It’s got legendary status on the Dunedin student scene, but whatever antics went down behind closed doors at 'The Castle' flat left a group of former tenants with a massive $10k bill.
The landlord received compensation of $15,836, covering everything from cleaning to significant repairs, as reported by Stuff.
'The Castle' featured in a TikTok by Audiology Touring last year and went viral, showing off the chaos - from a dirt bike being ridden through the hallway, to a stinky fridge left dormant for three months, to bedrooms that were surprisingly complimented as “really tidy.”
While it’s not confirmed the students in the video are the same ones involved with the Tenancy Tribunal, the clip was uploaded during the tenancy.
In the end, the Tribunal sided with the landlord. After deducting the bond, the tenants were ordered to pay $10,166 immediately.
The initial claim included $3,744 for cleaning - $2,255 for general cleaning and $1,130 just for the carpets - plus $190 for replacement keys and $167 for plumbing work to unblock a toilet due to rubbish buildup in the outlet pipe.
The landlord sought $11,855 more for additional damage, which included $8,452 for painting and rubbish removal, $2,964 to replace burnt kitchen vinyl, $265 for repairing a broken bedroom window, and $174 for dishwasher repairs after rodents chewed through the dishwasher hose.
The Tribunal ruled that the damage was more than just “fair” wear and tear, and accepted evidence including inspection reports, photos, invoices, and statements from cleaners.
There were also arguments over removed smoke alarms, with tenants claiming they “just fell off” - but the Tribunal found they’d been intentionally removed.
The tenancy ran from January 8 to December 29, 2024, and while some tenants made an effort to clean up at the end, others admitted they skipped the final inspection and left the flat in a state.
One tenant even confirmed they ignored the landlord’s request for a walk-through.
The nine tenants denied intentionally causing damage, and pushed back, asking for their bond of $5,670 back, as well as a $31,500 rent refund and exemplary damages.
They argued the flat was overpriced and in rough condition from the get-go, claiming they were “naive 18-year-olds” who’d been taken advantage of.
They also claimed that property managers, Cutlers, didn’t have legal standing to file the application, arguing the real owner was Black Dog Properties Ltd.
According to Stuff, the Tribunal noted their submission lacked “objective, persuasive, detailed supporting evidence.”
Turns out, flatting in Dunedin’s most iconic student flats doesn’t come cheap.
