Over A Dozen Tenants Put Out Onto Street Without Notice As Landlord Is Accused Of Housing Violations & Suspected Of Stealing Electric & Water Service

In Pinellas County, Florida, the St. Petersburg Times reports:

• At least 15 residents of a west Oldsmar apartment building were evicted Friday morning with no prior notice after Pinellas County sheriff's deputies said their landlord violated housing codes. The residents, who said they first learned of the eviction about 9:30 a.m., had to pack their things in the morning heat without lights or air conditioning after a TECO employee cut off what deputies said was stolen electricity. Many said they knew nothing about the allegations of power and water theft leveled against landlord Lawrence Ayers, who charged them $125 weekly to cover rent and utilities.

• Electrical connections at 3616 Meriden Ave. were jerry-rigged to bypass meters, causing "imminent danger to the residents," said Safety Harbor Fire Marshal Richard Brock. Though the eviction notices allowed residents 30 days to vacate, officials would not let people stay or delay the disconnection of power lines due to "personal safety concerns" like the potential for a fire, Brock said.

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• Ayers has not been arrested and utility-theft charges have been referred to the State Attorney's Office. [...] Ayers was arrested three times in the past five years for failing to appear in court on housing violation charges dealing with electricity and accumulation of trash, according to Pinellas jail records. He has entered into 11 mortgage foreclosure cases with seven different companies, court records show.

For the story, see Residents evicted from Oldsmar apartment building; landlord accused of code violations. RentSigmaSkimming