Newstalk ZB
A mother-and-son landlord pair with a history of tenant complaints and conduct described as “nefarious” are under investigation. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has been investigating the alleged poor landlord practices of Nick Hoogwerf and Donna Miers for about a year, after further claims they have provided sub-standard rentals and failed to lodge bonds. Separately, Hoogwerf, who was previously struck off as a real estate agent, has been the subject of fresh complaints to the Tenancy Tribunal from aggrieved tenants. Relating to the investigation, MBIE’s Tenancy Compliance and Investigations Team (TCIT) confirmed it has received four complaints regarding the duo since March 2024 – two relating to the pair, and one individual complaint each. One of the complaints relates to a property in Chapel St, Greymouth, which Miers purchased under the business name Chapel Corner in 2019. The commercial property was divided into eight units and there were two residential units next door. Hoogwerf acted as the landlord. The company was originally taken to the tribunal by a resident at the property who claimed it was uninhabitable. In a ruling at the time, tribunal adjudicator Ross Armstrong described the situation as “a sad case”, saying the tenant had been persuaded to sign a tenancy agreement for accommodation in Greymouth that was well below acceptable standards. Armstrong said the property did not resemble how it had been advertised online. The tenant, who was not living in Greymouth at the time, had been unable to inspect it beforehand. The dwelling was later deemed unsanitary and uninhabitable. Despite the claims, the tribunal dismissed the case after repeated attempts to contact the tenant, as well as Hoogwerf and Miers, received no response. Armstrong said the tenant possibly chose not to continue, given the low likelihood of recovering compensation, adding that the mother and son “have a history of nefarious conduct”. NZME has previously reported the pair’s misconduct as landlords, including issues with not lodging bonds or repaying bonds, and failing to meet Healthy Home standards. Mother and son Donna Miers and Nick Hoogwerf were ordered to pay more than $30,000 after illegally subletting a rental three years ago. Photo / Facebook One report outlined how the pair were ordered to pay more than $30,000 to Auckland retiree Don Oliver after renting his Pt Chevalier property, “renovating” the interior without permission, and then subletting the property at twice the rent to a vulnerable grandmother – all without Oliver’s knowledge. Another detailed how Miers breached her obligations as a landlord when she rented out a Timaru property plagued by black mould, holes in the floor and a toilet that leaked sewage. In that case, Miers also failed to lodge the tenant’s bond, with the tribunal describing her as taking “a very casual approach to complying with legal obligations”. There have been eight tribunal decisions released since 2023 in which Hoogwerf is the respondent to claims from unhappy tenants. Meirs was also the respondent in some. Every decision stated Hoogwerf did not attend the hearings despite the tribunal’s repeated attempts to contact him. When speaking to NZME, Hoogwerf said, despite his history before the tribunal, he was “fit to be a landlord”. Pair speak to the investigation Asked about the pending investigation, he said he was aware it was taking place and would participate in any hearings he was required to attend. Miers told NZME she knew “concerns have been raised” but had not been advised of any formal findings or determinations against her by MBIE. “Any suggestion of wrongdoing at this stage would be premature and potentially misleading,” she said. “Complaints in tenancy matters are not uncommon and do not, in themselves, establish fault. The Chapel St, Greymouth, property that was owned and operated by Donna Miers and Nick Hoogwerf. Photo / Google Maps “I am happy to co-operate...
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