What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5429793?

The tribunal order states: William Lawton must pay Kgim Limited $674.25 immediately, calculated as

How much money was awarded in case 5429793?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $1,926.25 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5429793?

The primary dispute was Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5429793?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13751494-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

What was the outcome of Tenancy Tribunal case 5429793?

The tribunal order states: William Lawton must pay Kgim Limited $674.25 immediately, calculated as

How much money was awarded in case 5429793?

Filing Fee: $28.00 awarded to landlord; Property Damage: $1,926.25 awarded to landlord

What type of tenancy dispute was case 5429793?

The primary dispute was Property damage.

Where can I read the official tribunal order for case 5429793?

The official Ministry of Justice published order is available at https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/TTV2/PDF/13751494-Tenancy_Tribunal_Order.pdf.

Room 5, 33 Ada Street, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North 4410 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5429793 — Property damage

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Room 5, 33 Ada Street, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North 4410 Tenancy Tribunal Case 5429793 — Property damage | TenantCheck

Claims & awards

What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5429793 — net $674.25 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Damage Repairs	$1,926.25	Damage Repairs
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$674.25
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$674.25

Claims and awards for application 5429793 — net $674.25 NZD. Verify on MoJ.

Damage Repairs

Amount: $1,926.25
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Damage Repairs

Filing fee reimbursement

Amount: $28.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Filing fee reimbursement

Net award

Landlord $674.25

Total payable by Tenant to Landlord

Landlord $674.25

Claim types — money lines allowed on this order

Filing Fee Property damage

Order

William Lawton must pay Kgim Limited $674.25 immediately, calculated as shown in table below:
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,280.00 (BN-07647328) to Kgim Limited immediately.

Reasons

The applicant attended the hearing. The respondent did not attend by was represented by the tenants union.
The applicant advised that, on 10 December 2025 at 1:04 pm, they received an email requesting that a property manager attend the property because the house was being "smashed up".
When the property managers arrived, the tenant who had sent the email advised that the respondent had been walking around the house naked and had been smashing holes in the walls and doors. The applicant says that a relative of the complainant was also present at the property and confirmed this account.
The property managers arranged for an ambulance to attend, and the Police were also called due to concerns that the respondent was intoxicated. The Police attended the property and arrested the respondent.
The applicant subsequently issued a notice to terminate the tenancy.
The applicant advised the respondent that payment would be required for the damage caused to the property. The respondent indicated that they wished to arrange for their own contractor to undertake the repairs. The applicant says they provided the respondent with information about how this could be achieved, but the respondent never followed up.
The applicant has provided photographs showing holes in the walls and a door caused by the application of blunt force. In addition to the photographs, the applicant has provided an invoice in the sum of $1,926.25 for the repair of the damage.
The respondent did not attend the hearing but was represented by the Tenants' Union. The respondent's representative disputed liability for the repair costs on the basis that there was no proof that the damage had been caused by the respondent.
The representative also provided handwritten notes from the respondent which appeared to suggest that the damage occurred as a result of the respondent being kidnapped. However, the representative also confirmed that the respondent had been arrested and trespassed from the property on the day in question.
On the balance of probabilities, I find the landlord's account of events to be more likely than that advanced by the respondent. The respondent's representative did not provide any evidence that materially contradicted the applicant's evidence, other than submitting that there was insufficient proof that the respondent caused the damage. I accept the version of events presented by the applicant.
Further, the landlord was under no obligation to permit the respondent to undertake the repairs personally. In any event, I am satisfied that the applicant provided the respondent with an opportunity to arrange the repairs and that the respondent failed to follow through.
I am also satisfied that the damage occurred in breach of section 40(2)(a), which prohibits a tenant from intentionally or carelessly damaging, or permitting any other person to damage, the premises. I am satisfied that the damage was intentional and that the repair costs claimed were reasonably incurred.
Accordingly, the sum of $1,926.25 is awarded.
As the applicant has been successful in the application, the filing fee is also awarded.

