Tenants Left Scrambling After Alleged Rent Skimming Foreclosed Landlord Pockets Their 'Move-In" Money For Apartments Subject To Eviction Notices

In Bakersfield, California, KERO-TV Channel 23 reports:

• Renee Fuentez and her family are scrambling to find a new place to live. They moved into an apartment complex on Parker Avenue about two weeks ago, only to find out a week later the complex was in foreclosure. "I asked him if it's for rent and he said, "Yes,"' said Fuentez.

• The person Fuentez is referring to is the owner of the complex, Tommy Apostolides. Fuentez said he took her deposit and first month's rent, but failed to tell her about the problems facing the apartment complex.

• "I gave him $1,350 for first month's rent and deposit and then I called the owner and he said I gave everything to the bank," said Fuentez. "So now they are asking us to be out by a certain date, and we don't have the money. He's not giving his deposit back."

• Candy Rodriguez, who lives in another unit is in a similar situation. "I don't have any where to go," said Rodriguez. Rodriguez said he was living in another complex owned by Apostolides until that complex went into foreclosure.(1)

For more, see Woman Unknowingly Rents Foreclosed Apartment (Renter Found Out Apartment Was Foreclosed A Week After Moving In).

(1) See Staying Home: The Rights of Renters Living in Foreclosed Properties for those tenants left in a bad spot by rent skimming landlords in foreclosure.