Auckland rental rehearing for family deemed "unliveable" denied

A UK family living in Auckland had a hearing at the Tenancy Tribunal about their rental home. The tribunal ruled in favor of the tenants, Simon and Lynne Usher, and awarded them more than $18,000 in damages. They claimed their rental was "unliveable" due to many problems. The property, which was advertised as furnished, had serious issues. Tenants reported broken appliances, a cracked stove, and dangerous conditions like nails sticking out of the deck. They also complained about a faulty fireplace that let smoke fill the house. The landlord, Richard Pretious, was not present during the hearing. He believes that if he had defended himself, the outcome might have been different. He feels the decision made by the tribunal did not fully consider his side of the story.