Confusion and Concern at Columbia Gardens Apartments
In the heart of Columbia, South Carolina, residents of the Columbia Gardens Apartments are grappling with unexpected eviction notices, sparking both confusion and anxiety among those affected. Just last Friday, many tenants discovered they were facing possible evictions, despite consistently paying their rent on time.
A Distressing Discovery
One resident, who requested to remain anonymous, shared her unsettling experience after a recent meeting with the property manager. “She said, ‘If you don’t have the proof, you didn’t pay.’ Then she told me I need to either get on a payment plan or I’ll get 30 days to sort it out before they file for my eviction,” the resident explained.
This resident found herself in disbelief after she received an eviction notice claiming she owed over $7,600. What’s alarming is that just two months ago, she was assured there were no pending charges against her. “My ledger shows I haven’t paid rent since 2020, basically, since I paid them a deposit to move in here, which was almost five years ago,” she recounted. “That’s impossible. I was dropping my money orders in the drop box just like everyone else. Where’s our money?”
Frustration with Communication
The troubling situation has left many residents feeling frustrated, particularly regarding the lack of communication from property management. “No one answers the phone anymore. We sent emails. No one responds back,” she noted. To make matters worse, there is no online portal available where residents can check their previous payment history, adding to their confusion.
Adding to the frustrations, another resident detailed an interaction with corporate management that left them feeling dismissed. “When we went to the office this past Monday, the woman from corporate said, ‘We don’t fix anything because you guys don’t pay rent,’” they shared. This brusque remark did little to calm the growing anxiety among the tenants.
Lack of Clarity on Eviction Notices
Attempting to gather more information on the situation, representatives from South Carolina Housing confirmed that they do not send out eviction notices or calculate rent owed by residents. This has led to even more questions regarding how Columbia Gardens Apartments can issue such notices.
As the residents clamored for clarity, attempts to reach out to Beacon Property Management Company have been met with silence. Multiple voicemails and emails have been left since Monday in hopes of a response, yet residents are still waiting for answers concerning the eviction notices and the calculations behind the alleged back rent.
The Residents’ Plea for Answers
With each passing day, tension continues to mount at Columbia Gardens. Residents are left feeling helpless as they navigate this alarming situation. They find themselves united, advocating for the answers they desperately seek regarding their housing stability.
As the community grapples with these issues, it remains to be seen how management will respond in the coming days. For now, residents continue to demand transparency and the assurance that they will not face unjust evictions based on situations that feel both confusing and unfair.
