PHOTO: Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Tenants wanting to exit a rental early are being loaded up with high fees from property managers and landlords.
Renters advocates and Consumer New Zealand say it’s outrageous but property managers say they’re just following the rules.
A mother of two who wishes to remain anonymous wants to leave her rental because it’s next to a bar and she doesn’t feel safe.
The tenant expected to foot some costs for breaking the lease early.
But she was surprised when she was handed a $600 bill – $181 for advertising, $300 for administration at $66 per hour, an entry inspection fee and $75 for four tenant checks.
So she challenged it.
“I rang Tenancy Services and he told me he didn’t know what an entry inspection was and she couldn’t charge $66 per hour if that is not what her hourly pay rate was.”
It has now been taken to the Tenancy Tribunal and is awaiting mediation.
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