FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tenancy Tribunal makes a move in the right direction for property damage claims
13 October 2016
Last week property manager and landlord Keith Powell was successful in winning a case brought to the Tenancy Tribunal
where, among other things, the carpet and curtains in a room of the rental property were damaged by the five cats that
were kept closed in the room.
The outcome has been seen as a small win for landlords nationwide who are experiencing the impacts of the Osaki case,
which demonstrates that landlords who are insured will be required to cover the cost of damage caused by tenants if it
can be proved that the damage was unintentional.
Recently a case in Foxton, where a tenant’s dog had soiled the carpets to an uncleanable state, the Tribunal did not
conclude that the tenant intentionally caused the damage. This resulted in the landlord covering the cost to replace the
damaged carpets – a cost which amounted to insurance claims of over $25,000.
Powell, owner and operator of Nice Place Property Management in Newtown, took his case to the Tenancy Tribunal for
damages against the tenant for not leaving the room in a ‘reasonably clean condition’ after the tenant left the
premises. Having followed recent Tribunal cases Powell was not sure it would go in his favour.
However having presented the case appropriately and accurately the adjudicator established that the tenant had ‘made
decisions about the use of the room where her actions would clearly lead to damage to the carpet and curtains,’ and
concluded that ‘her actions [were] intentional and therefore [found] her liable for the damage.’
Powell believes that his win for his client is a good step in the right direction for the Tribunal and will help other
property managers and landlords win Tribunal decisions in cases of proving intent.
“We [property managers] felt like we were fighting an uphill battle with the Tribunal. The precedent set by the Osaki
and Foxton cases was bad news for landlords – you could just see the insurance premiums rising, but now with this small
win I hope other landlords will not let ‘Osaki’ stop them in their tracks.” says Powell.
Last night Powell put the notice about his Tribunal win on the national Property Talk forum and had an overwhelming
response from other property managers.
ENDS