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Scumbag Landlords

By Gaylen Thornton

Real Estate Agent with Desert Heritage Real Estate

September 04, 2009 08:57 AM

Is there anything lower than a scumbag landlord that takes a tenants rental money while defaulting on their loan and letting the place foreclose? I have a client who is in that situation as I write this post. Fortunately, we found out the home is going to foreclosure so I have the time to find these good people a place to move without much problem.

The landlord, of course, hasn't said a word to the tenant. It is no wonder that landlords have such a bad reputation. In most cases they are deserved!

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April Solomon

Keller Williams Professionals - Swannanoa, NC

Broker/Realtor/GRI

Gaylen,

I experienced this same thing just late last year. The homeowner was in foreclosure and the tenant found out through a notice being posted on the door to vacate the property. She called me to ask if I had any rentals and how could she circumvent this from happening to her again.

Sep 04, 2009 09:29 AM

Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES

Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL

Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Gaylen, unfortunately, that is a big concern for people wanting to rent. It used to be that the landlord was asking all the hard questions, now the tenants are forced to do the same and with good reason. Have a great weekend!

Sep 04, 2009 10:06 AM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

It's really become a case of "renter, beware!" Sad commentary on our society.

Mike in Tucosn

Sep 04, 2009 04:45 PM

Matt Grohe

RE/MAX Concepts - Des Moines, IA

Serving the metro since 2003

Gaylen: We've had situations here where a health club was taking memberships right up until the day they closed and a country club that was aggressively telemarketing right up until bankruptcy. I don't think you can prejudice landlords in the same way I shouldn't prejudice country clubs or health clubs. I feel for all who suffers loss from greed.

Sep 04, 2009 04:50 PM

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM

Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA

LandlordWhisperer

In VA it is called rent skimming and it is illegal.....

Sep 05, 2009 10:10 AM

Gaylen Thornton

Desert Heritage Real Estate - Surprise, AZ

Wallace, it is immoral and illegal in most states but that doesn't mean that landlords aren't doing it and getting away with it.

Sep 05, 2009 04:51 PM

Gaylen - I don't think that most landlords who are doing it REALIZE that it is illegal and they probably feel that they have been burned by tenants and this is PAYBACK..most landlords end up declaring BK so the tenant's security deposit disappears with little recourse.

Sep 06, 2009 10:03 AM

Diane Rice

Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL

SFR, SRES, CNC

I have to be on constant lookout for this. As soon as the tenants notify us, we go into "stand-by mode" and some of our owners will NOT alert us of their problems right away. I presently have 2 such owners in this pause position.

Sep 06, 2009 04:41 PM

Scumbag Landlords

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Gaylen Thornton

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