The District Court has held that a tenant who painted kitchen cupboards with a colour that did not match the existing colour caused intentional damage to the cupboards and was liable to the landlord for the cost of repairs.

This was in addition to their undisputed liability for damage to walls, caused by the tenant and others punching holes in the walls.

If a tenant damages the landlord’s property they cannot be held liable for damage to the landlord should the landlord have insurance to cover that type of damage unless the damage is intentional by the tenant.  Choosing to touch up damage to the kitchen cupboards with a colour which did not match the rest of the cupboards was held to be intentional damage.




Alan Knowsley