Property Management

Couple wins compo over 'drug house' rental

Leah Wilson thought she had found the perfect house for an entirely natural home-birth.

Wednesday, June 16th 2004

But days after having baby Tashi, Ms Wilson and partner Christopher James discovered the house in Oratia, south of Auckland, had been a drug-manufacturing den until just weeks before they moved in.

Worse was to follow when it emerged the landlord had not decontaminated the property before the couple, who have two other young daughters, moved in.

Then, says Ms Wilson, the landlord repeatedly lied about the house's dark past when she asked questions after hearing stories from neighbours.

"I was six months pregnant and thought I had found the perfect bush home to have my baby girl – but instead she was born in an ex-P lab with traces of all sorts of chemicals," said Ms Wilson.

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