Here is my story - quite unbelievable. I brought an IP in Hamilton April last year. I live in Auckland, it was a brand new 2brm townhouse in a block of 5. Had it managed at first, but the property manager caused strife with my first tenants so they moved out. Next tenant moves in solo mum with a baby. I managed it myself. Missed a few rent payments, when the 3rd payment was missed and I couldn't reach her I went there.
Knocked on the door and a young man answered who I found out was her partner. He said she had gone to jail for 8wks for minor offenses, but all her stuff was still there. His mother was also there. He said he wanted nothing to do with his ex partner and a few days later asked if he could take over the tenancy, he was getting custody of the baby and winz were going to pay the arrears. Mother backed him up on this. With his agreement I issued a tresspass notice on the ex partner that was in jail.
All the money came through from Winz and rent was being paid from then on. Six weeks later there was a missed rent payment and a few days later I got a phone call on a Sunday from the tenant saying the unit had burnt down the previous evening, but he was sunbathing NAKED outside at the time. He said he was alone.
The police called me as it looked suspicious. I then went there and the insurance assessors also said it looked suspicious.
I received a 27 page fire report which indicated suspicious circumstances, accelerant was used all the way through the report, however at the end it said it couldn't be proven without doubt so therefore indicated accidental.
I then had to go to the tenancy tribunal to fight for the bond refund. I applied for loss of rent as he had not paid the weeks rent 3 days prior. The excess for insurance is $400 and I claimed for rent in leu of notice. All were declined and I only received 3 days rent, for the time prior to the fire. It cost me $20 to apply to the tribunal, plus 3 copies of the fire report and postage to the court, plus my time off work to travel there and gas.
I found out from the police the tenant is known to them as a P user and he also said to the judge the fire started by a candle burning down, while he was outside sunbathing. His partner was also at the house at the time of the fire. They were not cooking P
Knocked on the door and a young man answered who I found out was her partner. He said she had gone to jail for 8wks for minor offenses, but all her stuff was still there. His mother was also there. He said he wanted nothing to do with his ex partner and a few days later asked if he could take over the tenancy, he was getting custody of the baby and winz were going to pay the arrears. Mother backed him up on this. With his agreement I issued a tresspass notice on the ex partner that was in jail.
All the money came through from Winz and rent was being paid from then on. Six weeks later there was a missed rent payment and a few days later I got a phone call on a Sunday from the tenant saying the unit had burnt down the previous evening, but he was sunbathing NAKED outside at the time. He said he was alone.
The police called me as it looked suspicious. I then went there and the insurance assessors also said it looked suspicious.
I received a 27 page fire report which indicated suspicious circumstances, accelerant was used all the way through the report, however at the end it said it couldn't be proven without doubt so therefore indicated accidental.
I then had to go to the tenancy tribunal to fight for the bond refund. I applied for loss of rent as he had not paid the weeks rent 3 days prior. The excess for insurance is $400 and I claimed for rent in leu of notice. All were declined and I only received 3 days rent, for the time prior to the fire. It cost me $20 to apply to the tribunal, plus 3 copies of the fire report and postage to the court, plus my time off work to travel there and gas.
I found out from the police the tenant is known to them as a P user and he also said to the judge the fire started by a candle burning down, while he was outside sunbathing. His partner was also at the house at the time of the fire. They were not cooking P
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