Tenant damage ruling overturned

The case involved a Foxton tenant who let her dogs urinate in the house she rented – even though the tenancy agreement specified no pets were allowed.

The damage was such that carpets throughout the house had to be replaced.

While the Tribunal adjudicator accepted the damage was due to animal urine, it found that, although the tenant had breached the agreement, the landlord hadn’t established the damage was intentional.

For this reason, the adjudicator did not require the tenant to pay for the cost of replacing the carpet or the lost rental costs.