Baltimore landlords evict non-paying tenants years into pandemic

BARRY SIMMS JOINS US LIVE IN THE STUDIO WITH DETAILS. BARRY: IN BALTIMORE CITY ALONE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TELLS ME THEY HAVE CONDUCTED 40 OAF CHANCE OVER THE LAST 10 DAYS. ON THE DAY I SAW A BALTIMORE COUNTY CONSTABLE, HE TOLD ME HE HAD SEVEN ON HIS SCHEDULE THAT DAY. TONIT,GH THE PERSPECTIVE ON THREE LANDLORDS GRANTED COURT ORDERED EVICTIONS. WITH A KNOCKN OTHE DOOR AND A TURN OF THEEY K, AND EVICTION BEGINS. THE LANDLORD CLAIMING IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS WITH NO RENTAL PAYMENTS. I CAN'T KEEP PEOPLE LIVING IN MY HOUSE FOR NOTHING SHOULD I VEHA TAXES AND PROPERTY TAXES, INSURANCE ON THE HOUSE. I HAVE MAINTENANCE TO DO ON THIS HOUSE. I CAN'T BE DONATING MONEY TO PEOPLE TO LIVE FOR FREE ON ME. RRY:BA PAUL OWNS MORE THAN 30 PROPERTIES IN ESSEX, DUNDALK AT MIDDLE RIVER. HE SAYS THROUGHOUT THE COVID PANDEMIC, HE TRIED TO WORK WITH HIS TENANTS. ONLY TWO OUT OF EIGHT APPLIED RECEIVED RENTAL ASSISTANCE. HE SAYS HE FINALLY GOT A JUDGE TO GRANT THIS EVICTION, ALLOWING HIM TO BRING IN WORKERS TO REMOVE A WHEELCHAIR, A CHILD'S PLAYPEN OTHER FURNITURE, AND BELONGINGS. FOR 24 HOURS, THIS WILL BE ALLOWED TO STAY HERE IN THE FRONT YARD. AFTER THAT, IF THE TENANTS DO NOT MOREVE IT, THE HOMEOWNER HAS THE RIGHT TO DISPOSE OF IT. >> IN MY EXPERIENCES, THIS IS NOT A BAD -- I DON'T HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO HERE. BARRY: RYAN IS A LANDLORDHO W DOES NOT WANT US TO DISCLOSE HIS LAST NAME. 11 NEWS BEGAN TALKING TO HIM LAST OCTOBER ABOUT THIS HOUSE HE RENTS OUT IN NORTHEAST BALTIMORE AND HOW FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, SOME OF HIS TENANTS REFUSETOD PAY. >> I HAD TO DO A BANKRUPTCY BECAUSE THEY WERE COMING FOR MY HOUSE. BARRY: IS RENTAL PROPERTY WAS ABOUT TO BE SDOL IN A TAX SALE BECAUSE OF A DELINQUENT TAX BILL AND A HEFTY $6,000 WATER BILL. >> I WAS KINDF O CONFLICTED ABOUT EVEN DISCUSSING IT, BUT, IT'S BAEMRRASSMENT. I HAVE NEVER -- I LOOK AT THAT AS A BIT OF A FAILING. BUT IT WAS SOMETHING I HAD TO DO TO REGROUP. BARRY: DO YOU WANT TO BE A LANDLORD ANYMORE? >> NO, NO, NO. THIS IS IT FOR ME. BARRY: ONE NITA FOX BEGAN TALKING TO US IN OCTOBER UPSET ABOUT THE FINANCIAL STRESS SHE FACED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND NONPAYING TENANTS. >> SHE WAS LIKE I DON'T HAVE TO PAY RENT. YOU DO HAVE TO PAY RENT IF YOU'RE GOING TO STAY HERE. THIS IS MY RENTAL PROPERTY. I DID NOT RECEIVE RENT FOR BARRY: NINE MONTHS. BAY:RRRECENTLY, FOX SAYS SHE FINALLY GOT A COURT ORDERED EVICTION AND HER PROPERTY BACK. > THE SHERIFF CAME AND WE CHANGED ALL THE LOCKS. BARRY: WHILE SHE IS GETTING OUT OF THE BUSINESS, PAUL CONTINUES TO RENT HIS HOUSES, BUT WHAT ABOUT BRIAN? >> IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE AND I'VE GOT BEATEN DOWN KIND OF. THIS PANDEMIC WAS ROUGH. BARRY: RYAN IS ONSNSHORE. NOW I AM TELLING YOU YES, BUT IT IS VERY POSSIBLE I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER. BARRY: HE MAY HIRE A MANAGEMENT COMPANY. ALL THREE LANDLORDS TOMMY DESPITE NUMEROUS EFFORTS, THEY DDI NOT GET THAT BACK RENT THAT IS OWED TO THEM. THEY SAY THEY ARE JUST GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE PROPERTY BACK. REPORTING LIVE

Channel: WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore

Views: 37,894

Keywords: Baltimore, Baltimore Renters United, Bob Posterli, COVID-19, Public Justice Center, Right To Housing Alliance, Tessa Worsham, baltimore evictions, coronavirus, covid, eviction, eviction moratorium, eviction pause, home, homeless, housing, rent, rent relief

Id: 85yEKtabyR0

Length: 3min 28sec (208 seconds)

Published: Thu Mar 03 2022