A Taitung landlord won a court judgment against a tenant whose pit bull and neglect left the rented house gutted and filthy — a win for landlords, a costly lesson for renters.

• The tenant fell behind on rent, then let the house and its fixtures be destroyed before disappearing without handing over the keys.
• Wooden doors, screens, windows, flooring and tiles were smashed, water and power lines were ruined, and a shoe rack and new rice cooker were taken.
• The house was left covered in dog waste, and cleaning and trash removal alone cost the landlord more than NT$20,000.
• Both sides had signed a court-certified repayment deal in January, but the tenant never showed up to settle or move out.
• The tenant skipped the hearing entirely, so the court ruled without him and found he had failed his duty of care.

Outlook: The landlord was awarded over NT$170,000 covering the unpaid deal, repairs, cleaning and appliances, though a claim for emotional distress was thrown out for lack of medical proof — and collecting from a tenant who has vanished may prove the harder half.