What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 4978527?

The tribunal order states: Tavake Leha must pay Charles Investments Limited $1,919.86 immediately,

How much money was awarded in case 4978527?

Filing Fee: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Lightbulbs: $19.90 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $700.00 awarded to landlord; Door Knobs: $10.46 awarded to landlord; Painting Marks To Walls: $874.00 awarded to landlord; Window Handles: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $261.50 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 4978527?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 4978527?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/11096281-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 4978527?

The tribunal order states: Tavake Leha must pay Charles Investments Limited $1,919.86 immediately,

How much money was awarded in case 4978527?

Filing Fee: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Lightbulbs: $19.90 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $700.00 awarded to landlord; Door Knobs: $10.46 awarded to landlord; Painting Marks To Walls: $874.00 awarded to landlord; Window Handles: $27.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $261.50 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 4978527?

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

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 4978527?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/11096281-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

17A Solent Street, Mangere, Auckland 2022 Tenancy Tribunal Case 4978527 — Property damage

Reasons

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 4978527 — net $1,919.86 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 13 September 2024	$700.00	Rent arrears to 13 September 2024
Repairs: Painting marks to walls	$874.00	Repairs: Painting marks to walls
Window repairs: Lounge	$261.50	Window repairs: Lounge
Repairs: window handles	$27.00	Repairs: window handles
Repairs: Door knobs	$10.46	Repairs: Door knobs
Light bulbs/batteries	$19.90	Light bulbs/batteries
Filing fee reimbursement	$27.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$1,919.86
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,919.86

The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant was called twice, neither call was answered. I am satisfied that the tenant has been served with a copy of the notice of hearing and therefore I have proceeded to hear the matter in the tenant’s absence.

The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy which ended on the 13 September shortly after the landlord filed the application for termination.

How much is owed for rent?

The tenancy ended on 13 September 2024. 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 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 landlord had to replace light bulbs.

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: • Gouge in bedroom wall. • Scribbling on door and wall in bedroom • Broken window in the lounge. • 2x Broken window latches • Broken door handles/ mechanism

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 Charles Investments Limited has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 4978527 — net $1,919.86 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Rent arrears to 13 September 2024	$700.00	Rent arrears to 13 September 2024
Repairs: Painting marks to walls	$874.00	Repairs: Painting marks to walls
Window repairs: Lounge	$261.50	Window repairs: Lounge
Repairs: window handles	$27.00	Repairs: window handles
Repairs: Door knobs	$10.46	Repairs: Door knobs
Light bulbs/batteries	$19.90	Light bulbs/batteries
Filing fee reimbursement	$27.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$1,919.86
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$1,919.86

Order

Tavake Leha must pay Charles Investments Limited $1,919.86 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.

Reasons

The landlord attended the hearing. The tenant was called twice, neither call was answered. I am satisfied that the tenant has been served with a copy of the notice of hearing and therefore I have proceeded to hear the matter in the tenant’s absence.
The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy which ended on the 13 September shortly after the landlord filed the application for termination.

How much is owed for rent?

The tenancy ended on 13 September 2024. 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 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 landlord had to replace light bulbs.
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: • Gouge in bedroom wall. • Scribbling on door and wall in bedroom • Broken window in the lounge. • 2x Broken window latches • Broken door handles/ mechanism
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 Charles Investments Limited has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.

Tenancy Tribunal case 4978527 — Property damage at 17A Solent Street, Mangere, Auckland 2022

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 4978527 — Property damage at 17A Solent Street, Mangere, Auckland 2022

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

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

Property management

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

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

Property management

Frequently asked questions