South Auckland tenant awarded $7k over illegal bedroom, roof leak, no insulationIn a ruling by the Gisborne Tenancy Tribunal on December 12, Cottle was ordered to pay his tenant $3300 in exemplary damages for failing to insulate during the tenancy that ended in September, but as the tenant had failed to pay $6450 in rent, the landlord didn t have to hand over any money. Adjudicator K Goldsbury found Cottle s failure to insulate was an intentional act, saying there had been a lot of publicity during Cottle s ownership of the house advising landlords of their insulation obligations and the timeframes. To impose exemplary damages, a tribunal referee must be satisfied a landlord has committed an intentional act, Goldsbury said.