This renter happened to notice in the paper that her house was being foreclosed on, a fact that her landlord failed to mention to her. Her landlord? A RE/MAX agent. #
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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I guess she’ll be sending her rent checks to the bank.
I’ve seen variations of this story a dozen times over this year in newspapers in other parts of the country where the housing bubble collapsed much faster than it has here in Cville. Renters sign a lease, move in and pay rent, meanwhile the landlord pockets the rent but doesn’t keep current with the mortgage, allowing the property to fall into foreclosure. Then the renter discovers this the day the bank shows up with the eviction notice.
It seems to me like fraud.
You know, you’re right—”fraud” really is the word for that. That’s just the frame I’d been searching for.
Is it fraud that the landlord is also losing his home at the same time? Be careful who you accuse of fraud.
Fraud is deceit for personal gain. In failing to mention to his tenant that her home was being foreclosed upon, he continued to collect rent from her rather than inform her and allow her to find a new place to live. That is deception for personal gain, ergo, it’s fraud. Whether that rises to the legal definition of fraud, I can’t say—I’m not an attorney.
There are a huge amount of commentary at the link provided. I agree with Waldo’s comment.
It’s fraud, plain and simple. This has happened to my family twice. I’m blogging about it at http://my-rental-is-in-foreclosure.info and I think I’m gonna take the last landlord to court. Something has to be done about this!