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Man pretends to own house, collects rent from tenants
Carl Kopsho was surprised to learn that the man who collected $800 rent from him every month wasn't his landlord. Police say the man pretended to own the house in Florida and rented it to Kopsho and his girlfriend without the knowledge of the owner, who lives in New York. (Ocala.com)
July 18, 2008 | Permalink
Comments
That reminds me . My tenant hasn't paid this months rent for the Golden Gate Bridge.
Posted by: JIM | Jul 18, 2008 7:42:21 AM
I'd rent the dude MY house if he'd replace the kitchen cabinets! And I live there now!
Posted by: russ | Jul 18, 2008 7:43:14 AM
"He has already painted the walls and installed a refrigerator and was about to replace the kitchen cabinets."
Why is he paying to make "improvements" on property he doesn't own? I don't get the logic.
Posted by: Skanky Skeezer | Jul 18, 2008 7:58:09 AM
SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA.........NO UPKEEP ON THE APARTMENT OR HOUSE JUST PURE RENT PAYMENTS.
Posted by: | Jul 18, 2008 8:12:02 AM
"It just kind of all clicked in now," he said. "Who doesn't have a cell phone nowadays?"
I don't have a cellphone nowadays. I don't like to be reached everywhere I go. I prefer to keep it simple, work and home. In between, I don't need to talk to anyone on a phone. It can wait.
But back to the story, this is a great idea! I have a vacant home right next to me that I think I'll go ahead and lease out....
Posted by: Reno | Jul 18, 2008 8:46:39 AM
There's a spot on the overpass near my grandma-in-law's house I could probably rent out. Wonder how much I can get from the "homeless" people who try to sleep there.
Posted by: thereverendtwerp | Jul 18, 2008 8:51:04 AM
As diabolical as this is, it's also rather clever.
Posted by: Torgo | Jul 18, 2008 9:06:05 AM
I worked for a bank out of Norwalk CT and having to deal with foreclosures, this happens a lot more than you could imagine. The scenario plays out; property is pending foreclosure, owner skips out, somebody steps in and places the place for rent and collects the fees. I had a multiple unit building where the "landlord" was a bank teller that found out the property was being foreclosed on and started renting units @900.00/month x3 units. We figured this went on for least half a year.
Pretty smart on her part.
Posted by: jupiterjim | Jul 18, 2008 9:19:38 AM
Hey, perhaps this is a new technique for finding renters... leave your property vacant, and let some 'independent agent' find them for you!
What I want to know is how the supposed landlord got access to the house? Did he break in and then change all the locks so he had keys?
Kopsho sounds like a good tenant... I hope the owner continues renting to him.
Posted by: SkyGrrl | Jul 18, 2008 9:27:58 AM
"Why is he paying to make "improvements" on property he doesn't own? I don't get the logic."
I have a friend in michigan who rents out a lot of property. Its all in flint so the properties all need work to be cozy.
When tenants do work on the places they tally up the cost of supplies and a fair amount for labor and just deduct that from the rent.
My friend doesn't have to do the work , and the people get a nicer place for the time they are there.
Posted by: boynamedsue | Jul 18, 2008 11:40:57 AM
why couldn't I ever get tenants like this guy? Instead, I get the skank freak and her delinquent juveniles who abuse my house practicing their rioting and looting skills.
Posted by: Soo | Jul 18, 2008 11:43:32 AM
Hold on a minute ... did I get this right? - " Man pretending to be a bad grouper (the man in the grouper mask?) runs away from an 11 year old girl collecting rent"? This is just too weird.
Posted by: the man in the trout mask | Jul 18, 2008 9:40:14 PM
An excellent story. With all the foreclosures out there, I bet this situation is being repeated often around the U.S. I bet you could rent to illegal immigrants and get them to pay you in cash. They'd avoid having mail delivered, also -- and wouldn't try to have a phone installed.
Posted by: Ned | Jul 20, 2008 3:10:23 AM
I'm the person this happened to and it gets even worse! The police got pissed this ended up in the local paper and came after me as the bad guy! They threatened two of my friends, saying they would arrest them if they didnt start telling them what they wanted to hear. Also they handcuffed my girlfriend and threatened to jail her if I didnt come clean. I was taken to jail and sat for hrs while they figured out what to charge me with.
Posted by: Carl | Jul 20, 2008 10:07:49 PM
Carl,
Are you really the guy this happened too?? Why would the cops be upset that it made the papers, and what could they charge you with since you had a signed lease? I'm so confused.
Posted by: jojo | Jul 21, 2008 5:53:21 AM
Add what happened to poor Carl to my list of why I hate the police.
I'm sorry to hear that, Carl. Tell your friend to say nothing and get a lawyer.
Cops are assholes.
Posted by: thereverendtwerp | Jul 21, 2008 6:10:27 AM
jojo: a person can unwittingly be involved in a crime and be charged with aiding and abetting. A good lawyer and the finances to see it through to the end can get those charges dismissed.
Posted by: Soo | Jul 21, 2008 8:32:08 AM
