OUTRAGED tenants have threatened to leave their building after a property manager allegedly stole a month's rent and asked them to pay again.
Casey Oiler was fired from Volunteer Properties for allegedly stealing from buildings in East Tennessee, police said.
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In July, residents of an apartment building in Manchester received a letter stating that their rent was lost and needed to be paid again.
But the truth behind the letter came to light after tenants pushed back at the company and refused to comply with the outrageous request.
"Once it is in there, my responsibility is over," resident John Wilear told CBS affiliate WSMV on August 17.
After the letter was published by local outlets, Volunteer supervisor Brad Turskey said that they had just seen it, claiming it was written by Oiler herself.
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Tursky sent another letter to tenants that said the request to repay rent was not authorized and there was no action needed in regard to the stolen rent.
They said that had no clue that money was stolen until after Oiler was fired and apologized for the misunderstanding.
Burned by their attempts to get answers, residents are still frustrated over how the situation was handled.
"He's never expected anybody to go to the news, to have this aired publicly, and now they look foolish" Wilear said after he was no longer asked to repay his rent.
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"He is playing dumb and backpedaling. Despicable. Despicable is the word."
Though his balance has been taken care of, Wilear noted that he plans on finding a new place to live.
"Take responsibility for your employees," he said.
The buildings were for low-income residents and are partially funded by the United States Department of Agriculture.
The USDA said it is investigating all parties and hopes to bring solutions soon.
Oiler was charged with theft of property in June, according to the Warren County Sheriff's Department.
She is also under investigation for stolen payments in Dechar, WSMV reported.
For residents facing eviction, it's important to understand your rights and talk to a lawyer for advice.
In some cities, rent relief is available for low-income individuals.
Other states like Michigan, New York, New Mexico, and Indiana, offer temporary eviction protections that give residents time to get money together and pay off debts.
Factors like serious illnesses, how an eviction would affect the lives of children, and other aspects of extreme hardship could all come into play if the issue is discussed in court.
To prevent issues from heating up between your landlord, it's most important to pay rent on time and stay communicative with the building owners.
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One woman was saved from eviction after she was awarded $15,000 in rental assistance last year, but a new notice has put pressure on her again.
