Vigilante or Hero?

Wait. Was that sarcasm?

Again...sarcasm employed here...come on...

You are truly an idiot.

There are a lot of landlords that only connect with tenants when the rent is due, or if there is a serious repair problem on the premises. Plus, there are landlords that just flat out lie about any number of things, from 'yes the two washing machines will be fixed' to 'yes, the mortgage has been paid and is current'. I want to live where you live, Emilli, where everyone is honest, and everyone owns their own home, and foreclosure lists happen in other countries, and safeguards to keep innocent renters from being wrongfully evicted, are simply not necessary, because the banks are always perfectly scrupulous about their due diligence. Aaah, Utopia, Utopia.

No. Landlords do not stay in contact with thier renters. I live in an apartment complex in SC. The owner is in NJ. How do I know where he pays his mortgages to, if they are being paid. I don't. With all the banking privacy laws in place, you cannot just call a bank and ask about these things. I have to TRUST that he is being honest and paying his bills. And let's be real here.. How many times have you gotten mail for a person who no longer lives at your address? So yeah, think about how many people are NOT getting notices.

Why, yes, because landlords will ALWAYS tell their tenants when they're about to be foreclosed on.

Yes renters stay in contact with their landlords. It is the landlord who cares for one thing and that is getting their rent money. However, not all landlords choose to pay their morgage payments , which is what normally happens with the rent money, unless you already own the place. If a landlord does not get their rent money, they are the first one on your door step wanting to collect. So why shouldnt the bank want their money. The question is why isnt the landlord paying the morgage and why should the people renting be thrown out on the streets because the landlord isn't paying his morgage? What I don't understand is why are you so hard on renters? They should get the same respect as anyone else. Just because they dont own their home, doesnt mean they mean they ar beneath you.. IF you are doing so great with life, why do you not help those that need help. Not everyones circimstance is the same. Until you walk in their shoes, don't judge those less fortunate than you. You are not any better than anyone else. Leave judgement for the lord and right now he is probably judging you for lack of compassion to others. Keep going sherriff. The Lord will bless you in many ways.

Emilli ,,,your one of the biggest a holes i have ever had the displeasure of reading about,,one day you will get your turn of hardships and i hope it is a person like you that you go to for a helping hand.

I think you are missing the point. There are instances where people are paying rent, however the landlord is not paying the mortgage. These people are in contact with the landlord, but the landlord is acting deceitfully. The renter has no clue that the property is being foreclosed. The renter is acting in good faith. How dare you judge these people are placed in a precarious situation due to the onwers deceit? Your judgement is misguided, misplaced and callous. Shame on you.

I think you are missing the point. There are instances where people are paying rent, however the landlord is not paying the mortgage. These people are in contact with the landlord, but the landlord is acting deceitfully. The renter has no clue that the property is being foreclosed. The renter is acting in good faith. How dare you judge these people are placed in a precarious situation due to the onwers deceit? Your judgement is misguided, misplaced and callous. Shame on you.

Emilli...you are an idiot! Why dont you just shut the H*ll up, ok? I'm a single parent, I work hard, have my own house and struggle like hell. Unfortunetly we can all be as lucky and together as you. THE STORY WAS BASED ON TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY LOW LIFE LANDLORDS!!! I guess you have just been one lucky son of a *itch to not have had to deal with an absent landlord. You seem like a heartless person......get of the site!!!

Emilli you are an idiot....just shut the *ell up, ok?

Do you really think the landlord is going to tell you that they have not paid their mortgage? NO!!! it is happening all over the landlord is collecting as much rent as possible from the renter while the house is being foreclosed on. The lender cannot give you any information regarding the borrower in this care the landord.

The landlord isn't your buddy. It's a business arrangement. You already setup the agreement before you move in and you only contact the landlord if something goes wrong in the place (per your agreement). Otherwise, all the landlord needs to make sure is that you pay your rent on time and makes sure you're not doing anything that would be in violation of the agreement.

The only time I ever needed to see my landlord is when I paid my rent in person or if something broke that needed fixing that was in our agreement.

