‘Mouldy rental’ met homes standards
Last year, more than 9500 children aged under six were hospitalised with illnesses possibly caused by poor housing
The health of Christchurch woman Suzanne Sutherland and her 10-year-old daughter was deteriorating.
Multiple doctors certificates, seen by The Press, said their illnesses were likely housing-related. However, the home met healthy homes standards and Sutherland’s Tenancy Tribunal cases failed.
The mother and daughter moved into a central Christchurch apartment in December 2019. Their health declined over 2020, but it was a gradual process, flanked by Covid-19 lockdowns and stresses in their personal lives.
Sutherland took action in May 2021, telling her property manager she thought the carpet could be the source of their health issues. Despite the house only being built in 2008, the carpet was worn, musty and retaining damp. She wrote to the manager in a 14-day-notice – one tool tenants have to resolve issues without going to the tribunal.
But two tribunal applications, multiple hearings and appeals later, Sutherland’s case was dismissed. Her only solution was to move out.
‘‘I wasn’t asking for anything for myself, just for the home to be healthy,’’ she said.
The pair lived in the three-bedroom home in St Albans for just over two years. At $500 a week, she spent more than $50,000 in rent there. The rental was at the lower end of the market, according to the tenancy services website.
When Sutherland’s 14-day notice did not work, she went to the Tenancy Tribunal in July 2021.
The case was dismissed due to lack of evidence. A statement from a carpet company agreeing that the carpet was nearing the end of its life had been collected too late, and could not be considered as part of an appeal.
Their health worsened, according to Sutherland and multiple doctors visits and certificates during the year. By December 2021, a doctor’s certificate, seen by The Press, recommended the family look for other accommodation due to the daughter’s breathing problems. Another, dated March 2022, said she had developed ongoing ‘‘wheezy illnesses’’ due to the St Albans home.
Sutherland herself was noted as having ‘‘deteriorating asthma control likely due to mouldy rental property’’.
Last year, more than 9500 Kiwi children aged under six were hospitalised with illnesses coded as possibly caused by poor housing, such as respiratory tract infections and meningitis, Ministry of Health data shows.
That was a drop from about 10,500 in 2019, but in several regions the number of hospitalisations increased, including Canterbury (by 19.5%, or 158 additional cases), South Canterbury (26%) and the West Coast (21.9%).
Across all age groups, 27,470 hospitalisations fell into that category in 2021 – an overall drop of 7310 since 2019, likely due to the 2019 introduction of Healthy Homes standards.
A survey of more than 3000 New Zealand households done by Camorra Research in March, on behalf of AMI Insurance and Habitat for Humanity NZ, found only 43% of homes had both underfloor and ceiling insulation.
A total of 16% of households reported going to bed earlier than usual in winter to avoid using heaters; 42% were worried about dampness in their home.
Neither Sutherland nor her daughter were hospitalised while living in their former home, but Sutherland said constant illness took a toll on their wellbeing, and she felt powerless.
The owner of property management company Property Boss, Usha GandaWilson, declined to respond to specific questions, but said Sutherland was entitled to her opinion and the tribunal investigated issues thoroughly.
Ganda-Wilson reiterated that the apartment complied with healthy homes standards. The company had done everything the tribunal had asked of it.
Although the lease was not renewed and they were living in a new apartment by February, Sutherland made a second application to the tribunal, arguing that new evidence proved her case that the landlord had not met their obligations throughout the tenancy.
She hired moisture and mould testing kits, and a contractor to look into a leak – he found a vent had been poorly installed – but the tribunal noted he did not specifically say it was causing leaks.
Sutherland also had a Christchurch City Council housing health inspection on October 28. A report by a senior environmental health officer, seen by Stuff, said the level of visible mould was not a concern, but mould testing was recommended.
But this application was also dismissed. The most recent hearing for that case was in June when she tried to appeal against the decision. According to the latest ruling, the tribunal believed Sutherland was relitigating the 2021 case it had dismissed.
Sutherland said she was baffled by the decision. Since moving out, her and her daughter's health had improved, and she was able to go for runs again.
Earlier this year, The Press asked then-Building and Construction Minister Poto Williams if healthy homes standards would be improved to stop houses that caused health issues passing. She said no improvements were planned.