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Now it’s a familiar scene to owner Matt Hareb.
Damages at two of his rental properties include blocked and overflowing toilets, broken walls and windows, damaged kitchens, stained carpets, discarded clothing, and fire pits in the front yard.
The disaster will cost Hareb, an earthmoving contractor who owns 20 rental properties around Taranaki, more than $ 20,000 to repair.
Her grandparents had rentals and she decided to move into the business to give herself something to lean on.
But now he’s not so sure and says landlords have fewer rights than ever to evict troubled tenants.
Last month he had to evict tenants from three rental properties in Waitara for excessive damage and bad behavior.
A tour of Things of two of those properties revealed the damages caused by the respective tenants: a single mother with two teenagers and a group of 2-3 adults.
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At the first property, discarded clothes, shoes, and dishes were thrown both inside and out.
A fire pit in the front lawn showed where tenants had burned trash, while deep tire marks in the large open space were evidence that cars were doing wheelies.
Interior walls were smashed, closet doors ripped off hinges, and carpets stained.
The toilet was blocked, but that hadn’t deterred tenants from using it until it overflowed with human waste, Hareb said.
On the second property, the scene of destruction was very similar, apart from a pile of rabbit droppings in a bedroom and attempts to repair holes in the broken walls.
ANDY JACKSON / Stuff
Landlord Matt Hareb has evicted tenants at three rented properties in the last month for willful damage and misconduct.
Both properties had been extensively renovated 18 months ago with new carpets, kitchens and bathrooms before they were rented out, Hareb said.
Repairs will cost you more than $ 10,000 per property, with little chance of insurance paying, he said.
Mortgages, fees and insurance premiums will still have to be paid while the properties are vacant.
“People keep saying that landlords charge high rents and don’t offer quality rents, but I’m sick of landlords getting a bad rap,” he said.
“We work hard to make our properties livable and this is the result.”
Hareb said that despite the evaluation, tenants lie, use drugs and have friends write references for them.
“It is very difficult to project them when sad stories occur to them.”
Hareb issued a 14-day notice to a group of tenants within three months of their move.
“We were getting to the point of eviction when Covid-19 hit and we had to wait until it was over to issue a 90-day eviction notice,” he said.
ANDY JACKSON / Stuff
Tenants left a trail of destruction, damaging new kitchens and bathrooms and breaking holes in the walls of three apartments owned by owner Matt Hareb.
“Work and Income NZ (WINZ) begged me to return them, but I said no.”
Under the Residential Leasing Act, if tenants inadvertently damage a rental property, they are liable for up to four weeks of rent, or the owner’s insurance excess, whichever is less.
Under leasing regulations, landlords must give a good reason to vacate.
Property damage is not enough on its own, Hareb said.
“You are going to lease court and you need a good reason to evict them.
“For property damage, the tenant can always claim that the cause was general wear and tear.
“The court may require a minimum payment of $ 5 per week, but you will be lucky if you get half before they disappear.”
