News
Landlord Fined for Forcing Tenants to Take Care of Pets
Sunday 18th December 2022
A pair of landlords have been slapped with a £1,500 fine after forcing their tenant to look after numerous pets, including 10 cockatoos, 20-30 goldfish and a dog.
The courts heard that investors ordered their tenant - based in Auckland, New Zealand - to look after the pets or face eviction when after going on holiday.
The landlords, both named Huixin Sun, denied they threatened eviction.
The landlords also entered the home without permission, prompting the tenant to sleep with a knife under his pillow out of fear of it happening again.
The renter was awarded $NZ2835 (£1474.48) for "emotional harm", according to a report in the Tenancy Tribunal, as the tenant went to the doctor to get medication for anxiety and insomnia.
He told the landlord: "The doctor's diagnosis was that I had a strong nervous breakdown and mania, mainly because of the high stress and lack of rest after you entered my house illegally."
However the tenant wanted more cash from the landlord for having to feed the pets.
He demanded around £3,100 in wages for managing the animals, though that claim was filed too late in the court proceedings.
The adjudicator at court concluded that feeding the animals was "not that onerous" anyway, saying "next-door neighbours or friends quite commonly feed pets while someone is away".
Separately the landlords were also ordered to pay $NZ500 (£260) for failing to lodge bond, $1500 (£780) for failing to replace a smoke alarm, $NZ500 (£260) for entering without permission, and $NZ50 (£26) for flooding caused by a broken pipe.
Meanwhile, the tenant was ordered to pay $NZ3.90 (£2) for a rubbish tag, $NZ50 (£26) for wall damage, $NZ167 (86) for carpet damage as well as $NZ172 (£89) for a new remote.
Crazy things do happen I guess!!!
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