By WAYNE THOMPSON
A Waitakere City landlord has been fined $49,000 for running boarding houses which failed fire and sanitary standards.
The landlord, Meng Teck Yeo, had pleaded guilty in the Waitakere District Court to seven charges under the Building Act.
The city council believes it is the country's largest fine for a
prosecution under the act.
Three years ago, a Waitakere City Council prosecution resulted in a $40,500 fine for a Henderson landlord who rented a converted garage to a family of six for four years.
In convicting Yeo on Tuesday, Judge Philip Recordon said a deterrent was needed to ensure landlords did not let unsafe rooms and flats.
Mr Yeo had two previous convictions under the Building Act.
The maximum penalty for each of the seven charges was a $200,000 fine.
Mr Yeo was unavailable for comment.
A former tenant said she believed Mr Yeo had sold his 20-odd rental properties.
Pensioner Nina Knox said she found Mr Yeo "quite fair" during a decade of tenancy.
His newspaper advertisements said "Flatmates wanted - Kids OK ."
A small room was $80 for singles and $110 couples, and couples in a large room paid from $130.
The room rate included power, phone and water.
The summary of facts presented in court said the occupancy rates of the houses meant the rental yield for each property was enhanced.
Four properties were deemed dangerous by the Fire Service.
One of them was said to have inadequate means of escape from fire.
Officers inspected a two-storey house in Henderson and found 11 people living in the eight bedrooms. They were told a further four children and an adult stayed there on a temporary basis.
In the lounge was a makeshift gas cooking facility.
The main living area in a Te Atatu South home could only be reached via the front door; the back door had been nailed shut and the rear stairs removed.
The council said the homes' lack of toilets and kitchens for such a high number of occupants increased the risk of transmission of diseases.
Council regulatory committee chairwoman Vanessa Neeson said she expected the council would do further work to crack down on law-breaking landlords.
People were vulnerable to exploitation when Housing New Zealand was "way behind" in providing low-cost homes in the city.
