Landlord: May/Mei
Nationality: China
Address: 1 Miller Ave, Allenton, Ashburton 7700, New Zealand
Contact: +64 21025 86911
‡Story From Here‡
After we end our North to South journey, we came to a town name Ashburton located 89KM away from Christchurch and around an hour drive to Ashburton. The day before, we have contacted few accommodations in Ashburton looking for rooms that able to accommodate fours of us. Unfortunately, most of the accommodations have already fully occupied and we urgently need a room as we are going to start working soon. While we received a message from this landlord say that her place has plenty of rooms can accommodate us as she just started back to rent out her place to backpacker. Okay, we thought that we are the lucky one as we are the first batch and we can choose our own room. But more and more come after.
First, before we move in the landlord said she still on her way to Ashburton so we loitering around the Ashburton town and took our lunch. Then she messages again and requested us to withdraw cash because she doesn’t want us to transfer money directly to her bank account. She requested NZD200 deposit and NZD110 (weekly rental) so total each person have to withdraw NZD330. According to the previous experience, usually landlord not really request a deposit from us. Even there is, they will only request NZD100 so this is understood and acceptable. After a short discussion with the mates and we decided to bargain with the landlord see whether can it reduce to NZD100. Sent a message to the landlord and finally accept our reason unwillingly.
The first impression toward the landlord is not so good now. When we met up and view the rooms. She then requested us to pay her NZD100 deposit and 2 weeks rental. Which means each person of us need to pay her total NZD320. Is there any difference? Fine. All of us agreed and paid her. We thought that we should think positive because we can live peacefully and don’t need to see her face for at least 2 weeks right? Great. So we paid her and she left. In between, she did constantly text us to request rental earlier or suddenly appear and asked for money for the next weeks. She used to do like this always, like asked you “Do you have cash now? Can pay me now? Can you prepare cash? I will be there and collect from you guys and blah blah blah” According to our previous rent experience again, If you moved on Sunday, you have to pay on every Sunday. Of course, some people may pay one day before. But this landlord is so freaking annoying.
Every week request us to pay rental early. Only can pay cash. Sometimes we went out for weekend short escape or a daily shopping trip to somewhere else surely will receive her text and ask for money. I personally think that she thought that we are the ATM for her. We stayed for 3 weeks but already paid for the 4th week’s rental. Seriously reach our limits already. We then tell ourselves that “is okay we going to move out soon on the 6th week” This is still not the most over one.
Second, after we stayed for 12 days roughly two weeks time. She came to our accommodation and talk about the electric bill. As what I guess, money again. She said that we four persons stay here used up NZD350 electric bill if we use it as we like then the electric bill will be very expensive and she said she bears for the 12 days for us. So start from the next week all the electric bill she will only cover for NZD500 and the remaining we need to share among the tenants. We thought that we really use up so much and we start to save. Then moved in two more persons, married couple from China and 3 more persons from Vietnam. The very next week she came again, talked about the electric bill too. She said all of us (total 9 persons) already used the electricity bill almost up to NZD800 and said that if continue like this the electric bill will go up to NZD1500 (roughly). She said, in this case, she will only bear for NZD 500 and the remaining one we should pay for it. All of us (9 persons in the house) also cannot agree with her and we decided to move.
The evidence is here. After this message, she sent to us. We decided to look for others accommodation. Why? Usually, if a landlord wants you to pay the electric bill, they will reduce your rental. For example, weekly rental is roughly NZD70 – 90 and share the electric bill. If rental up to NZD100 – 140 usually is include everything. Can you imagine, your rental NZD110 and share electric bill each person NZD50 – 80 (some time will be more) per months is equal to your weekly rental is more than NZD130 already. Then why not you just go out and find others accommodation with the price of NZD130 include everything and won’t be so annoying at the same time?
Third, she keeps on mentioned to us that she manage this share house earn money she got to pay tax to the New Zealand government which wants to prove to us that she is a good citizen of NZ blah blah blah. Didn’t you feel funny? If you really pay tax why you do not allow us to transfer money to your bank? Bank got record so when you want to do your taxation isn’t it easier? Then she explains that her auditor complains that the record too messy and get her not to received money direct transfer from bank. If this is the reason, the Auditor can be fired and get a new one. But then we think this is not the truth. We personally think that she doesn’t want to pay the tax that why she doesn’t want us to transfer money to her bank. She doesn’t want any record. So all the statement she gave is bullshit.
⊗ Our Angry Point ⊗
The house stayed 9 persons in total. Four of us rental NZD440 per week. The China married couple rental for two is NZD210 per week. The three Vietnamese girl rental total NZD350 per week. So total up weekly the landlord received NZD1000. One month four weeks, the landlord received NZD4000. If let say we really overly used the electric bill up to NZD2000 (which we are not) she still earns another extra NZD2000 for the month. Because of her too calculative with us and we decided to move out. She loss NZD440 per week and NZD1760 per month. We cannot stand her so we decided to move to somewhere else. When we decided to move out, she then said we should give 2 weeks notice. Which this is not mentioned at the beginning. None of us hears it. From here you know here personality. She said she sure that she did tell every one of us. Trying to lie us yet she failed. If you think you can accept all of the above that I listed. You are welcome to contact her for the stay. All the detailed is given on top of this post. Cheers!
** Update **
After we moved out we still keep contact with the backpacker who still stays inside. They comment that the landlord becomes very quiet now, she no longer annoying like before, never request payment in advance like before and everyone paid extra 10 bucks per week for the electrical bill. So, this is always what we call when you loss something, you learn a lesson. This is why at the first place she can be so annoying until we moved out and she earns lesser now. All of this can be avoided in the first place. Karma! We are now staying somewhere located in Rolleston. A really great place I will share it out in others post! That all for the post! See ya!
My Travel Journey 