Landlord from hell evicts tenants who complained about horrific mould problem in their rental home – but they have the last laugh
- Three people were evicted from the same property within an 18-month period
- All former tenants complained about unhygienic living conditions and mould
- One family lost invaluable items to mould damage, including their kids treasures
A stingy landlord who repeatedly evicted tenants because they complained about excessive dampness and mould has been ordered to pay $6,000 in damages.
Three people were evicted from the Taumarunui property on the north island of New Zealand after asking the property managers at Harcourts to install heating, and fix ongoing mould issues.
Former tenants Glynn Redshaw and Kelly Lunam told Daily Mail Australia the house was so unhygienic it made their young family sick.
A stingy landlord who repeatedly evicted tenants from a property (pictured) because they complained about excessive dampness and mould has been ordered to pay $6,000 in damages
Three people were evicted from the Taumarunui property on the north island of New Zealand after asking the property managers at Harcourts to install heating, and fix ongoing mould issues (pictured)
‘We had constant migraines and were just about always sick. Kelly got hives from cleaning the mould, and my daughter spent a lot of time home from school sick.’
The dad-of-two also explained some of his young family’s most treasured possessions were destroyed because they rotted.
‘It was little things that added up,’ he explained.
‘The most valuable items were the kids photos and certificates that were ruined by mould – they were invaluable.’
Former tenants Glynn Redshaw and Kelly Lunam told Daily Mail Australia the house was so unhygienic it made their young family sick, and the owners refused to fix the issues for years (pictured)
After submitting the repairs request, Harcourts tried to blame the family for the damp issues (pictured), and issued them with a 90-day eviction notice
After submitting the repairs request, Harcourts tried to blame the family for the damp issues, and issued them with a 90-day eviction notice.
The next tenant Jazmin Thomsen was given the same notice after she complained about the living conditions and requested an inspection from the local council, New Zealand Herald reported.
She then found out she was the second tenant in 18 months facing eviction, and was annoyed when she realised she’d been allowed to live in a house the property managers knew wasn’t healthy.
Both parties took the issue to the Tenancy Tribunal, which found Harcourts Taumarunui did not keep the place in a reasonable state of repair.
A report by the Tenancy Tribunal found the place was badly affected by damp and mould (pictured)
‘Before having met each other or brought these applications these tenants and Thomsen reported exactly the same issues with cold, dampness and mould at the premises,’ the report said.
‘That suggests to me that the accumulation and growth of mould in the premises was more than as a result the tenants’ failure to keep the family premises reasonably clean and tidy.’
The report also said Ms Thomsen didn’t have a working shower when she lived there, the concrete steps were a hazard, and the place was badly affected by damp and mould.
Mr Redshaw (pictured with his partner, Kelly Lunam) said his family’s costs weren’t fully covered, but that their motivation for going to court was to hold the owners accountable.
Harcourts was ordered to pay Ms Thomsen $4,220 and Ms Lunam and Mr Redshaw $1,650 in compensation and damages.
Mr Redshaw said his family’s costs weren’t fully covered, but that their motivation for going to court was to hold the owners accountable.
‘We wanted them held accountable and to clear accusations blaming us for the mould and damp in the house, and we didn’t want anyone else to have to deal with it.’
Daily Mail Australia contacted Harcourts for comment.