Source: Radio New Zealand
The stovetop of a Lyttleton boarding house. MBIE
A Canterbury landlord sanctioned for failing to clean up and fix a boarding house would rather cop a fine than pay for maintenance costs, a neighbour says.
Murray Lawrence Hill, who had been warned multiple times that his property was not up to standard, has been ordered to pay $33,000, remove industrial rubbish and repair holes in the roof and walls of a boarding house in Lyttelton.
The Tenancy Tribunal took action against Hill, who had a long history of complaints, for failing to ensure his property was compliant.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Tenancy Compliance and Investigations Team (TCIT) received a complaint from a member of the public in December 2023, who said the boarding house was in a serious state of disrepair, with rubbish rotting on the property.
A member of the public complained the boarding house was in a serious state of disrepair, with rubbish rotting on the property.
Alongside the rubbish removal and hole repairs, Hill was required to install glass planes in windows that were boarded up, install mechanical ventilation in the bathrooms and clean the kitchen and bathrooms to an acceptable standard.
The tenants were described as vulnerable and afraid to complain, for fear of being evicted.
David Wilcox lived opposite the Cressy Terrace property and said Hill had converted it into a halfway home for paroled prisoners following the earthquakes.
Wilcox said the landlord was the type of person who considered property maintenance as an unnecessary business expense.
“It’s a waste of money to him,” he said.
“I mean, his tenants can’t complain. So he just takes the money and banks it and forgets about this kind of stuff.
“He’s just not the kind of guy that really wants to do the right thing. He just wants to bank his money.”
Duncan Wilcox lives opposite the Cressy Terrace boarding house. RNZ / Adam Burns
Wilcox said a $33,000 fine would be of little consequence to Hill, who he understood to have an extensive property portfolio.
“He’s probably a multi-millionaire, so it’s not going to really harm him.
“I think they need to have, not just the fine, but they need to have people come in and supervise, make sure it gets done, because he won’t do it.”
Although Wilcox agreed Hill was more “slumlord” than landlord, he said the boarding house was better for tenants who had no alternatives.
“Would we rather have them in here under some kind of control and management, or would you rather just have them in a tent somewhere in the central city.
“So I think anybody with that choice, they’d rather be here.”
A woman who lived on Cressy Terrace told RNZ it was good the tenants had somewhere to live, but objected to the conditions they were subjected to.
Rubbish at a Lyttleton boarding house. MBIE
When RNZ phoned Hill for comment, he swore at the reporter before asserting “at least they’re in a house”.
“They’re warm, they’ve got water, they’ve got hot water, they’ve got showers, they’ve got somewhere to cook. They’re not sleeping under a bridge, or shop doorways.”
He then ended the call.
TCIT national manager Brett Wilson said Hill had previously been issued warnings for the property.
“Despite receiving multiple warnings over a number of years, he failed to take meaningful steps to address these concerns until 2024/2025. His prolonged inaction over a four-year period demonstrates a deliberate and intentional disregard for his obligations.”
His failure to maintain the property to the required standard despite multiple warnings, had a direct and harmful impact on his tenants.
Wilson said landlords were running a business and if they wanted to operate a boarding house they must comply with their obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act.
He said Hill was an experienced landlord who had regular interactions with Tenancy Compliance and Investigations Team, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the Christchurch City Council, and was aware of his obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
