Paul Nolly (56) has welcomed the Tenancy Tribunal order for Harcourts Highland Real Estate Group to pay $520 damages.
''I was like too much - take that. I didn't think I was going to win,'' Mr Nolly said.
A tribunal adjudicator said the tribunal was satisfied the landlord committed the unlawful act of failing to maintain a flat in Haddon Pl, central Dunedin, after being advised by the tenant of numerous problems.
''I consider the landlord's conduct was serious because of the importance of maintaining premises, especially older properties during winter, '' the adjudicator said in the decision.
A mitigating circumstance was Harcourts being unable to have a maintenance person do the work because the owner employed his own handyman, the adjudicator said.
The owner of the house had agreed to renovate the property, but would double the rent to $300 - a price Mr Nolly could not afford.
Consequently, Mr Nolly was given a 90-day notice to find a new place. Since he had begun searching for a new home, he had been diagnosed with cancer.
He had found a warm and dry rental in Serpentine Ave, which would become available next month.
A flat closer to Dunedin Hospital would be better but he was confident he would not need Dunedin Night Shelter for emergency accommodation. He was pleased to be leaving the cold and damp Haddon Pl flat.
''Good riddance,'' he said.
Harcourts Group chief executive Hayden Duncan declined to comment yesterday.shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz
