Porirua landlords ordered to pay tenants $3391 for baseless eviction threats
A Tenancy Tribunal found landlords Helen Beswick-Cousins, Stephen James Pask and Porirua Property Management Limited harassed tenants with unfounded eviction threats.
What happened
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the landlords to pay former tenants of a Porirua property $3391.64 immediately for using baseless threats of eviction and breaching their quiet enjoyment. Adjudicator Kristen Koller found the landlords launched an intentional campaign to end the tenancy after an inspection found alleged breaches—installation of a spa pool, removal of a smoke alarm, and failure to report damage—that she said the tribunal would never have used to evict. Quinovic, the property management company, had advised the landlord that eviction was unlikely, but the landlord replied that their
Key facts
- Tribunal decision dated 26 August, now published online
- Landlords ordered to pay $2500 in exemplary damages for harassment and $1000 for unlawful entry
- Tenants ordered to pay landlord over $700 for breaches including failing to report damage
- Fixed-term tenancy lasted about 10 months before emails with Quinovic began
- Alleged breaches included spa pool installation, smoke alarm removal, and unreported damage
Primary source: Tenancy Tribunal decision dated 26 August
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What outlets are saying
RNZ
Tenants 'distressed' by landlord's 'baseless threats of eviction' win tribunal dispute
The Tenancy Tribunal said the tenants felt bullied in emails with property management company Quinovic, though they themselves were also found to have breached the agreement.
1News
Tenants beat landlord's 'baseless threats of eviction' at tribunal
The Tenancy Tribunal said the tenants felt bullied in emails with property management company Quinovic, though they themselves were also found to have breached the agreement.