Tenants facing eviction from apartments in Lower Hutt after its owner was convicted for failing to earthquake-strengthen it do not know when they will have to leave by.
Photo: RNZ / Katie Doyle
The owner of 307 Jackson Street, a company called Alura, has pleaded guilty in Hutt Valley District Court for failing to earthquake-strengthen the building despite 10 years of being ordered to do so.
Large cracks are clearly visible on the two storey building and a big yellow sticker warns it is earthquake prone.
The company, owned by Lower Hutt realtors Jitesh and Jigesha Govind, will be sentenced in August and could be fined up to $200,000.
The council said it was notifying occupants to vacate the building for it to be strengthened or demolished.
There are eight flats, six of which are occupied, but residents wanting to talk to the landlords were snubbed last night.
The landlords also declined to speak to RNZ.
The tenants said they were confused and anxious about the deadline to quit their homes.
Hutt City Council said it may prosecute other owners for failing to strengthen their buildings, and although there were no more residential buildings in such a situation there were commercial ones.
