How much money was awarded in case 5486583?

Cleaning: $89.98 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $233.45 awarded to landlord; Replace Bathroom Heat Lamp: $11.31 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5486583?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5486583?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13902631-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

How much money was awarded in case 5486583?

Cleaning: $89.98 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $233.45 awarded to landlord; Replace Bathroom Heat Lamp: $11.31 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5486583?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5486583?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13902631-Tribunal_Order_Redacted.pdf.

27A Beaver Road, Blenheim, Blenheim 7201 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5486583 — Property damage

Q: What was Tenancy Tribunal case 5486583 about?

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

Tenantcheck Insights

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5486583 — net $334.74 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Repair and paint wall in bedroom 1	$233.45	Repair and paint wall in bedroom 1
Clean marks from upholstery	$89.98	Clean marks from upholstery
Replace bathroom heat lamp	$11.31	Replace bathroom heat lamp
Net award	$334.74
Bond	$2,640.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$334.74

An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the tenants’ names and identifying details.

[The tenant/s] to pay NCO Properties Limited as agent for Margaret Simcox $334.74 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below:

The application for cleaning, replacing light bulbs and putting out the council bins is dismissed

The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $2,640.00 ([Bond number suppressed]) immediately apportioned as follows: NCO Properties Limited as agent for Margaret Simcox: $334.74 [The tenant/s]: $2,305.26

Reasons

Both parties attended the hearing which I conducted by video.

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

The tenants’ application is a defence to the landlord’s application. The only order sought by the tenants is a refund of their bond. I note that because the tenants raised issues that occurred during the tenancy, such as a blocked toilet, but that issue is not before the Tribunal on their application.

The tenancy started on 30 August 2024 and ended on 22 March 2026, though the tenants left on or about 18 March to relocate to Christchurch.

The landlord raised some end of tenancy issues with the tenants, but they could not agree on how to resolve them. The landlord’s claims

The landlord has the following claims: •Repair and paint the wall in bedroom 1 - $233.45 •Cleaning a mattress and couch cushions - $284.25 •Replacing light bulbs - $33.89 •Cleaning and putting the council rubbish bins out - $201.25 Law

At the end of a 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 1 .

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 2 . Discussion

I have considered all the evidence the parties placed before the Tribunal including the photographic evidence, even if I do not specifically refer to it.

I find the landlord’s claim for the repair and painting of the bedroom wall proved. The damage is beyond fair wear and tear; it is careless damage for which the tenants are liable.

I find the landlord’s claim for cleaning the couch cushions proved. The marks on the cushions were probably caused during the tenancy and it was reasonable for the landlord to have them cleaned.

The mark on the mattress was minor. The evidence does not establish that the tenants caused that mark carelessly. It was under a mattress protector which the tenants said they never removed.

Generally, tenants are not liable for replacing light bulbs that have blown, only for the replacement cost of bulbs that are removed. The tenants accepted that they removed a heat lamp from the bathroom, and they accepted liability for that. I award the landlord the replacement cost of that light bulb. Beyond that, the replacement of light bulbs is generally considered a maintenance issue.

I dismiss the landlord’s claims for cleaning and for putting out the council bins.

First, tenants are only responsible to ensure that premises are left reasonably clean, not clean to a standard where a new tenancy can immediately commence.

Second, the landlord emailed the tenants on 13 July 2026 and said in part: As discussed, I have had to clean the fly dirt off the down lights and also had to clean the windows and mirrors as they were very smeary. I have also unclogged the Dyson 1 See section 40(1)(e)(ii)-(v) Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (RTA) 2 See sections 40(2)(a), 41 and 49B RTA Vacuum cleaner and emptied and cleaned the filter of the stick vacuum. For these items, we will not charge you.

The tenants were entitled to rely on that communication. I find that the landlord accepted this work and confirmed that the tenants would not be charged for it.

Putting out the council bins required almost no effort. The tenants said the landlord told them he would do that for them. I accept their evidence about that. Result

The landlord’s claims are successful in the sum of $334.74 only. The bond will be split between the parties - $334.74 to the landlord and $2,305.26 to the tenants.

I make no order reimbursing the filing fees the parties paid. Both parties have succeeded in part. An award to one party would be cancelled by an award to the other. Name suppression

The landlord did not seek name suppression. The tenants sought name suppression. I have made an order suppressing the tenants’ names and identifying details because they have succeeded in their defence to some of the landlord’s claims.

Order

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5486583 — net $334.74 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Repair and paint wall in bedroom 1	$233.45	Repair and paint wall in bedroom 1
Clean marks from upholstery	$89.98	Clean marks from upholstery
Replace bathroom heat lamp	$11.31	Replace bathroom heat lamp
Net award	$334.74
Bond	$2,640.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$334.74