Cobb County

Dozens of renters left in cold in dispute between HOA, landlord

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Dozens of residents of the Worthington Condominiums in Cobb County have found themselves caught between a dispute with their landlord and their homeowners association.

“We don’t know whether we are coming or going. We don’t know if we are going to be evicted or if our cars are going to be towed,” resident Miguel Albarron said.

The homeowners association told Channel 2's Lauren Pozen that the landlord is $170,000 behind in past dues. Those dues are included in the tenants rent.

It said that, in cases such as this, HOA bylaws require rent to be paid directly to them. Residents said they are getting mixed messages.

“Every time the HOA has sent letters and posted notifications, Baldwin Crest in turn posts letters on the doors telling them if they don’t pay, they will be evicted,” Albarron said.


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Residents told Pozen they don’t know what to do. Some have paid the HOA. Those who haven't are feeling the repercussions. 

“They deactivated my gate code. We can’t even get in on our own. We are illegally parked. We could get towed at any moment,” condo resident Karlotto Frazier said.

Pozen asked Channel 2 consumer advisor Clark Howard for suggestions on what rights renters have in these types of situations.

"When there’s a dispute between a condo association and unit owner, if that unit owner is not paying the dues, the renter is going to be hit with a notice to pay their rent instead of to the owner of the unit to the association. You got to do it. You got to pay them instead," Howard said.

Pozen also learned that the landlord is involved in a lawsuit with the HOA.

The HOA is suing the landlord on allegations of fraud and theft, among other things.

Pozen tried to contact the condominium's management company but her calls were not returned. When she went inside the management office to try and talk to someone about the situation, she found that all the offices had been cleared out.