A New Zealand landlord, Mark Alton, has been ordered by the Tenancy Tribunal to pay $864.30 to his tenants for disrupting their quiet enjoyment of their Coatesville property. Dubbed “quite passionate” about garden maintenance, Alton made frequent visits, reportedly 43 times over 65 weeks, often to tend to the garden. The tribunal found that these visits, while part of his responsibility for lawn and garden care, became an unreasonable intrusion into the tenants’ lives. A $350 penalty was also imposed on Alton for failing to lodge the bond, although this was deemed an oversight rather than intentional.
Tenants expressed discomfort, claiming they felt their privacy was invaded, noting instances when Alton appeared at the property without notice and disturbed their activities. Although no evidence supported claims of deliberate eavesdropping or harassment by Alton, the tribunal recognized the tenants’ discomfort due to the frequency of his visits.
During the tenancy, a 14-day notice was also issued by Alton regarding rubbish disposal, reflecting an overreach in his expectations of tenant compliance. Despite these issues, claims of unlawful entry by the landlord were rejected. Ultimately, compensation was set at two weeks’ rent, recognizing the disturbances caused by Alton’s persistent presence.
