A former tenant has been ordered to pay almost $50,000 for what a tenancy tribunal described as the worst case of rental property damage it has seen.
Alysha Hannaka Lyn Howe caused $48,200 of damage to a Christchurch home after being evicted, according to a ruling released to the New Zealand Herald.
It was one of the most serious cases of intentional damage by a tenant the tribunal had ever seen, adjudicator J. Greene said.
Ms Howe has since turned to social media to refute the claims made against her and alleged the publication is omitting her side of the story.
New Zealand woman Alysha Howe has been ordered to pay almost $50,000 in rental damages to her former landlord
Ms Howe claims her former home was inspected every three months
She rented the four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Christchurch for $450 a week for a year. Pictured left is the kitchen before she moved in
Ms Howe has since gone to social media to refute claims made about her after making national headlines in New Zealand
‘Kitchen appliances and other chattels were ripped out and removed from the premises; plumbing fixtures were removed causing substantial damage due to flooding; walls and a door were extensively scribbled on,’ the tribunal said in its ruling.
‘Carpet throughout the premises was so extensively damaged that it had to be replaced; vanity units were damaged; electrical fittings were ripped out. And there was other significant damage throughout the premises.’
Tests also found methamphetamine contamination at levels suggesting it had been smoked in the house, according to the New Zealand Herald.
‘I get evicted after two months trying to get her to sort the heat pump not blowing hot air, dishwasher not working, asked her put alarm in and fix garage door after I was robbed and fix carpet, which kept growing mushrooms,’ Alysha Howe posted
Ms Howe has since gone on social media to refute the claims made against her and says the publication keeps deleting her side of the story
The damage caused by Alysha Howe was described in the tribunal’s findings as ‘considerable’
Pictured is more shocking damage of the kitchen and living areas
She rented the four-bedroom, two-bathroom home for $450 per week for a year
New Zealand’s Tenancy Tribunal described it as the worst cases of rental property damage it has seen
Howe rented the four-bedroom, two-bathroom home for $450 per week for a year from Champagne Homes prior to her eviction.
According to landlord Yvonne Parker, Howe had kept the house clean and mostly kept on top of her rent until the landlord took a potential buyer through the house, the publication reported.
In an initial tribunal hearing last December which ordered termination of the tenancy, three smoke alarms had been illegally removed, there was mould on the hallway carpet and damage to the cooktop.
The Christchurch home was in pristine condition prior to Ms Howe moving in, according to the landlord
‘Have six months of emails asking her fix the pipes in walls leaking house was never tested before I moved in,’ Alysha Howe posted on Saturday.
‘A large number of photographs, taken by the applicant during recent inspections of the premises, were produced as evidence during the hearing,’ the initial finding states.
‘In addition, written reports and quotations from contractors were produced in relation to some of the items of damage. The applicant’s evidence was that the premises were newly renovated immediately prior to the commencement of this tenancy,’
The damage was described as ‘considerable’.
‘I find that the applicant proved that it is more probable than not that the tenant has caused, or permitted to be caused, substantial damage to the premises,’ it said.
‘The damage listed is “considerable” whether viewed in terms of amount or quantity and whether considered in totality or in respect of just some the more ‘serious’ items of damage such as the removal of the smoke alarms, the carpet, the vanity cabinet, the drawn-on walls or the light fittings.’
Landlord Yvonne Parker posted before and after shots of the home on social media this week to warn other landlords about Ms Howe
The landlord is in the process of selling her rental homes following the recent nightmare
‘I find that the applicant proved that it is more probable than not that the tenant (pictured) has caused, or permitted to be caused, substantial damage to the premises,’ the tribunal stated.
The landlord posted before and after shots of the home on social media to warn others about former tenant Alysha Howe (pictured)
This week following the second ruling, Ms Parker posted before and after shots of the home on social media to warn other landlords about Ms Howe.
‘Attention all landlords,’ she posted.
‘Beware of renting to this person: Alysha Hannaka Lyn Howe, also goes by Barbie Howe. She has caused over $60,000 in damages to my property. Besides the visual damage, the house was contaminated by the use of methamphetame, or P as it is also known. The courts considered this to be one of the worst cases of willful damage they have seen.’
Ms Parker is now in the process of selling her rental homes following the recent nightmare.
‘There has to be consequences for tenants like this. Something has to change,’ one woman commented.
Another posted: ‘I hope our politicians would introduce laws someday that this kind of peculiar behaviour and damages be considered criminal in nature rather than just plain civil.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Howe for comment.
Ms Howe refuted claims on social media and said the property was inspected every three months.
‘Have six months of emails asking her fix the pipes in walls leaking house was never tested before I moved in,’ she posted on Saturday.
‘I get evicted after two months trying to get her to sort the heat pump not blowing hot air, dishwasher not working, asked her put alarm in and fix garage door after I was robbed and fix carpet, which kept growing mushrooms.’
Alysha Howe caused so much grief for her former landlord that she’s now in the process of selling her rental homes following the recent nightmare
The spotless bathroom before Ms Howe moved in
Bathroom cabinet doors and drawers were ripped out
Alysha Howe had kept the house clean and mostly kept on top of her rent until the landlord took a potential buyer through the house