High flying rent debt couple living in Jacks Point

A "high flying" couple who have left a number of Queenstown rent debts behind them are currently understood to be living in Jacks Point with little to no accountability for unpaid rent at up to three other Queenstown properties.

Fiona Knapp and Michael Pearce have painted a social media picture of themselves as being a UK based successful jewellery expert and investment banker but they seem to have had difficulty paying rent at at least two previous local houses they rented.

The two returning New Zealanders posted numerous accounts online while in the UK that depict a glamorous and successful lifestyle but UK insolvency records show that both Fiona Knapp and Michael Pearce were made bankrupt in early 2021. The insolvency judgements were made on separate dates in March 2021 but UK bankruptcy records show the two sharing the same address at Hodges Farm in Shipton Moyne, Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

Part of the Hodges Farm and Hodges Barn property that was the last address of Fiona Knapp and Michael Pearce in the UK

UK records show insolvency judgements against Knapp and Pearce that last until 2029.

Queenstown property owners have reported three local tenancies where Knapp and Pearce have, on at least two occasions, left without paying due rent. The properties were in Speargrass Flat Road, Threepwood Farm and Kingston.

The owner of the Speargrass Flat property, Suzie Bognar has warned other property owners to treat Knapp and Pearce with great caution. It took an eviction order to exit the couple from her $2,000 a week house and she says the whole Tenancy Tribunal process is slow and property owners are not checking out tenants thoroughly enough.

Speaking to Crux today Suzie Bognar called for faster publicity around Tenancy Tribunal decisions.

"There's 10 days after the order is given - the 10 day period for appeal by the person who loses. I think they should be posted immediately after that 10 days is up, not four or more weeks later. So at least that would give people the opportunity to have that information publicly available. Many people don't even know that that the searchable register is available."

Suzie Bognar has published details of the Tenancy Tribunal decision that allowed her to get the couple to leave but they still owed around $17,000 at that stage. Most of that amount is still outstanding.

Crux understands that Knapp and Pearce are currently renting a property in Jacks Point. 

Fiona Knapp cultivated an image in the UK of success and high society connections

Pearce told the Tenancy Tribunal that he and his family had recently returned to New Zealand from the United Kingdom.

“He says that funds to pay the rent have been blocked as a result of the anti-money laundering regime in the UK.

“No supporting evidence has been provided to either the landlord or the tribunal,” the decision said.

Suzie Bognar has the couple’s new Jacks Point address and says a court bailiff is currently working on recovering the balance of rent owed.