Published tribunal order
Tenancy Tribunal case 5204732 — Rent arrears at 19 Perrin Place, Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North 4414
Decided 9 Jul 2025 · Published 9 Jul 2025 · Application 5204732
Landlord favoured
- Rent arrears
- Property damage
Order
- Craig Stokes must pay Watson Real Estate Limited $7,178.00 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
- This order incorporates the Tribunal order made on 23 October 2024 under application 5010248.
Reasons
- The landlord attended the hearing, conducted via teleconference. The call to the tenant went unanswered with no voicemail option. I was satisfied adequate service had completed and I continued with the hearing after the second call also went unanswered.
- The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy. The bond is already with the landlord.
- A previous mediated order is joined to this order.
- This was a long tenancy that commenced 2 March 2007.
How much is owed for rent?
- The tenancy ended on 24 January 2025. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy are as ordered.
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 remove all rubbish. The landlord provided a series of photos that showed a significant amount of rubbish and abandoned items. The invoice for $700.00 was very reasonable when assessed against the likely effort evidenced in the photos.
- The tenant did not return the keys. A locksmith invoice for $207.00 was provided to confirm the cost incurred.
- The amounts ordered are proved. Previous order
- On 23 October 2024 the Tribunal made a conditional order relating to this tenancy. The previous monetary order is incorporated into this order for enforcement purposes. Filing fee
- Because Watson Real Estate Limited has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.