Posted on 08/11/2010 12:53:22 PM PDT by a fool in paradise
CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - A landlord who says she's fed up with some tenants who refuse to pay their rent decided to take matters into her own hands with spray paint.
Landlord Vanessa McCants spray painted the words "deadbeat tenants" on a house she owns in the Reedy Creek subdivision of Northeast Charlotte.
McCants says the tenants have not paid the $1300 a month rent since June 1st, and have now missed two payments.
McCants says the home is being foreclosed on and will be auctioned off next week.
She believes the tenants figured out she wouldn't be able to legally evict them before she lost ownership of the home, so they stopped paying. She says the eviction process can take several months.
"Why do you think you have the right to stay in someone's home without paying them rent?" McCants told WBTV. "Just because this house is under foreclosure -- that's neither here nor there -- you still have to pay me."
Tenant Shanae Jackson admits she's not paying the rent, but says McCants isn't telling the whole story.
She says she's been trying to move because the home is being foreclosed on, and she says she can't afford both the rent and moving expenses at the same time. Jackson feels the security deposit she gave when she moved in should cover the rent.
But McCants says that security deposit is for damage to the property -- not to cover unpaid rent.
Jackson also accuses McCants of cutting the wires to the air conditioning, which she denies.
McCants said she decided to vandalize her own home after trying to get inside to retrieve things she owns, and being told by police she can't right now.
She believes the law gives a lot of protection to tenants, but not enough to homeowners.
McCants spray painted the garage with "deadbeat tenants" and Jackson's name on the garage Wednesday night. Soon after, Jackson painted over the words.
Jackson called police, who said McCants won't be charged because spray painting your own property is not a crime.
LOL
McCants (landlord) spray painted the garage with "deadbeat tenants" and Jackson's name on the garage Wednesday night. Soon after, Jackson (tenant) painted over the words.
Jackson called police, who said McCants won't be charged because spray painting your own property is not a crime.
It's good to know that not all private property rights have been annulled.
Tenant Shanae Jackson admits she's not paying the rent, but says McCants isn't telling the whole story.
She says she's been trying to move because the home is being foreclosed on, and she says she can't afford both the rent and moving expenses at the same time.
Yet.
The homeowner wasn't paying the mortgage with the rent money. Looks like the tenants were going to get evicted whether they paid the rent or not.
Not quite sure there's really a "good guy/bad guy" in this story.
I assume they don’t have an HOA to deal with.
In my neighborhood, we have the opposite. Tenants moved into a house that a lady owned. She failed to mention she was losing the house to the bank. The tenants paid rent through the end of July, only to be notified of their eviction by the bank at the beginning of July. I think they worked it out with the bank to stay to the end of the month, but they are gone now.
I wonder which party the Jacksons are registered under?
I wonder why the landlord doesn’t join the Entitlement Class and take that mortgage bailout the Dems are offering for votes? I guess they haven’t passed that bill yet.
One could ask the same about the landlord who is not paying her mortgage holder...
The “homeowner” isn’t paying her mortgage and she’s pissed the tenants aren’t paying the rent. LOL.
Obama bringing out the best in us Americans.
Depending on the stage of foreclosure the bank may have something to say about painting the house.
Pretty classless way to deal with the situation.
Not unless the landlord agrees.
“spray painting your own property is not a crime.”
It’s good to know that not all private property rights have been annulled.
Love this stuff.
That happened to some friends of ours. They were renting a nice place, too (Lochsa Falls sub in Meridian).
But McCants says that security deposit is for damage to the property -- not to cover unpaid rent.
Common dodge by tenants. Stop paying the rent when you are getting ready to move. Force the landlord to utilize the security deposit against unpaid rent. Then hope that any damage is slight enough that the landloard will not bother coming after you with the JP.
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Let me assure you that as far as rental property is concerned you don't have much in the way of private property rights. The tenants know that courts are reluctant to evict and slow to hear cases. Most renters can get four or five months with out paying rent before being evicted. They will finally move out the night before the Sheriffs come to evict them.
Even if they do get thrown out you must hold whatever personal belongings they leave behind in storage for 6 weeks. I had someone show up after 4 months wanting their stuff.
Rental property is ok if you get decent people but it is simply impossible to tell in advance who is going to be good. I have had the same people in a few houses for many years but others you know are going to have to be evicted before the end of the first year.
A bad tenant can eat up a years worth of rent in just fixing up the house after they leave.
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