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October Case Study: Substantial Damage of Property by Dogs

2 October 2023

In addition to other concerns, our primary focus in this tribunal case revolves around the violations related to the housing of dogs, the 'no pets' clause in the Tenancy Agreement and failure to obtain the landlord's approval. The landlord has expressed significant concerns about this matter, particularly due to prior instances of substantial damage inflicted on the property by these dogs. The landlord has reported extensive harm, including the destruction of large sections of the bathroom floor's vinyl, as well as damage to the carpet in both the lounge and bedroom areas. Additionally, the dogs have left scratch marks on the doors leading to the rooms they were housed in on the property. The landlord has provided photographic evidence of these damages and has served the tenant with a 14-day notice addressing the issue. After reviewing all the evidence, the Tenancy Tribunal has determined that it would be unfair to deny the termination of the tenancy. Consequently, the tenancy has been terminated.

REINZ Tip: If a tenant's pet has consistently inflicted substantial damage to the property, despite the landlord's extensive attempts to encourage the tenant to address this issue and collaborate in preserving the tenancy, the Tenancy Tribunal may consider terminating the tenancy if the tenant fails to cooperate with the landlord. Photographic evidence is also crucial to establish the extent of damage to the property.

Read the full case study here