Central Florida Tenants Get The Boot As Utilities Are Shut Off In Apartments In Foreclosure; Landlord Suspected Of Stealing Electric Service

In Clearwater, Florida, My Fox Tampa Bay reports:

• Pinellas County Code Enforcement officers closed a row of apartments Tuesday, finding the rental units lacked water and electricity -- even as tenants continued paying. "We got 15 days, they got it posted on the door," said resident Debra Turman. "This place isn't fit for humans, but I guess the roaches can stay!" Electric service to the converted homes on Westminister Avenue was shut off Thursday, when sheriff's deputies investigated claims that electric was being stolen. Residents said the water had been shut off far longer, and that the landlord had dug an illegal well. "That's part of the minimum housing code. You do need to have running water, sewer and electricity," said Todd Myers, the county's code enforcement director.

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• Pinellas Property Appraiser's Office records indicate Safety Harbor resident Lawrence Ayers owns the rental homes, and another apartment building near Oldsmar that was also deemed uninhabitable earlier in June. Myers said the conditions were similar to those on Westminister Avenue and there were also claims electricity was being stolen.

For more, see Clearwater apartments condemned (County: homes are hazardous).

See also:

• Squalid apartment complex condemned (Residents had been without water and power since Thursday),
• Tenants stuck in squalor; landlord still out of contact. RentSigmaSkimming