A landlord that posted photos of a tenant's possessions online when he was advertising for the property to be sold has been ordered to pay more than $500 to the woman.
Auckland woman Monika Kuciel was successful in her claim to the Tenancy Tribunal where she claimed Crockers Property Management Ltd, Edmund Lim, and Jay Zhang displayed her possessions in the photos of the property listed for sale without consent.
The tribunal found the tenant had a "strong expectation" of privacy inside her home. It ordered the landlord to immediately pay Kuciel $520.44.
That sum was decided due to the landlord's actions being intentional, with the tribunal saying exemplary damages were warranted.
According to the tribunal, Kuciel permitted them to enter the property and take photos but didn't give consent to having her belongings photographed.
The landlord, however, "interfered with the tenant's privacy in circumstances that amount to harassment", the tribunal says.
"I find they have committed an unlawful act," says the decision.
"The landlord was aware of what the photographs were for, had control over what photographs were used, and should have been aware of the tenant's right to privacy, and the need to obtain consent before using the photographs."
