Some people renting houses and flats in earthquake-devastated Christchurch are getting little charity from landlords who want to lock them into leases and contracts. One property investor told the New Zealand Herald said some people wanted ``to pack up their luggage and leave the property owner with the mess. They justwant to walk out.'' Nigel Lundy said some tenants were using the earthquake as an excuse to avoid their responsibilities. Mr Lundy, manages 160 tenancies through his firm Metro Advances and said he would not allow any renters to break their contracts if their homes were still habitable. His company was charging six weeks rent as a break fee for those wanting out. Tenant, Victoria Avilova, refused to pay the fee but while Mr Lundy relented, she lost her bond. She had been in the property for only four days before the earthquake and had signed a lease until October. Mr Lundy said early leavers left landlords paying mortgages on vacant properties that generated no income. He said property owners had lives and families and were not trying to make someone else suffer financially. Another disgruntled tenant , American exchange student Rosanna Cochran, was part of a group staying for around two months in Christchurch Central Apartments. They prepaid their tenancy and had been their for four days when the earthquake struck. Ms Cochran was evacuated to Wellington but the property's owner, John Wally, refused a refund. He said she was demanding and rude and wasted time in the middle of a crisis. Real Estate Institute's Canterbury branch head David Rankin, said landlords should not worry about filling accommodation as there would be a high demand for undamaged properties.
