HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 06-08 Landlord files suit against two renters DISPATCH TCH
Landlord files suiDi'SPA
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against two renters
Two women who complained June 1.Miller's rent is$175 and
to the Maplewood City Council Baciak's is$165.
recently about "undesirable Miller said she was instituting
conditions"in their buildings at a "rent withholding action'
the Hazelwood Heights Apart- through Legal Assistance of
ments were sued last week by RamseyCounty,Inc.
their landlord for failing and re- "MY INTENTIONS are to pay
fusing to pay this month's rent. the rent, but I am paying the
VENTURE REALTY, through rent to the clerk of court," Mill-
attorney Robert Haugh, filed er said.
complaints in Ramsey County She added that she was going
Municipal Court against Leslie on a rent strike to fight what she
A. Miller, 1510 E.County Road said were "undesirable condi-
B, and Ava Baciak, 1492 E. tions" in her apartment build-
County Road B. ingg
In the complaints, Venture BACIAK said she was going
Realty said both tenants failed
and refused to pay rent due on See Landlord,Page2
Landlord
Continued from Page 1 cribed in the tesolution and pe-
to file aprivate suit against her pe-
tition," Marshall said in his let-
oMa-
landlord rr "failure to live p ter to Lucille E. Aurelius,to their rental agreement." She ple'Ito ismyadvice that you or-
also said she was vacating her der the three departments to see
apartment July 1. that the conditions are improved
Miller, however, said she or have the City of Maplewood
wasn't leaving. seek injunctive relief in the
"I am going to stay and courts,". Marshall said. "I am
fight,"she said. sorry that there is no way that I
BOTH TENANTS said the can be of assistance in this mat-
landlord's suit was lust one ter."
form of retaliation against them
for complaing to the Maplewood
City Council last month.
Both women presented the
council with a petition signed
by more than 70 residents of the
apartment complex asking that
undesirable conditions be reme-
died.
In the petition, the tenants
complained about loose and
missing stair railings, broken
windows, "filthy" hall floors
and walls, snow-covered side-
walks during winter, an unen-
closed children's play area, ex-
crement from pets on the
grounds, overly loud and bois-
terous tenants,and trash thrown
around the complex's dumpster.
AFTER APPEARING before
the council, Miller said she re-
ceived notice that her rent
would be raised from $175 to
$185 effective July 1.Baciak said
her rent was raised from$165 to
$180.
The city,which does not have
a housing code to deal with the
maintenance of existing build-
ings,sought the county's help in
relieving conditions caused by
inadequate maintenance at the
Hazelwood Heights Apartments.
HOWEVER,in a recent letter
to the city,Harry Marshall,exec-
utive secretary of the Ramsey
County Board, said the county
has no authority in this matter.
Marshall said this conclusion
was reached after he talked to
various department heads in the
county,including the sheriff.
"In Maplewood's resolution,
you state that the police and fire
departments and the health offi-
cer of the City of Maplewood
were advised to attempt to im-
prove the conditions as des-