In these circumstances in the article, the landlord should have contacted the tenant. The tenants paid their rent, why do they need to contact the landlord?

"You are to obey the laws of the land, not pick and choose which ones you will obey. "

An unjust law is no law.

Hey Ozark--you would probably consider me a liberal because I voted for Obama. Guess what? I'm educated, too! GASP! I still think this is wrong. It isn't wrong to evict a tenant for non-payment of rent, but it IS wrong to evict someone who has been paying rent to a smarmy landlord who has screwed them over. That goes against my morals--law be damned. Lots of things that are immoral in this country aren't illegal, and vice versa. Heck, you can't even spank kids in some states yet a rapist gets only 5 years in jail. Doesn't make sense.
I won't even begin to try to refute your ignorant statement that people choose to not have health care. You obviously have a good job that provides it for you. My dad, however, has worked his fingers to the bone for decades and still has crappy health care through his employer. But yeah...I guess he "chooses" not to have it. Even though he drives a 10 year old truck, paid off his mortgage early, and lives frugally so he can put some money away for retirement. You're ridiculous.

EDUCATED? i DON'T KNOW WHAT SCHOOL YOU WENT TOO, BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT TEACH THE GOLDEN RULE. i CAN REMEMBER NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT ALMOST ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES HAD THE QUOTE "TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE" THEY WERE APPOINTED TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE INNOCENT NOT THE CROOKS. NOT ALL LAWS PUT IN PLACE BY OUR "PERFECT" GOVERNMENT RECENTLY HAS BEEN FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE BUT MORE FOR THEIR OWN SELFISH GAIN. i AM SURE YOU NEVER SPEED, ALWAYS USE YOUR BLINKER, SHOW ALL YOUR INCOME DOWN TO THE LAST PENNY ON YOUR TAXES, DON'T HELP THE DIABLED OR ELDERLY (SINCE GIVING THEM MONEY COULD STOP THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY IF THEY WERE HONEST AND REPORTED IT), SO YOU SEE THERE ARE ALOT OF SO CALLED LAWS THAT GO AGAINST GOOD JUDGEMENT AND MORAL ETHICS. YES A PERSON SHOULD OBEY THE LAWS, BUT IF THE LAW WILL HURT THE INNOCENT - THEN HELL NO THEY SHOULD NOT. I AM SURE YOU WERE SOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY WITH THE STATE TROOPER WHO TICKETED THE MAN WHO SAVED THE TWO OLD LADIES LIVES FOR JAY WALING AND IT ALMOST COST HIM HIS OWN LIFE! i AM SURE YOU APLAUDED THE STATE TROOPER FOR DOING HIS JOB - I AM SURE YOU WERE THINKING THAT THE TWO LADIES SHOULD HAVE BEEN HIT SINCE THEY WERE NOT EDUCATED ENOUGH TO NOT CROSS THE ROAD !

EDUCATED? i DON'T KNOW WHAT SCHOOL YOU WENT TOO, BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT TEACH THE GOLDEN RULE. i CAN REMEMBER NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT ALMOST ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES HAD THE QUOTE "TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE" THEY WERE APPOINTED TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE INNOCENT NOT THE CROOKS. NOT ALL LAWS PUT IN PLACE BY OUR "PERFECT" GOVERNMENT RECENTLY HAS BEEN FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE BUT MORE FOR THEIR OWN SELFISH GAIN. i AM SURE YOU NEVER SPEED, ALWAYS USE YOUR BLINKER, SHOW ALL YOUR INCOME DOWN TO THE LAST PENNY ON YOUR TAXES, DON'T HELP THE DIABLED OR ELDERLY (SINCE GIVING THEM MONEY COULD STOP THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY IF THEY WERE HONEST AND REPORTED IT), SO YOU SEE THERE ARE ALOT OF SO CALLED LAWS THAT GO AGAINST GOOD JUDGEMENT AND MORAL ETHICS. YES A PERSON SHOULD OBEY THE LAWS, BUT IF THE LAW WILL HURT THE INNOCENT - THEN HELL NO THEY SHOULD NOT. I AM SURE YOU WERE SOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY WITH THE STATE TROOPER WHO TICKETED THE MAN WHO SAVED THE TWO OLD LADIES LIVES FOR JAY WALING AND IT ALMOST COST HIM HIS OWN LIFE! i AM SURE YOU APLAUDED THE STATE TROOPER FOR DOING HIS JOB - I AM SURE YOU WERE THINKING THAT THE TWO LADIES SHOULD HAVE BEEN HIT SINCE THEY WERE NOT EDUCATED ENOUGH TO NOT CROSS THE ROAD !

