Bankrupt adviser leaves
He’s won praise as a business adviser, but not as a tenant. Steve Kilgallon reports.
A twice bankrupted BMWdriving business adviser with a trail of unhappy landlords behind him says he’s ‘‘no crook’’, he’s just had bad luck.
Former Harvey Norman executive Neil Berryman has been pursued by a series of landlords after rent disputes.
Berryman, who was last month ‘‘highly commended’’ in the Orakei Business Awards, has two Tenancy Tribunal decisions against him for more than $30,000 in unpaid rent. One ended in him being bankrupted, a decision he is trying to have annulled.
His latest disagreement is with his most recent landlord, in which both sides threatened to take a Tenancy Tribunal case. Paul Gillard said Berryman owed back rent, while Berryman said he would counter-claim $20,000 .
Berryman said the breakup of his marriage, redundancy and his brother’s death had contributed to difficult times but he wanted to repay his debts.
In 2013 Berryman became embroiled in a legal battle with the body corporate of luxury Viaduct Harbour development, The Parc, where he owned a unit.
Berryman said he fell behind on leasehold payments when they rose dramatically. One former resident said Berryman simply stopped paying and they consulted lawyers. Residents had to chip in for legal fees to cover the shortfall. Berryman said that dispute was resolved, and debts paid.
Berryman then moved to a Kohimarama apartment. Last year, the Tenancy Tribunal found he owed rent arrears of $5657. Auckland Property Management confirmed it took the case and won. Berryman confirmed the money remained owing, and he was bankrupted over it this year.
Berryman was bankrupted in 2013, which was annulled in 2015, and he is now trying to annul his January bankruptcy.
Berryman then moved into an apartment in the same waterfront block, owned by Reg Field. In March, the Tenancy Tribunal found he owed Field $24,857 in rent (minus $4000 bond). Earlier, Berryman won a Tribunal