In November a Te Aroha tenant was ordered to pay only $50.44 on top of their $820 bond after creating $25,000 worth of damage for smashed holes in the wall, ruined carpets and several broken doors and windows. The tenant even admitted to the damage, including using a crowbar to enter the property when she locked herself out.
So Why was the Tenant Charged So Little?
Under the Tenancy Act the landlord is required to produce evidence to prove that the tenant has caused any damage during the tenancy.
Unfortunately for the landlord Peter Spitters, he did not take any photos before the tenancy, he had stopped regularly inspecting the property, and neither the landlord nor the tenant could give an accurate account of when inspections took place either.
No photographic evidence meant the landlord could not prove the tenant caused the damage.
The Lesson
He said, she said doesn’t work in Tenancy Tribunal. You need hard evidence if you want to make a claim as a landlord.
At Quinovic, our Property Managers take hundreds of photos recording the condition of the property at the beginning of each tenancy, plus additional photos of any concerns at each property inspection every 3 months. Final inspection photos are then used to compare, showing tenants why their bond is needed. Tenants know we keep a close eye on the rental properties we manage, which discourages them from causing any issues in the property.
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