A tough time of it in the Trade Me shack
Tony Hough lived in the Trade Me shack, featured in the Mail in March. The property is also owned by Stephen Field and managed by Black’s Property Management.
When Hough moved into the property, it was dirty, with mouse droppings everywhere, he said. The cabin was powered by an extension cord, and the hot water was unreliable – at one point, he said, he went without hot water for five weeks.
Despite the property’s poor condition, Hough made it his home, working in the garden and making minor repairs. With a dog in tow, it had been difficult to find anywhere else, he said.
When the water at the property ran brown, Hough contacted Black repeatedly to look into the problem. When he was ignored, he had the water tested. The Mail received a copy of the results, which showed e. coli levels 10 times greater than the accepted minimum.
‘‘I was abused on the phone a couple of times, [Black] had heard I was taking her to the tribunal. She told me it wasn’t a big deal going without water.’’
Hough met Black twice in the Tenancy Tribunal, where he outlined problems with the water, the electrics and the bathroom, which flooded when it rained.
Black sought $3619 in costs from Hough, including $2500 for damage to trees, and $960 for changes made to the section. The adjudicator dismissed the claims, with the exception of a $35 claim for water usage.
The adjudicator said the tree damage was pruning that had been agreed with Field. Photos provided at the hearing showed ‘‘evidence of significant attention to the surrounds by the tenant’’, the adjudicator said, and that the changes Hough had made around the section were ‘‘more akin to improvements’’.
Black was ordered to pay Hough $360, which he never received.
After the second hearing, Hough received an insanitary building notice from Nelson City Council (NCC), citing the water contamination and lack of ventilation. Under the notice, he had to move out immediately.
An NCC spokeswoman confirmed that at the time the property was advertised on TradeMe in March, the insanitary notice still stood. Moving a tenant into the property would have been a breach of the order, she said.
‘‘If it was rented without the notice being lifted, Council would take action under the Building Act 2004 to prevent access to the building.’’
Unable to find another home in Nelson, Hough has moved to Christchurch to live with family.
‘‘I’m still gutted,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m walking away so out of pocket.’’