The Alexander Pianos owner and instrument repairer has operated out of a garage on the eastern end of the King Edward Court building for the past six years.
He said his rent had increased "incrementally" in the past, but it was nothing like the 59% rise ($157/week to $250/week) he had just been asked for by the building’s American owners Ray and Gwynn Joseph.
"I wasn’t expecting that.
"If it was any other year, it might not have been so bad. But after Covid and all these things that have been going on, business has slowed up a bit.
"I’m trying to forecast what’s going to happen in the coming year and things are looking too difficult really.
"With the building being for sale and not knowing what the future holds, it puts that much more strain on everything."
Mr Mann said he now had less than a month to find a new space because his lease was about to expire.
"I didn’t mind paying the rent before, despite my part of the building leaking and there being no heating — I can deal with that for the right kind of price.
"But if he’s charging this amount ..."
The 30,000sq m category 1-listed historic building has 75 rooms, more than 50 of which are leased for low rents by various musicians, artists, photographers, dance and martial arts studios as well as community learning organisations.
Building manager Kathryn Olcott said Mr Mann’s rent was the first to be increased because his lease was due for renewal in December.
The rents of other tenants would follow, but as for how much they would increase, she did not know.
"So now he is looking at the economy recovering, and of course his expenses have increased and he’s having to increase everybody’s rent.
"I do have to give him credit for being really kind for two years [during Covid-19 lockdowns]. But it’s coming as a shock."
She said a lot of the leases were due for renewal next year.
"So right now, before he renews anybody’s lease, starting from December on, he is reviewing each and every one of them.
"It’s not just a flat 1% or 2%, or whatever it used to be."
She was concerned about how other tenants in the building would react to the news.
It was only late last month that King Edward Court tenants learned the building was for sale.
Many feared it could signal a potentially damaging blow to the future of the Dunedin arts community.
It was believed an offer had already been made on the building, but it was still not known who had made it, how much was offered, or which real estate company it was being sold through.
When the property was bought by the Josephs in 2000, there was talk of it being turned into apartments or a hotel; but instead it became a hub for community groups, sports clubs and small businesses.
Now that the Josephs were looking to sell, there were fears a new owner may evict the tenants and again focus on turning it into apartments or a hotel.
Mr Mann said the building had not sold yet, so he planned to keep pushing the Josephs to consider allowing a group of tenants to buy the building.
A small group of tenants had established a working group with the aim of buying the building, preserving it and keeping it operating as an arts hub.
