Tenant who never resided at rental still liable for damages

Stuart Brauninger and Karaka Contractors had the lease on the Station Road property from 12 December 2019 and it ended on 23 June 2021. The property was used by Karaka Contractors for its staff.

During the tenancy police broke down the door to execute a search and emailed landlord Anil Sachdeva saying they had found cannabis, methamphetamine and needles.

Sachdeva then had a composite methamphetamine test done which came back positive. He says people living at the house used methamphetamine and/or manufactured it on the premises damaging the house, resulting in him having to pay insurance excess of $3,000.

He applied to the tribunal for rent arrears, compensation, exemplary damages and refund of the bond.