A Perth landlord has been fined after renovating a bathroom and changing the locks whilst her elderly tenant was in hospital. Munster woman Marlene Ruzica Pavlovich was ordered to pay almost $12,000 in Fremantle Magistrate’s Court last week after being found guilty of contravening the Residential Tenancies Act. The former real estate representative contacted the 87-year-old tenant’s power of attorney in February 2015 to ask to renovate the bathroom in the North Fremantle home but didn’t get the consent of the woman, who was in hospital at the time. Despite not having the tenant’s permission, Pavlovich undertook the renovations and changed the locks to the property. The court was told the tenant had to buy new clothing and medications because she was unable to access their home. Consumer Protection lawyers told the court the landlord’s actions took advantage of the tenant and caused her unnecessary stress, inconvenience and cost. The woman had rented the home for 30 years before her death in June 2015 and was still paying rent at the time her home was accessed. Pavlovich was fined $3,000 and ordered to pay $8,907 in costs.
