Grey Lynn renter Felino Turner faced multiple disturbances from neighbouring tenants.
The property was a house which had been converted into three flats, and was managed by Central West Property Management.
Turner’s troubles began almost immediately after he and his partner moved in, in April 2023, according to a report published by RNZ.
Incidents included theft of a washing machine, invasion of privacy, threats of violence, and even finding a neighbour hiding in his ceiling cavity.
Turner installed a security camera, capturing various offensive behaviours by individuals frequently seen at an adjoining unit, including urinating on the outside wall of his flat.
Despite reporting 25 incidents and implementing security measures like CCTV, opaque window film, and letterbox locks, Turner felt unsupported by the landlord.
Property manager Scott Hickey responded to Turner’s reports and issued breach notices to the problematic tenants but argued he had taken reasonable steps to ensure Turner’s peace and privacy.
However, the Tenancy Tribunal, led by adjudicator C. Lamdin, found the landlord did not take adequate steps to protect Turner, considering the frequency and seriousness of the incidents. Central West Property Management was ordered to reimburse Turner for his security expenses and pay compensation, reflecting a rent reduction from June 2023 until the tribunal hearing – a total of $935.
Image credit: Joe Gadd
Rats
And what about those who did these awful things, what happened to them, if anything?
Ah yes, housing “intensification”. One of the modern political class’s particularly dumb and insidious new pet obsessions.
Can you imagine anything worse than four families being boxed in and cramped together onto a plot of land really only suitable for one? What happens when there’s a screaming baby? What happens when the screaming baby is yours and the neighbour feels like a 2am session of booze, driveway burnouts and Limp Bizkit?
People need living space, not 30 storey filing cabinets or WEF style prison pods. Jesus.
House + yard + fence. That’s what every family wants. Build them on the land we have. If we start to run out of land, perhaps it’s a sign we should stop importing millions of people from elsewhere. Or is that level of common sense far too dangerous to consider?
With all the changes Jacinda & Co made to building consents etc in Auckland, I hope the local property management companies are prepared for more of this sort of drama 💵