PHOTO: Henry Graham Source: Supplied
A major property management company has been told to pay out refunds to tenants who have been charged unlawful “key money” fees after a clued-up renter took them to the Tenancy Tribunal.
Oxygen – which has offices in Wellington, Hutt Valley and Hawke’s Bay – was caught trying to unlawfully charge a Wellington man $250 for a credit check after he asked to be included on a tenancy agreement.
Henry Graham moved in to a four-person flat in Wellington earlier this year after two tenants left, and the remaining tenants wanted his name on the agreement.
Oxygen agreed – on the condition Mr Graham pay a $250 fee for a credit check.
“I researched the Residential Tenancies Act and discovered that charging this fee is unlawful,” Mr Graham said.
READ MORE VIA TVNZ