EDUCATED? i DON'T KNOW WHAT SCHOOL YOU WENT TOO, BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT TEACH THE GOLDEN RULE. i CAN REMEMBER NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT ALMOST ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES HAD THE QUOTE "TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE" THEY WERE APPOINTED TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE INNOCENT NOT THE CROOKS. NOT ALL LAWS PUT IN PLACE BY OUR "PERFECT" GOVERNMENT RECENTLY HAS BEEN FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE BUT MORE FOR THEIR OWN SELFISH GAIN. i AM SURE YOU NEVER SPEED, ALWAYS USE YOUR BLINKER, SHOW ALL YOUR INCOME DOWN TO THE LAST PENNY ON YOUR TAXES, DON'T HELP THE DIABLED OR ELDERLY (SINCE GIVING THEM MONEY COULD STOP THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY IF THEY WERE HONEST AND REPORTED IT), SO YOU SEE THERE ARE ALOT OF SO CALLED LAWS THAT GO AGAINST GOOD JUDGEMENT AND MORAL ETHICS. YES A PERSON SHOULD OBEY THE LAWS, BUT IF THE LAW WILL HURT THE INNOCENT - THEN HELL NO THEY SHOULD NOT. I AM SURE YOU WERE SOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY WITH THE STATE TROOPER WHO TICKETED THE MAN WHO SAVED THE TWO OLD LADIES LIVES FOR JAY WALING AND IT ALMOST COST HIM HIS OWN LIFE! i AM SURE YOU APLAUDED THE STATE TROOPER FOR DOING HIS JOB - I AM SURE YOU WERE THINKING THAT THE TWO LADIES SHOULD HAVE BEEN HIT SINCE THEY WERE NOT EDUCATED ENOUGH TO NOT CROSS THE ROAD !

You talk about following the law, isn't it the law to give due process and due notice to the people who have paid their rent. This sheriff is a true hero where the greed of the landlord and banks abound.

Wow!! I cannot believe that you could say such a thing. Did you not read the article? The sheriff is not helping out the deadbeats not paying their rent on time but those who have. It is the Landlords who are not paying their morgage and pocketing the rent money. Why should the innocent renters have to pay for the deceit of the horrible Landlords? The sheriff is doing his job. His job is to fight for what is right and just. There is a lack of due-process in these cases and that is what the Sheriff is standing up for. He is standing up for the law and to make sure that this law is abided by.

I had a home in Tennessee and went through a divorce, while on active duty in the military. Not wanting to "let the property go" and, because it was upside down on LTV ratio, I decided to rent it out via a property management agency. As an out-of-state landlord, I was unable to meet my tenants but paid a property management agency screen tenants and stay in constant interaction with the renters (monthly). They were on a no-pet lease and paid their rent on time for two years (it went directly to the mortgage--no profit). I got a call from a concerned neighbor who'd seen several cats in the windows and the blinds were destroyed. The renters left one day with no warning and, because of pools of cat urine, feces and so on the property had to be completely overhauled. I was unable to do this and, without rent coming in was unable to pay the mortgage. The agency claimed it had no liability because they went into the house with no pets. Ultimately, it was determined that they had 7 cats, 3 dogs in the house and 3 pot-bellied pigs in the back yard. I did everything I could as owner of the home to ensure things were taken care of and the agency assured me, upon entering the contract, that they would ensure the upkeep of the house.
My point is, sometimes, as a landlord, we do all we can given the circumstances and it may be the fault of the caretakers. I let them go a month here and there without paying rent when they fell upon hard times. They pled with the agency to not evict them because of the animals, unbeknownst to me. IT's not always possible for the tenants to "know" the landlord (it's not like I can fly 2300 miles to have a cup of coffee) but it is possible for whoever's responsible for the property to be involved. Every case of home ownership and/or rental in this nation is unique, which is why it's shallow minded to make blanket statements about tenants or homeowners being torn from their homes and lives. I admire the sherriff for having the decency and humane common sense to give those less fortunate a conduit for due process. I managed to sell the property (short sale) in its damaged condition to a person willing to do the 5,000 worth of work--they turned around and sold the property for nearly 100K over it's sale price. Smart buyers!

