Tenants asked to leave apartments
William and Nalani Harwood will be leaving behind the first apartment they called “home” as couple.
William and Nalani Harwood will be leaving behind the first apartment they called “home” as couple.
“This was our first place together, so there’s a lot of memories,” William Harwood said Wednesday.
The Harwoods and their neighbors in an apartment complex on Third Avenue West were asked to vacate the building because it’s being foreclosed upon, they said.
Tenants of the four apartments in the building received paperwork showing that Deutsche Bank National Trust now owns the property.
Mary Jane and Ralph Olheiser previously owned the building, the Harwoods said.
A letter given to the Harwoods from Brighton Real Estate Services of Utah dated April 6 states the following:
“Ownership of the property you are presently occupying has been transferred as a result of foreclosure proceedings. You are hereby notified to vacate the premises and instructed to contact the owner’s agent immediately to discuss the matter.”
However, the Harwoods have known about the foreclosure for more than a year and knew they would be asked to leave nearly two months ago.
“I was pretty upset about it at first,” Nalani Harwood said. “We’ve lived here over two years.”
The Harwoods also expect to get $725 from Deutsche Bank National Trust to help with moving expenses.
Though they plan to move out by the end of the week, tenants can apparently stay longer.
“If you are a tenant, pursuant to the federal statute, Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009, you have the right to remain on the property for 90 days or the remaining term of your lease whichever is longer,” the April 6 letter states.
The couple will be living separately until they can find another place to reside.
“We’re just going to throw our stuff in storage and she’s going to her mom’s and I’m going to a buddy’s,” William Harwood said. “We’ll only be a couple blocks away (from each other). It just gives us motivation to find another place quicker.”
While the Harwoods plan to stay in Dickinson, two other tenants who wished to remain anonymous said they’re moving out of the city.
William Harwood said he wishes a new owner could fix the building up and let the tenants continue to reside there.
“It’s been like a family around here,” he said.
The Harwoods are optimistic about their situation.
“I’m not exactly happy, but I’d have to say it’s best,” William Harwood said. “It’s probably easier to sell a building without people in it.”
His wife agrees.
“It’s ridiculous, but I guess it’s kind of a good thing — the building is kind of falling apart,” Nalani Harwood said.
Attempts to reach Deutsche Bank National Trust Tuesday were unsuccessful. A Brighton Real Estate Services representative declined comment.
A message left for the Olheisers was not immediately returned.
A situation similar to the Harwoods’ is occurring in Belfield. Tenants at an apartment complex may be forced to move out since the owner of the building reportedly plans to sell it to an oil company.
Tags: news, tenants, apartment, foreclosure
More from around the web
RSS Feeds