Landlord Pulls Roof Off House To Get Rid Of Tenants

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 28, 9 March 1948, Page 3

Landlord Pulls Roof Off House To Get Rid Of Tenants

Unable to get rid of his tenants by verbal persuasion a Port Ahuriri landlord was eventually successful in getting his house declared unfit for habitation after he had made a two-day blitz on it armed with pick, hammer, crowbar and saw. His destructive activities were described in the Magistrate’s Court, Napier, when Mr H. Jenner Wily, S.M., awarded the tenants £6O damages, as well as ordering the landlord, Kingi Runga, to pay substantial costs for wilful trespass. Mr J. C. Fabian, for the tenant, Albert James Lambert, said that at about the middle of last November Runga had cut off the lights of his bach, which was being rented by Lambert. Later he had barricaded up the back gate, thus preventing his tenants from using the conveniences.

On November 22 the landlord had arrived armed with a pick, hammer and a crowbar and, after vigorous use of these tools, had succeeded in ripping off the iron roof, undeterred by the interest of nearby residents.

The following Sunday, being a day of rest, Runga had refrained from work, but he had again appeared on the Monday, said Mr Fabian. This time he had a saw in his possession and he once more mounted the roof and sawed through the centre, causing it to sag in the middle.

For some time the occupants were exposed to the elements before a tarpaulin was procured, said counsel. The bach was soon declared unfit for habitation by the building inspector. The facts as outlined by Mr Fabian were admitted by the defendant, who stated, however, that Lambert had not been paying his rent. His Worship, in awarding damages to the complainant, stated that he was satisfied that Lambert had been paying his rent regularly and found the defendant guilty of continuous acts of wilful trespass.