...and it's my (and others judging from the responses) opinion that YOU are wrong Emili

Now this is a real amreican, who up holds the law on both sides. Finally an american that will stand up for what is right and just. We should vote him into office for president. Funny how when some one stands up and is honest the crooked goverment gets up in arms. Hats off to a real american.

Where did you read that these people were expecting to be taking care of? Did you miss the part where it said they were completely shocked when the law showed up and had no idea what was going on? Even if they did have some clues and had started to try and find out, the legal system works at a snails pace so they would have been thrown out of their house before anything was resolved. Due process, people! As the article points out, it is a constitutional right! I have a feeling that a lot of the people saying here that the Sherriff is wrong are the same ones that scream is it their constitutional right to carry a gun with them everywhere illegal to have Christmas trees up on government property, both misinterpretations of the rights as they were intended. Let me give you a clue, separation of church and state was to protect the church so people could worship how they wanted and not establish a state religion. The right to bear arms does not mean you get to carry a gun into the grocery store with you! Due process means that you are fully informed of the legal action being taken against you and what your rights are in terms of representation and counsel. Get a clue! A bulk of these evictions were illegal, therefore he was doing the right thing by not following through with them.

oh Emilli how very special to be you. how very nice that you have too much sense to rent. gosh, I wish that back when I was young I bought a house right away rathyer than savingt up my money...while RENTING. only a completely self absorbed moron would make a blanket statement implying that renting means you do't have any sense. sometimes Emilli renting means you have no down payment.

Posted By: Emilli @ 03/11/2009 8:40:52 AMasens57 it wont happen to people like us because one we have enough sense not to rent from anyone. Two always have money as back up in case of emergency like this. Three know who and the place you are renting from. Read the paper in the foreclosed and legal action section. There are some of us who are self sufficient that don't need oversight..
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In response to the above comments. You sound like you're life is going good, im happy for you.
The one thing I fear that you don't understand, is that a good percentage of people cannot afford to buy houses, or are between homes, and need some place to stay. There is NOTHING wrong with renting. In these ecomonic times, renting seems to be the fiscally efficent way of saving money.
Also, saving for emergencies is not always as easy as you may think. You probably don't have kids, car payments, doctor bills, and more than likely have a cushy job with a government entity. Good for you. Remember this though, one day, you may be in the same situation. So, please don't judge.

Emilli,,,you are by far the biggest a hole that has posted thus far, i can only hope that soon that bubble you live in bursts and you find yourself facing the realities of real life. Not all people are so well off as you may be. I'd bet my bottom dollar your political preference is to the right.

LOL. Emilli, you silly little creature. If you never rented, then that means you must have lived with your mommy and daddy until you saved up for a house purchase. So how old were you when they finally threw you out? 30? 35? Did they still tuck you in a night? LOL....

What? Are you serious? Didn't you read the article? You have little to no understanding of what is happening in America and your comments are very, very shallow and self-centered. Not all people can be as smart and self sufficient as you, apparently. You don't seem to realize that America is in BIG trouble and a majority of lower to middle income people live from paycheck to paycheck-------------IF they have a job at all. Not everyone has a Savings account and, in fact, the new statistics show that American savings now has a NEGATIVE value. Instead of being compassionate like this Sheriff in the story, you choose to be critical and judgemental. Thank God most Americans are more "in-tune" with reality.

three cheers for you Emilli. you"re the biggest *** here. there are a lot of people that are not as lucky as you to put away money and dont even have health care. You are worse then the banks putting people out. You win the fingle finger of fate award.