Claims & awards

What this tenancy cost at tribunal — claim, category, amount, and party awarded, with reconciled net total.

Claims and awards in Tenancy Tribunal application 5429793 — net $674.25 NZD. Amounts reconciled from the published order (claims sum and net total). Verify on MoJ.
Claim	Landlord	Reason
Damage Repairs	$1,926.25	Damage Repairs
Filing fee reimbursement	$28.00	Filing fee reimbursement
Net award	$674.25
Total payable by Tenant to Landlord	$674.25

Claims and awards for application 5429793 — net $674.25 NZD. Verify on MoJ.

Damage Repairs

Amount: $1,926.25
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Damage Repairs

Filing fee reimbursement

Amount: $28.00
Awarded to: Landlord
Reason: Filing fee reimbursement

Net award

Landlord $674.25

Total payable by Tenant to Landlord

Landlord $674.25

Claim types — money lines allowed on this order

Filing Fee Property damage

Order

William Lawton must pay Kgim Limited $674.25 immediately, calculated as shown in table below:
The Bond Centre is to pay the bond of $1,280.00 (BN-07647328) to Kgim Limited immediately.

Reasons

The applicant attended the hearing. The respondent did not attend by was represented by the tenants union.
The applicant advised that, on 10 December 2025 at 1:04 pm, they received an email requesting that a property manager attend the property because the house was being "smashed up".
When the property managers arrived, the tenant who had sent the email advised that the respondent had been walking around the house naked and had been smashing holes in the walls and doors. The applicant says that a relative of the complainant was also present at the property and confirmed this account.
The property managers arranged for an ambulance to attend, and the Police were also called due to concerns that the respondent was intoxicated. The Police attended the property and arrested the respondent.
The applicant subsequently issued a notice to terminate the tenancy.
The applicant advised the respondent that payment would be required for the damage caused to the property. The respondent indicated that they wished to arrange for their own contractor to undertake the repairs. The applicant says they provided the respondent with information about how this could be achieved, but the respondent never followed up.
The applicant has provided photographs showing holes in the walls and a door caused by the application of blunt force. In addition to the photographs, the applicant has provided an invoice in the sum of $1,926.25 for the repair of the damage.
The respondent did not attend the hearing but was represented by the Tenants' Union. The respondent's representative disputed liability for the repair costs on the basis that there was no proof that the damage had been caused by the respondent.
The representative also provided handwritten notes from the respondent which appeared to suggest that the damage occurred as a result of the respondent being kidnapped. However, the representative also confirmed that the respondent had been arrested and trespassed from the property on the day in question.
On the balance of probabilities, I find the landlord's account of events to be more likely than that advanced by the respondent. The respondent's representative did not provide any evidence that materially contradicted the applicant's evidence, other than submitting that there was insufficient proof that the respondent caused the damage. I accept the version of events presented by the applicant.
Further, the landlord was under no obligation to permit the respondent to undertake the repairs personally. In any event, I am satisfied that the applicant provided the respondent with an opportunity to arrange the repairs and that the respondent failed to follow through.
I am also satisfied that the damage occurred in breach of section 40(2)(a), which prohibits a tenant from intentionally or carelessly damaging, or permitting any other person to damage, the premises. I am satisfied that the damage was intentional and that the repair costs claimed were reasonably incurred.
Accordingly, the sum of $1,926.25 is awarded.
As the applicant has been successful in the application, the filing fee is also awarded.

Tenancy Tribunal case 5429793 — Property damage at Room 5, 33 Ada Street, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North 4410

At a glance

Tenancy Tribunal case 5429793 — Property damage at Room 5, 33 Ada Street, Hokowhitu, Palmerston North 4410

At a glance

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions

Award balance

Claims & awards

Order

Reasons

Topics & place

Residential Tenancies Act sections

Key findings

Property management

Frequently asked questions