Renters In 60 Properties May Have To Pack Their Bags As Another Landlord Stiffs Bank, Utilities Out Of Payments; Water, Electric Shutoffs Threatened

In Mason City, Iowa, the Globe Gazette reports:

• City Administrator Brent Trout and others are working to resolve a housing crisis caused by an apparent negligent landlord, affecting tenants in 60 properties in Mason City. US Bank has filed foreclose papers on one property. In other cases, tenants whose utility payments are included in their rent have been told their utilities will be shut off for lack of payment. Garbage has piled up around some of the properties, creating a public health hazard.



• All of the properties are owned by Mike Hammond of Hammond Estates, Swea City. Repeated calls to Hammond’s office have gone unanswered. Hammond purchased many of the properties on contract from Matthew and Christine Birkey of Clermont, Fla., formerly of Mason City, according to court records.



• Trout has taken several steps to make sure tenants affected are not left homeless and have utility and garbage service. The city’s Neighborhood Services personnel was directed to check all Hammond properties and pick up the garbage.



• “It is a health and safety issue,” said Trout. “The costs associated with the cleanup will be assessed to Mr. Hammond’s property.”



• The city has agreed to not shut off the water until tenants can find other living arrangements. Trout also has contacted Alliant Energy to try to postpone shutting off tenants’ electricity until other living arrangements can be made.

For more, see Apparent landlord negligence causes crisis for tenants.