Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5380601 — Rent arrears at Unit/Flat Unit 1, 15 Paritutu Road, Spotswood, New
Published 27 January 2026 · Application 5380601
- Rent arrears
- Cleanliness
- Property damage
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
New Plymouth
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
M Brennan
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $2,061.33
- Bond payment as ordered
- −$1,580.00
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $481.33
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent arrears 18 Oct 2025 | $1,636.43 | Rent arrears 18 Oct 2025 | |
| Filing fee reimbursement | $28.00 | Filing fee reimbursement | |
| Cleaning | $207.00 | Cleaning | |
| Rubbish removal | $45.00 | Rubbish removal | |
| Curtain cleaning | $64.40 | Curtain cleaning | |
| Repairs: Cat scratches | $80.50 | Repairs: Cat scratches | |
| Net award | $481.33 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $481.33 |
Claims and awards for application 5380601 — net $481.33 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Rent arrears 18 Oct 2025
- Amount
- $1,636.43
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rent arrears 18 Oct 2025
Filing fee reimbursement
- Amount
- $28.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Filing fee reimbursement
Cleaning
- Amount
- $207.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Cleaning
Rubbish removal
- Amount
- $45.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rubbish removal
Curtain cleaning
- Amount
- $64.40
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Curtain cleaning
Repairs: Cat scratches
- Amount
- $80.50
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Repairs: Cat scratches
Net award
Landlord $481.33
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $481.33
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Taleisha Maree Shramka must pay Property Brokers Limited As Agents For Bradburn Assets Ltd $481.33 immediately, calculated as shown in table below.
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,580.00 (BN-00051312) to Property Brokers Limited As Agents For Bradburn Assets Ltd immediately.
Reasons
- The landlord attended the hearing, set down to be conducted via video conference. There was no entry into the conference by the tenant, nor any prior contact with the Registry. A call to the tenant was attempted but unsuccessful. I was satisfied adequate service had completed and I continued with the hearing after the call went unanswered.
- The landlord has applied for rent arrears, compensation, refund of the bond, and reimbursement of the filing fee following the end of the tenancy.
How much is owed for rent?
- The tenancy ended on 28 October 2025. The landlord provided rent records which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy was $1,636.43.
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.
- The landlord provided entry and exit photos. Much of the premises was in reasonable condition but the shower and sinks, plus the oven, required further cleaning effort to return them to a reasonable condition. Some rubbish left in bins had to be emptied. The two invoiced amounts of $207.00 and $45.00 are awarded.
- The tenant had two cats, permitted under the tenancy agreement. The curtains showed areas of cat hair and dirt that necessitated the cleaning of the curtains at a cost of $64.40, as invoiced. This is awarded.
- 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.
- 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.
- Minor damage to the paint finish of several windowsills was evidenced. The landlord claims the damage was caused by the two cats. The premises was new at commencement. The damage is more than fair wear and tear, and the tenant has not disproved liability for the damage. The landlord provided an invoice of $80.50 for the repainting. This is awarded. Filing fee
- Because Property Brokers Limited As Agents For Bradburn Assets Ltd has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee.
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Residential Tenancies Act sections
s18, s40(1), s40(2), s49B(1), s49B(3)
Key findings
- Dispute theme: rent arrears
- Dispute theme: cleaning
- Dispute theme: property damage
Property management
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5380601?
The tribunal order states: Taleisha Maree Shramka must pay Property Brokers Limited As Agents For
How much money was awarded in case 5380601?
Cleaning: $207.00 awarded to landlord; Cleaning: $64.40 awarded to landlord; Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $1,636.43 awarded to landlord; Cat Scratches: $80.50 awarded to landlord; Rubbish Removal: $45.00 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5380601?
The primary dispute was Rent arrears. Related themes: Cleanliness, Property damage.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5380601?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13026512-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.