Marc My Words.Marc My Words.
From Marc Alexander MP 1st August. 2003
United Future NZ-Christchurch Supplement
Changing the Law by breaking it is no option!
Last week Christchurch landlord Sue Evans took matters into her own hands by throwing out tenants who had misrepresented
their reference and failed to pay a bond.
The event was played out on National television where a voiceover not only omitted some relevant details but took the
liberty of suggesting that even the dog was upset at the eviction!
It all looked like a bad episode from a cringe inducing sitcom quilted by a bunch of bad scriptwriters! I can never
excuse anyone from breaking a law even if, as in the Residential Tenancy Act, it's a donkey, I do understand the
frustration. In none of our other social and economic intercourse is the aquiring of a product or service without due
payment considered other than theft. I find it incredulous that a monetary transaction should be required to be upheld
by one party when money neither changes hands nor the basis of that agreement to be in good faith.
What makes this particular case even more infuriating was that the media only showed what it thought was the story
despite overwhelming information that would have painted a completely different picture.
Sue Evans gave the tenant 8 rent-free days prior to their four-day rental period; they gave a false reference; they
allegedly owe the previous landlord $1500; they contravened the agreement on pets; and they did not provide bond.
It's true that the three children of the tenant were victims but, given the shabby subterfuge of the tenant, it was not
the landlord but the caregiver who is responsible for placing them in that position in the first place.
Amongst overwhelming support for Sue, I did also receive a mall cluster of mostly misinformed opinions hurling abuse at
my 'alleged' praise of her actions. So let me spell it out yet again; I am no Nandor.I do not believe in breaking laws
to change them. Period!
ENDS