When my dad was placed on hospice care, I found a house that would be suitable for myself, my dad, and my three stepchildren. I signed the lease, and we moved in.
The owner of the house didn’t live in the area and had enlisted the next-door neighbor to serve as “the landlord.” While this seemed a bit strange, I didn’t give it too much pause. This was still amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and we were all trying to navigate through unprecedented times.
As we settled into the home, the neighbor announced that he would be collecting rent payments from me. This made sense, more or less, since the homeowner didn’t live in town. I didn’t question it and paid him each month, but some other strange things started happening.
Things get fishy
Without notice from the homeowner or my neighbor, a realtor stopped by to walk through the home one day. A few months later, the realtor toured the house for several families. I had been there less than a year when the situation became crystal clear: a just cause lease termination notice was posted on my door. The house had been on the market all along and we were being told to leave. I was devastated, confused, and didn’t know where we would go.
Having never been in a situation like this before, I contacted a helpline through the Veterans’ Resource Center. After listening to my situation, they recommended I seek guidance from a legal professional. I didn’t have the funds to hire an attorney and was relieved when they suggested I contact Northwest Justice Project (NJP) for free legal help.
After a short screening process, I was connected with Matt, an NJP attorney. From our first phone call, Matt was very knowledgeable and assured me that my family was in good hands.
Uncovering the scam
The notice had given us just a few months to vacate the house and it felt like a race against the clock. Matt started by getting us a three-month extension to stay in the home. That gave us the time to delve more deeply into the situation. Matt and I soon realized that my neighbor had been skimming $600 off my rent each month. Making matters worse, the homeowner thought that I had stopped paying rent several months ago because my neighbor had stopped sending him the funds.
Liaising with the homeowner’s attorney, Matt brought forward the facts and ensured that I had enough time to move my family to alternate housing. The homeowner created a mutual lease termination agreement and stopped threatening to give a negative recommendation to my future landlord.
Matt and the team at NJP helped me resolve a frustrating and scary situation.
If something doesn’t seem right, I implore you to consult with a legal expert who will stand up for your rights.