A former Christchurch tenant has been ordered to pay nearly $20,000 after using methamphetamine in a state house.
State Housing. (file photo) Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Housing New Zealand would seek to retrieve the $19,481 costs ordered by the Tenancy Tribunal.
A Housing spokesperson said the ruling sent out a strong message to all its tenants that such activity would not be tolerated.
Chief operating officer Paul Commons said it was being more vigilant about retrieving costs from offending tenants.
Mr Commons said vulnerable people on the social housing register had to wait for a home to undergo the cleaning and remediation process, which could take up to three months.
