Fire caused by cannabis operation burns down Auckland landlord's house

The house was extensively damaged.
The house was extensively damaged. Photo credit: Getty

An Auckland tenant has to pay more than $20,000 after burning down his landlord's house caused by cannabis-growing activity.

Two tenants signed a tenancy agreement for the Flat Bush property in July 2019 but one pulled out of the arrangement. The second tenant, Hiep Tuan Luu, then moved out and illegally sublet the property.

According to a Tenancy Tribunal decision, the house was then extensively damaged by a fire on November 30, 2019.

The decision details investigations into the blaze by police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

"A report from the Fire Service states that the fire started in a bedroom. 

"The police have confirmed that the fire service discovered two rooms being utilised for a cannabis grow operation, which included apparatus for lighting and ventilation.

"A report from the landlord's building consultant dated February 16 2020 says that extensive fire damage occurred to the roof cavity, a bedroom, a bathroom and the hallway.

"The fire was caused by a poorly wired electrical diversion to supply the cannabis grow operation."

According to the decision, Luu told the Tenancy Tribunal he wasn't aware of any drugs at the property.

"It was Mr Luu's decision to allow individuals, unknown to the landlord, to reside at the property," Mike Edison of the Tenancy Tribunal says in the decision.

"They might not have had an opportunity to use the premises for illegal activities, and the property might not have been significantly damaged if Mr Luu had complied with his obligations as a tenant."

Luu was ordered to pay rent, compensation, a refund of the bond, and a reimbursement filing fee totalling $20,022.