, and green waste removal - $362.83 An invoice detailing the amount claimed was provided. The landlord amended the amount claimed for lawn mowing, garden weeding, weed spraying, and green waste removal from $565.23 to $362.83. This reduction was made to better reflect the labour (reduced from seven hours to four hours) required to bring the section up to a reasonably clean and reasonably tidy standard.
Pre-tenancy inspection photographs show the property was provided in a very clean and tidy condition at the commencement of the tenancy. The lawns were mown, the garden beds tidy and free from weeds, and the cobbled areas were free from weeds.
At the end of the tenancy the Tribunal heard: a. A general clean was required to wipe down the surfaces to remove marks from light switches and doors, vacuum and mop the floors, wipe down the skirting boards, and clean the bathroom and toilet. b. The carpet in one of the bedrooms was stained and required professional carpet cleaning and stain removal treatment. c. The oven and rangehood, including the filters, racks, and trays, were left grease stained and required cleaning. d. The section was overgrown. The lawns were long and there were weeds growing through the pavers and garden beds.
The landlord provided end of tenancy photographs which proved the cleaning and garden maintenance issues identified.
Following the landlord’s adjustment to the lawn mowing and gardening costs, the tenants took no issue with the amounts claimed. The tenants agreed with the landlord’s assessment of the work required to bring the property up to a reasonably clean and tidy standard.
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 of the Act.
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) of the Act.
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) of the Act. 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) of the Act.
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) of the Act.
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 landlord seeks compensation following damage they say was caused during the tenancy: a. Replacement of shower curtain due to mould/mildew damage; and b. Replacement of a broken Perspex window in the garden shed - $198.95 c. Patch repairs and painting to one wall in a bedroom caused by the removal of an adhesive hook resulting in plaster damage - $258.75
An invoice detailing the amount claimed was provided. The landlord agreed to remove the cost for the ‘painting vehicle charge’. The patch repairs and painting were undertaken by the contracting company on the same day as their staff were undertaking the gardening work. The contracting company claimed two vehicle charges for work completed on the same day. The landlord accepted that this was unreasonable. The vehicle charge was included in the cost award for the lawn mowing and gardening.
The tenants took no issue with the amount claimed and accepted the work undertaken was necessary to repair damage they caused to the property.
The amounts ordered are proved. Other matters
The bond had been refunded in accordance with paragraph 3 of the Order.
Because [The applicant/s] has been substantially successful with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
Both parties seek name suppression. Section 95A of the Act states that a party who has been wholly or substantially successful is entitled to name suppression. Both parties have been substantially successful and are granted suppression.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5466076 — net $1,255.92 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Cleaning	$154.39	Cleaning
Carpet Cleaning	$126.50	Carpet Cleaning
Oven/stove cleaning: including rangehood	$126.50	Oven/stove cleaning: including rangehood
Lawns and Garden work	$362.83	Lawns and Garden work
Repairs: Perspex shed window and shower curtain	$198.95	Repairs: Perspex shed window and shower curtain
Repairs: bedroom patch repairs and painting	$258.75	Repairs: bedroom patch repairs and painting
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$1,255.92
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,255.92

Order

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the landlord’s and tenant’s name and identifying details.
[The tenant/s] to pay [The landlord/s] $1,255.92 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,255.92 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The landlord/s] immediately. The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $864.08 ([Bond number suppressed]) to [The tenant/s] immediately.

Reasons

On 11 March 2026, the landlord filed an application seeking rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
The hearing proceeded by way of video conference. [Property Manager], Property Manager, appeared for the landlord. The tenants appeared.
At the hearing the landlord withdrew their claim for rent arrears.
The tenancy commenced on 18 December 2024 with the fixed term ending on 18 January 2026. With the landlord’s permission, the tenants vacated the property on 22 February 2026.

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 “Act”).
The landlord seeks compensation in the following amounts: a. General cleaning - $154.39 b. Carpet cleaning and stain treatment in one bedroom - $126.50 c. Oven and rangehood cleaning - $126.50 d. Lawn mowing and garden weeding, weed spraying and tidying, and green waste removal - $362.83 An invoice detailing the amount claimed was provided. The landlord amended the amount claimed for lawn mowing, garden weeding, weed spraying, and green waste removal from $565.23 to $362.83. This reduction was made to better reflect the labour (reduced from seven hours to four hours) required to bring the section up to a reasonably clean and reasonably tidy standard.
Pre-tenancy inspection photographs show the property was provided in a very clean and tidy condition at the commencement of the tenancy. The lawns were mown, the garden beds tidy and free from weeds, and the cobbled areas were free from weeds.
At the end of the tenancy the Tribunal heard: a. A general clean was required to wipe down the surfaces to remove marks from light switches and doors, vacuum and mop the floors, wipe down the skirting boards, and clean the bathroom and toilet. b. The carpet in one of the bedrooms was stained and required professional carpet cleaning and stain removal treatment. c. The oven and rangehood, including the filters, racks, and trays, were left grease stained and required cleaning. d. The section was overgrown. The lawns were long and there were weeds growing through the pavers and garden beds.
The landlord provided end of tenancy photographs which proved the cleaning and garden maintenance issues identified.
Following the landlord’s adjustment to the lawn mowing and gardening costs, the tenants took no issue with the amounts claimed. The tenants agreed with the landlord’s assessment of the work required to bring the property up to a reasonably clean and tidy standard.
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 of the Act.
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) of the Act.
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) of the Act. 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) of the Act.
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) of the Act.
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 landlord seeks compensation following damage they say was caused during the tenancy: a. Replacement of shower curtain due to mould/mildew damage; and b. Replacement of a broken Perspex window in the garden shed - $198.95 c. Patch repairs and painting to one wall in a bedroom caused by the removal of an adhesive hook resulting in plaster damage - $258.75
An invoice detailing the amount claimed was provided. The landlord agreed to remove the cost for the ‘painting vehicle charge’. The patch repairs and painting were undertaken by the contracting company on the same day as their staff were undertaking the gardening work. The contracting company claimed two vehicle charges for work completed on the same day. The landlord accepted that this was unreasonable. The vehicle charge was included in the cost award for the lawn mowing and gardening.
The tenants took no issue with the amount claimed and accepted the work undertaken was necessary to repair damage they caused to the property.
The amounts ordered are proved. Other matters
The bond had been refunded in accordance with paragraph 3 of the Order.
Because [The applicant/s] has been substantially successful with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
Both parties seek name suppression. Section 95A of the Act states that a party who has been wholly or substantially successful is entitled to name suppression. Both parties have been substantially successful and are granted suppression.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5466076 — Property damage

At a glance

Award balance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5466076 — Property damage

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

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

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

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