Lee County Cops Probe Tenant's Rent Skimming Allegation Against Landlord In Foreclosure; Renter Booted Prematurely, Left $5K Poorer

In Lee County, Florida, The News Press reports:

• The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a complaint a landlord collected $5,000 in rent from a tenant despite knowing the home being rented was in foreclosure and the tenant would be evicted. Joseph Harp, 56, and Karen Adams, 61, told investigators Harp leased the residence [...] in Cape Coral in July for six months.

• Harp told investigators the rent was paid in advance in three installments of $2,800, $1,400 and $3,300. Harp and Adams were forced to leave the residence on Oct. 18, because the house was foreclosed on, according to a Lee County Sheriff’s Office report.

• Harp told investigators he learned the landlord knew of foreclosure proceedings on June 20 but never disclosed that information to Harp. Harp said he has tried to recoup $5,000 for four months he paid for but didn’t get to reside in the home but to no avail.(1)

Source: Man accused of collecting rent from Cape tenant while house was in foreclosure.

(1) In what sounds like a similar case, DeKalb County, Georgia police this summer arrested a property owner on a charge of theft by deception for pocketing upfront rent from an unwitting tenant for renting a home two weeks before the owner lost the home to a foreclosure sale. See Arrest Warrant - State of Georgia v. Harrison. For the media report, see WXIA-TV Channel 11: Dangers of Renting a Foreclosed House.