Editorial: Tenant tales are no joke

The relationship between Landlord and Tenants is a tricky one. Photo/Thinkstock

I had a good chuckle when I read yesterday's story about dodgy tenants.

Papamoa landlord Trevor Davies had got in touch with us after last Saturday's front-page article about a rental shortage in the Bay.

Mr Davies maintains there is no shortage, simply too many prospective tenants lacking manners. His anecdotes, while providing me with a smile at first, are serious.

They're serious because he has had to waste his time trying to let his one-bedroom unit to people who are rude and living in fairy land.

Why would someone turn up with a rottweiler when the advert says no dogs? What was the prostitute who told him she was worried about the lack of parking for her clients thinking? And how does any prospective tenant think it is acceptable to stalk and abuse the landlord?

Mr Davies, who has now taken his property off the rental market, is not alone.

Another landlord, Sharon Waka, shared her shocking story of how an uncouth prospective tenant urinated on her flower garden in front of her. Unbelievable.

The relationship between tenant and landlord can be a challenging one.

I have rented a property before, only to find the landlord turning up without notice to do some work around the place - a breach of privacy. I am sure there are also tenants who have had a hard time with their landlord.

But I know landlords who have been left thousands of dollars out of pocket because their tenants have failed to pay rent, trashed the house and then skipped town. They have had to recarpet, repaint and clear up the piles of rubbish.

On the positive side, I also know of property investors who have had a successful run at renting out homes, telling me their tenants are a dream.

I have for some time been thinking about buying a rental property but the risk of getting a bad tenant is a real concern. The hassle of potentially having to go through the legal process to get lost money back is daunting. The right house in the right area, and with the right tenant, is crucial.

Renting a home is like a job interview: prospective tenants have to sell themselves when the market is tight but they also need to be honest.

The ones mentioned by these two landlords are a joke and should not be surprised to find themselves promptly rejected by wary homeowners.