Tenantcheck Insights · Case study
Tenancy Tribunal case 5423814 — Property damage at Unit/Flat 1, 253C Kiripaka Road, Tikipunga, Whangarei
Published 14 April 2026 · Application 5423814
Landlord favoured
- Property damage
- Rent arrears
At a glance
Key facts from the published tribunal order.
Outcome
Landlord favoured
From published order
Location
Whangarei
Tribunal region
Adjudicator
D Watson
Dispute themes
Award balance
Gross awards, any bond applied per the order, and the remaining balance payable.
- Gross award
- $534.93
- Total balance for Tenant to pay Landlord
- $534.93
Claims & awards
What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.
| Claim | Landlord | Tenant | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent arrears | $162.85 | Rent arrears | |
| agreed stain removal and glass repairs | $344.08 | agreed stain removal and glass repairs | |
| Filing fee reimbursement | $28.00 | Filing fee reimbursement | |
| Net award | $534.93 | ||
| Bond | $540.00 | ||
| Total payable by Tenant to Landlord | $534.93 |
Claims and awards for application 5423814 — net $534.93 NZD. Verify on MoJ.
Rent arrears
- Amount
- $162.85
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Rent arrears
agreed stain removal and glass repairs
- Amount
- $344.08
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- agreed stain removal and glass repairs
Filing fee reimbursement
- Amount
- $28.00
- Awarded to
- Landlord
- Reason
- Filing fee reimbursement
Net award
Landlord $534.93
Bond
Landlord $540.00
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord
Landlord $534.93
Claim types — money lines allowed on this order
Order
- Leighanna Rapata to pay Ngati Hine Health Trust $534.93 from the bond, calculated as shown in table below.
- The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $540.00 (6469450-008) immediately apportioned as follows: Ngati Hine Health Trust: $534.93 Leighanna Rapata: $5.07
Reasons
- Both parties attended the hearing.
- The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
- 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 [and water rates]?
- The tenancy ended on [date]. The landlord provided rent records and water rates invoices which prove the amount owing at the end of the tenancy [specify details].
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 leave the premises reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove all rubbish.
- The tenant did not return the keys.
- The following chattels were missing at the end of the tenancy: [list]. The landlord had to replace light bulbs and smoke alarm batteries.
- 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 careless, and occurs after 27 August 2019, section 49B RTA applies. If the landlord becomes aware of the damage after 27 August, the damage is presumed to have occurred after that date unless the tenant proves otherwise.
- 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: [list items]. 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 Ngati Hine Health Trust has wholly succeeded with the claim I must reimburse the filing fee. or
- Because Ngati Hine Health Trust has substantially succeeded with the claim I have reimbursed the filing fee.
Topics & place
Topics are dispute themes across the order (not the same as claim-type money lines).
Residential Tenancies Act sections
s40(1), s40(2), s49B, s49B(1), s49B(3), s49B(3A)
Key findings
- Dispute theme: rent arrears
- Dispute theme: property damage
Property management
- Ngati Hine Health Trust (applicant)
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Tenancy Tribunal case.
What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5423814?
The tribunal order states: Leighanna Rapata to pay Ngati Hine Health Trust $534.93 from the bond,
How much money was awarded in case 5423814?
Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $344.08 awarded to landlord; Rent Arrears: $162.85 awarded to landlord
What type of tenancy dispute was case 5423814?
The primary dispute was Property damage. Related themes: Rent arrears.
Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5423814?
The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13441048-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.