Tenant kicked out after threatening to blow up truck
A Te Aroha tenant has been kicked out of her rental after threatening to push her landlord down stairs and blow up their truck.
The woman moved into the property on January 29 and was issued a 42-day termination notice on March 3 after a slew of antisocial behaviour, according to a Tenancy Tribunal decision.
This included neighbours complaining about abusive language, loud music and noise from the flat and an elderly tenant from the block of flats getting in a fight with the woman after complaining about the noise. There was also a fight on February 28 between the tenant, her friend and another person, which involved a baseball bat. When the termination notice was given the tenant threatened to hit her landlord in the face, push her down the stairs and blow up their truck. She was told to leave the unit by midnight on Tuesday, May 5 and pay the landlord $1140.44
The property is one of six tightlylocated flats owned by the landlord.
When the woman initially moved in it was her and her two children.
However, a friend of the tenant was bailed to live there and later, a man also came to live at the property.
Neighbours continuously complained to police and noise control about disturbances, abusive language and breaches of the lockdown rules. They also complained about a visitor bringing an unrestrained dog to the premises and the tenant’s visitors trespassing onto other properties and looking into windows.
In one incident the visitor entered the neighbour’s house.
Residents said they did not feel safe in their homes because of the behaviour of the tenant and her visitors.
Tribunal adjudicator J Smith found the activities of the tenant and her visitors caused significant alarm, distress and nuisance to the landlords, their other tenants, and people living in the neighbourhood. There was nothing about the circumstances of the antisocial behaviour that would mean terminating the tenancy was unfair to the tenant.
There were fewer limitations on the tenant finding alternative accommodation now the Covid-19 response had reduced to level 3 and the tenant had not paid any rent since March 4, so Smith said there should not be any financial barrier.
Restrictions were put in place by the Government during coronavirus in regard to the grounds the tribunal could order the termination of a tenancy. However, it allowed antisocial behaviour as a reason for termination to go ahead.
The landlords sought termination on the grounds of antisocial behaviour, rent arrears, exemplary damages, disposal of goods, refund of the bond and reimbursement of the filing fee.
The hearing was held by teleconference due to restrictions, and while the landlord was present the tenant did not answer calls to the number provided. The landlord was awarded the bond.