Damage costs landlords $5000

Landlords Grant and Donna Bullock. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Donna and Grant Bullock were sickened by the state of their Tauranga rental house after tenants moved out this month.

Bags of rubbish, clothes, food scraps and beer bottles were piled high in the house and shed.

"There were ants and maggots everywhere," Donna said.

Walls were damaged and painted over in the wrong colour; the oven door was missing and replaced with a mis-matched door.

Repairs are estimated at $5000, and the couple are also facing a power bill of $1600.

The Bullocks hired a property manager to look after the house because they live in Wellington but questioned if it was ever inspected.

After talking to neighbours, they think the tenant may have sub-let the property three or four times during 18 months.

The Bullocks have chosen not to name the property manager as they haven't ruled out taking legal action against them. "I've told her I was sick and disgusted and felt she hadn't done her job," Donna said.