Tenant liability

Roger asks:
(updated on Wednesday, March 07th 2018)

I am aware of the tenancy decision where a tenant caused a fire and was not liable as it was an accident. I'm just wondering would the decision be different if the tenant was using a gas cooker (which is not provided by landlord, and is against council regulations) on the stove top? 

Our Experts Answer:

It is difficult to predict what would be the result of a different scenario without having access to all the facts. The case of Holler & Rouse v Osaki was about damage unintentionally caused by a tenant where the landlord is covered by insurance. In those circumstances the Court decided that a residential tenant has the same protection as a commercial tenant under the Property Law Act 2007.

You have not said whether your tenant has caused a fire, or whether you are simply exploring the possibility. In this instance I cannot give you an answer. It depends on the decision of the Tenancy Tribunal in a given fact situation.

Most Read

AIA - Go Home Loans 4.00
Unity First Home Buyer special 4.15
SBS FirstHome Combo 4.29
ICBC 4.49
Kainga Ora 4.59
SBS Bank Special 4.69
Unity Special 4.80
China Construction Bank 4.85
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special 4.89
TSB Special 4.99
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 4.99
China Construction Bank 4.95
Kainga Ora 4.95
ICBC 4.99
SBS Bank Special 5.29
Unity Special 5.29
Westpac Special 5.29
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special 5.29
ANZ Special 5.35
ASB Bank 5.35
BNZ - Std 5.35
AIA - Go Home Loans 5.35
SBS Bank Special 5.49
ICBC 5.65
Kainga Ora 5.69
ASB Bank 5.75
BNZ - Std 5.75
AIA - Go Home Loans 5.75
Westpac Special 5.75
Kiwibank Special 5.89
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special 5.89
TSB Special 5.99
China Construction Bank 5.99
SBS FirstHome Combo 3.29
AIA - Back My Build 3.34
SBS Construction lending for FHB 3.79
CFML 321 Loans 4.20
ICBC 5.39
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 5.69
Co-operative Bank - Standard 5.69
Kainga Ora 5.79
Pepper Money Prime 5.99
Unity Standard 6.04
Unity Special 6.04