Lexington County Faces Foreclosure Woes at Westwood Estates
LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — The Westwood Estates apartment complex in Lexington County is in hot water as it faces foreclosure due to an alleged failure to meet loan repayment terms. This situation has left many current residents anxious about their future in the complex, and it’s certainly stirring up conversation around the community.
Background of the Situation
According to court documents, Westwood Estates took out a hefty loan exceeding $24 million in 2021 from a real estate company named 100 Riverbend. Unfortunately, the apartment complex has not been able to make the required repayments, which were originally due this past June. In light of these circumstances, Riverbend is moving forward with plans to sell Westwood Estates at a foreclosure auction in hopes of recouping their investment.
Legal Insights
Mark Fessler, the Deputy Director for Litigation and Training with SC Appleseed Legal Services, explained that the real estate firm is legal in pursuing these measures. He noted, “Practically speaking, you have to refinance the loan or get an extension from the lender, which the lender is not obligated to give, or you’d have to sell the property to someone else and use the proceeds from the sale to pay off the matured loan.” While the law appears to side with Riverbend, it raises significant concern for the tenants residing there.
Residents Speak Out
As this legal mess unfolds, tenants have shared some troubling stories about their living conditions at Westwood Estates. Quindara Williams, who has lived in the complex since 2020, has encountered significant issues. She described an incident with squirrels in her apartment, saying, “I had to transfer to another building and paid for repairs out of my own pocket after maintenance crews did not complete their jobs.” To add to her stress, Williams recounted that her two-year-old child has health issues stemming from mold in their apartment due to water damage. “I paid for someone out of pocket for half the work they did not finish,” she said, visibly worried about her child’s health.
Another resident, Timothy Bridges, also voiced his frustrations. He recalled a time when he resorted to using the showers at Planet Fitness because “our water was cut off for so long.” Bridges, who has lived in the complex for over two years, described the plumbing problems as something that took nearly two years to fix. “It was horrific,” he lamented.
James Lewis, another long-term resident, painted a graphical picture of his struggles. “There are holes in my bathroom walls, and roaches are coming in. It’s really gross in there,” he said, his frustrations evident.
Legal Rights and Responsibilities
With the state of living at Westwood Estates reaching critical levels, Fessler emphasized that tenants have the right to know about their living conditions. Landlords are required to keep tenants informed about any issues and to act on necessary repairs. “If the landlord doesn’t do that, the tenant’s remedy is to go to the Magistrate’s Court and file a lawsuit asking the landlord to make the repair,” he explained.
Waiting for Resolution
Westwood Estates declined to provide a comment when reached out for a statement about these concerns. Additionally, an attorney representing 100 Riverbend indicated that they are still in the early stages of addressing this complicated legal matter.
As this situation continues to develop, the residents of Westwood Estates are left hoping for a quick resolution to their fears regarding their homes. In the meantime, the city will be watching closely as this foreclosure saga unfolds.
