Dunedin Students Demand Reform as Tenancy Tribunal Fails Them

Students in Dunedin are voicing concerns that the local Tenancy Tribunal is inadequate in addressing their disputes with landlords. Many have faced issues such as uninhabitable living conditions and withheld bonds, prompting calls for reform from both affected students and university officials. Notably, second-year University of Otago student Zoe Eckhoff recently shared her troubling experience after winning a case against her landlord.

Eckhoff and her friends had high hopes for their living situation after inspecting a flat on Queen St last year. Although the property was somewhat messy during their viewing, they anticipated it would be cleaned before their move-in date just before the semester began. Instead, upon arrival, they discovered severe neglect: plants growing from gutters, curtains covered in black mould, and rubbish scattered throughout the flat. The conditions were so dire that the trio deemed the flat uninhabitable, prompting them to seek legal counsel to exit the lease.

Navigating the Tenancy Tribunal process proved to be a significant challenge for Eckhoff. She reported that the ordeal impacted her mental health and academic performance, forcing her to miss lectures and seek extensions on assignments. “I had to miss out on a lot of things and classic student experiences because we had to deal with this from day one,” she said, highlighting the absurdity of spending time on legal matters instead of enjoying university life.

Eckhoff emphasized that her ability to pursue the case stemmed from the support of her parents and their financial assistance in hiring a lawyer. “The cost for these students who do go to the tribunal is that they have to tell their next landlord that they’ve been to a tribunal hearing,” she explained. “Their landlord is probably less inclined to sign for them when they know that they’ve been willing to speak up about something.”

Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, described her ongoing struggle to retrieve her bond from a previous landlord after moving out in June 2023. She stated that she had never received an explanation for the withheld bond and attributed her ability to initiate the Tenancy Tribunal process to her parents’ support. “I actually failed a paper last semester because of all of this,” she lamented.

University Vice Chancellor Grant Robertson echoed the sentiments of the students, acknowledging that the Tenancy Tribunal is a daunting process. “I think anyone in their lives who’s rented knows that the Tenancy Tribunal is a difficult environment, and a lot of people give up because it’s just a bit hard,” he said. Robertson advocates for changes that would simplify the process and ensure students’ rights are upheld.

He pointed out that the Otago University Students Association serves as a vital resource for students facing tenancy issues, offering guidance through the tribunal process.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), which oversees the Tenancy Tribunal, has stated that a variety of support options are available for tenants. This includes resources on the Tenancy Services website and assistance through organizations like the Citizens Advice Bureau and Community Law Centres. The MBIE also facilitates mediation between landlords and tenants to expedite dispute resolution.

In response to the students’ experiences, the MBIE encourages tenants to communicate with their landlords promptly when issues arise. As students like Eckhoff and others continue to navigate these challenges, the call for reform of the Tenancy Tribunal grows stronger, highlighting the need for a more accessible and supportive system for all renters.