Tenant left faeces on rental’s walls
A tenant who left faeces on the walls and an infestation of cockroaches in a rental property has been ordered to pay more than $3000 to the landlord.
The landlord, whose name and identifying details are suppressed, applied to the Tenancy Tribunal for compensation and exemplary damages after her tenant, Matalena Robertson, left the property in a ‘‘squalid’’ condition and ‘‘not liveable’’ when she moved out.
The landlord reported faeces, pen and dirt marks on the walls, most of which could not be removed, leading to the walls being repainted, the decision said.
The carpet was covered in stains from urine, food and liquid spills, while the ceilings and walls were covered in black mould. The oven and kitchen surfaces were described as ‘‘filthy’’.
The landlord also said there was a heavy infestation of cockroaches which required the property to be fumigated twice.
‘‘Hundreds’’ of the pests were found in the kitchen cupboards, hot water cylinder cupboard and under the carpet. Cockroaches had also entered the oven and stovetop and eaten into the wiring, she said.
Robertson said she had cleaned the house before moving out and removed all the wall marks.
She disputed the mould on the ceiling and said that was an issue with the house which she had previously raised with the landlord.
Although Robertson admitted leaving two bags of rubbish at the property, the landlord said she hired a skip bin to remove a ‘‘substantial’’ amount of rubbish, including a broken television, lounge suite, pram, baby walker, bikes, a dining table and a bunk.
Tenancy adjudicator Aneterea Andrew Aiolupotea found Robertson had not left the property reasonably clean and tidy, and did not remove all rubbish, as required under the Residential Tenancies Act.
The cockroach infestation was ‘‘more likely than not’’ caused by Robertson’s failure to keep the property clean and tidy, he said.
Robertson was also found liable for damage to the property, including a broken window and holes in the walls. She was ordered to pay the landlord $3613.22 to cover repairs, cleaning, pest control, rubbish removal and the replacement of a key, smoke alarm and 10 lightbulbs.