The manager of a boarding house in central Dunedin says she is "relieved" it has sold and she and its tenants have to move out because there had been more bad times than good at the property.
The live-in manager, Win, who wanted to be referred to by her first name only, said "Alva House" at 9 Alva St had sold and the tenants had until June 23 to move out so renovations could be done from "top to bottom".
Some of the 20 tenants were moving to the North Island and the rest, including her, were moving to private flats.
She would not return to Alva House as manager, or as a tenant, and was happy to be leaving after more than 15 years of living in the property, where she had worked for three different owners.
"I’ve done my dash — I don’t want to do it anymore ... You couldn’t pay me to come back."
The regular problems encountered included tenants knocking on her door about 4am wanting to talk about their mental health issues.The owner of Alva House took on people with mental health issues as tenants because they had nowhere else to go, she said.
"Most of them live here because they can’t live with people out there."
The toughest part of the job was "standing your ground" when a tenant threatened her.She was often threatened but had never been assaulted.
Tenants were allowed to smoke and drink in their rooms and some tenants took drugs but if it caused a problem, they were evicted, she said.
"If they make problems — off your face or straight — you’re gone."
As manager, she was given free rent and $180 a week, she said.
The property has 30 rooms, including manager’s quarters, and four showers and five toilets.
She would miss some of the tenants but would not miss "the worry".
"I’m relieved ... You get some witty tenants, but you get some real headaches and you forget there was any good here ... There’s been a lot of both but more bad than good."
The rent for a room ranged between $140 and $160 a week and included power and phone.
Colliers International broker Matt Morton said South Island-based investors, who wished to remain anonymous, had bought Alva House.
The investors had experience in property developing, he said.
The renovated property would remain a boarding house and be renamed Pokohiwi, in a return to a previous name of the property.
The rent would remain about the same, he said.
He didn’t know if Pokohiwi would continue to cater for tenants with mental health issues, Mr Morton said.
The "extensive refurbishments" were designed to increase the occupancy from its previous level of about 60%, he said.
Pokohiwi would have a live-in manager and would be drug, alcohol and smoke-free, he said.
The gardens would be landscaped.
The refurbishment would include internal and external painting, new heating, carpets, curtains, upgraded wiring, insulation, renovated bathrooms and a new kitchen layout.
Each room would be furnished with new beds, a desk and "ample wardrobe space".
"The owners will be working with an architect to ensure an authentic development of an attractive vintage home," Mr Morton said.
