She wanted to share her story after reading about landlord Mike Slater in the Times-Age, whose tenants left him more than $20,000 out of pocket.
"We were traumatised by the whole thing -- it was hell," Ms James said. "If I can save one person from going through the same, it'll be worth it."
Ms James and her husband put their home on the market when they relocated to Westport last year -- and were approached by a young couple, who asked if they could rent it.
"They sounded ideal."
Not long after moving in, the tenants stopped paying rent and, when Ms James confronted the woman, she was told, "it's none of your business".
On advice from the Tenancy Tribunal, she sent the tenant a letter informing her she would be evicted in 14 days if payment was not made.
The tenant resumed payments -- but continued to stop throughout the year.
Ms James' suspicions were further aroused after hearing from neighbours that the house was "looking like rubbish" -- and the SPCA and CYFS had visited.
The tenants had removed a fence without permission, and had up to 30 pigs grazing on the land.
Ms James "Googled" the woman's name, and discovered she had previously appeared in court on both animal neglect and home invasion charges.
"We couldn't believe it -- the references they'd given us were absolutely fine.
"We felt completely conned."
In November, Ms James approached the Tenancy Tribunal, but was told she "had to prove" the house was damaged.
She sought advice from a lawyer, who said the tenant, as she was breeding pigs on the property, could be evicted under commercial tenancy rules -- and issued a trespass notice.
Ms James returned to the house in February, discovering windows smashed, some doors and light fittings ripped out, the gardens trampled by animals, animal faeces and urine stains through the house, and the carpets "full of fleas". "We were appalled. That house was our asset -- and they wrecked it."
Altogether, the repair costs and unpaid rent left Ms James with a $16,000 bill. "We got the bond back -- that was it. She walked away scot free."
Ms James said the experience has "made it difficult to trust anyone". But she pledged to do things differently as a landlord
"Don't take anything at face value. Double-check everything -- Google is your friend."
