Christchurch landlord Chandra Phal says the death of his tenant was an accident.

A tenant is refusing to pay rent after her landlord was involved in her partner's death.

Christchurch man Anthony George Robinson, 51, was killed last Saturday outside the rental property where he and his partner of 14 years, Jodie Reeves, lived.

Their landlord, Chandra Phal, told Stuff he drove off in fear after being attacked, not realising the man was hanging on to his car for about 100 metres.

Supplied Anthony George Robinson, 51, was killed last Saturday outside the rental property where he and his partner of 14 years, Jodie Reeves, lived.

He arrived at the property on Bevington St in Avonhead to take photos for a Facebook advertisement after serving the tenants a 90-day eviction notice.

Phal claimed Reeves came outside and yelled racial abuse at him. Robinson then "lunged" towards Phal, who jumped in his car, closed the door and "floored the car".

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STACY SQUIRES/STUFF Christchurch landlord Chandra Phal says he did not realise his tenant was hanging on to his car as he drove away.

About three hours after Robinson's death Reeves sent a series of texts to Phal, one of which read: "U will not be getting ur rent now I got to put Anthony at rest because of u." (sic)

Phal later text Reeves, demanding she leave house by the day ordered by the court and pay the weekly $400 rent.

"Nah no rent u took his life u not getting s...," she replied

Phal told Stuff the rent had stopped coming in and he would be contacting the Tenancy Tribunal again.

Reeves owed him $410, he said.

"I will give her a week to mourn, but will lodge an eviction application soon."

STACY SQUIRES/STUFF The incident happened on Bevington St, Avonhead, on Saturday evening.

Reeves said she sent some "nasty messages" to Phal, but said he had put her "through so much hell" since May. She did not respond to further questions.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) housing and tenancy manager Jennifer Sykes said tenants who had signed a tenancy agreement must continue to pay rent, even if they are experiencing a "dispute situation" with their landlord.

Phal earlier claimed the tenants had been racially abusing him for the last six months. An eviction notice, posted on Facebook by Reeves, said Phal claimed the tenants had breached the tenancy agreement due to a "breakdown in communication".

Reeves said Phal was not supposed to be at the house until a day after the incident.

"He was asked to leave more than three times by me, he would not leave, he was taking photos of the house. Then Anthony went over leaned on his car, then he went to drive off, but Anthony had hold of his car."

She admitted telling Phal to "f… off, you black c…" on Saturday, after telling him twice to leave.