A Wellington landlord wanted a share of their tenant's brothel business profit.

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Landlord drops attempt to get a share of tenant's brothel profits
Amber-Leigh Woolf
19:19, Jun 04 2019

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/pro...rothel-profits

Do you know your rights as a tenant? Don't worry, we've got it covered.
A Wellington tenant running a brothel from her rental property has been contested for a share of her profit by her landlord.

After police told Earle Properties Ltd company director Lionel Earle that tenant Jo (Kelly) Lein had been running a potentially illegal brothel at their Mt Cook flat, they decided they wanted a piece of the profit.

A tenancy tribunal order says the landlord claimed the tenant used the property unlawfully.


A Wellington landlord wanted a share of their tenant's brothel business profit.

"Mr Earle provided evidence that the police contacted him as they were investigating whether the brothel was certified after receiving a complaint.


"The landlord gave evidence that when questioning the tenant, she freely admitted to running a brothel."

Earle had informed Lein that she must end her business, the order document says.

However, Lein told Earle that she didn't want to continue living at the 76 Thompson Street flat unless Earle allowed her to run the brothel.

Four others were living at the flat and working in the brothel.

"The tenant also converted some of the rooms in the premises into bedrooms so as to create four bedrooms."

The tribunal found insufficient evidence to establish that Lein's brothel was unlawful.

Since the introduction of the Prostitution Reform Act in 2003 brothels are permitted to operate anywhere, so long as they comply with any existing District Plan bylaws.

Earle claimed that the number of people living at the flat exceeded the number allowed in the tenancy agreement.

The tribunal found Lein did act unlawfully by breaching the maximum number of permitted residents allowed in her tenancy agreement.

Minus her bond, Lein was required to pay $58.74 to Earle Properties Ltd and they dropped their application for a share of the brothel's profits.