One landlady says she was forced to live in her car after three of her tenants refused to pay the rent and she cannot cancel it due to the moratoriums currently in place.
Brandie LaCasse owes more than $ 23,000 (£ 16,709) in rent on three properties and told CBS News that she has not received rental subsidies from the government that at least one of her tenants has approved.
LaCasse, who previously served in the Air Force, says she is now homeless and struggling to support herself and her daughter.
She claims she had to live out of her car or rely on the kindness of her friends to accommodate her and her daughter.
Brandie LaCasse. Photo credit: CBS News
She told CBS: “I cried many nights thinking, ‘Where’s my money?’
“I don’t see how they can give someone my private property to live for free. I bought this property. I fixed it with my blood, sweat and tears.
“I invested in these properties without thinking that I would have no place to live. I just want my house. That’s it. I just want my house.”
LaCasse tenant Carla McArthur told CBS News that she was unable to pay her rent due to childcare costs for her two children – one of whom has autism – and problems encountered during the pandemic.
McArthur said, “I feel bad that I couldn’t pay her.
“We lost two incomes. I had Covid-19 twice. My children all had it once. My husband had it once. We were affected by the virus.”
Tenant Carla McArthur. Photo credit: CBS News
McArthur has been approved a rent reduction, but the state has not yet paid LaCasse.
McArthur said she was concerned that she could become homeless after the moratorium was lifted.
“I’m not sure what to do if the moratorium is lifted,” she said. “Before that I am afraid of being homeless.”
The new rules were supposed to protect vulnerable renters during the pandemic, but some landlords say the bans let them out of their pockets.
