Full Breakdown
Auckland Landlord Ordered to Pay $13,028 Over Mold-Infested Rental
4/26/2026, 2:17:53 AM
Core Event
Auckland Tenancy Tribunal adjudicator Nicole Walker found pharmacist-landlord Scarlett Hong in breach of the Healthy Homes standards after a tenant’s family suffered significant skin conditions linked to mold, damp, and rodent droppings. The tribunal ordered Hong to pay $13,028 in damages and refund $4,500 in rent, ending the tenancy on 12 January 2026.
Background & Context
The dispute follows a November 2024 tribunal award for loss of amenity after the tenant discovered water-ingress-induced wall bulging. Hong’s only remedial action was a July 2024 cosmetic repair that installed gib and repainted the affected brick wall, which the tribunal later deemed insufficient.
Timeline
- July 2024: Cosmetic repairs applied.
- May 2025: Family develops skin infections, welts, and rashes.
- 12 Jan 2026: Tenant vacates.
- 25 Feb 2026: Healthy Homes Assessment confirms multiple standard breaches.
- Jan 2026 hearing: Tribunal issues the $13,028 order.
Health Impact & Evidence
Medical records submitted included a lead maternity carer’s letter deeming the home “not medically appropriate” for the newborn, and doctor notes linking damp, mold, and rodent droppings to recurrent skin infections and probable scabies. Photographs showed welts, rashes, bubbling paint, mold spores, and a ceiling board collapse that deposited insulation and rat droppings into a hot-water cupboard.
Data & Compensation Details
- Total award: $13,028
- Exemplary damages: $6,000
- Soft-furnishings replacement: $2,500
- Rent refund: $4,500 (six payments made after vacating)
Official Statements & Tribunal Reasoning
Walker stated Hong “failed to maintain the premises and is in breach of the Healthy Homes standards,” noting the landlord’s awareness of water ingress and reliance on cosmetic fixes. The tribunal described the July 2024 repairs as merely temporary. Hong did not attend the hearing and gave no response to media inquiries.
Criticism & Opposition
Health professionals warned that damp indoor conditions and mold are established risk factors for skin disease and other ailments, and the lead maternity carer emphasized the danger to the newborn. Their assessments underpinned the tenant’s request for early termination of the tenancy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Nor to bring a newborn baby into this environment.” — Tenant (name suppressed)
- “The landlord has failed to maintain the premises and is in breach of the Healthy Homes standards. I find they have committed an unlawful act.” — Nicole Walker, Tribunal adjudicator
- “It is my medical opinion that damp housing and contamination with rodent droppings and mould is the cause of this.” — Doctor, medical professional
- “As this order determines that the tenancy is reduced to end on January 12, 2026, the tenant is refunded the rent she has paid since that date.” — Tribunal order
What’s Next
Hong must pay the $13,028 award and the $4,500 rent refund. The tenant’s health has improved since vacating, and the decision reinforces enforcement of Healthy Homes standards for future rentals.
