Brittany Estates Evictions Blocked for Now
In a noteworthy turn of events, eighteen families residing in Brittany Estates apartments in Oxford, Mississippi can now rejoice as they will be able to observe Easter this weekend free of the dread of eviction. These families, who had been handed eviction notices in February, received a momentary reprieve as a Lafayette County Chancery Court blocked the evictions for now.
A Threat Of Homelessness Avoided
A sudden and, in most cases, unexplained eviction notice from the property management organization Sentry Asset, owned by Chartre Consulting, had thrown the lives of these families into a state of turmoil. On their receipt of the notices, the residents sought help from the University of Mississippi School of Law’s Housing Clinic, renown for its assistance to low-income families grappling with housing issues.
Legal Intervention
On March 26, the Housing Clinic filed a complaint for wrongful eviction seeking an injunctive relief at the Lafayette County Chancery Court. Following this, a hearing was held before Chancery Court Judge Gray Tollison on March 28. However, it was a very short hearing, and an announcement was made that a maediation had been reached with Chartre Consulting. Consequently, all not “of good cause” eviction notices were temporarily suspended.
Breach Of Duty And Trust?
The complaint by the Housing Clinic alleges that Brittany Estates, which accepts tax credits under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program to provide affordable housing to low-income households, was instead endangering their tenants. It stated, “Instead of providing safe, decent housing, defendants have arbitrarily threatened the eviction of the plaintiffs without cause – violating their duties to the taxpayers who have funded this enterprise, breaking their agreement with the state of Mississippi and causing emotional distress to plaintiffs.”
Allegations Against Brittany Estates
The complaint further alleges that Brittany Estates violated several legal and ethical norms, such as terminating residents without good cause, denying rent acceptance and then seeking eviction on grounds of non-payment, charging unfair fees causing a hike in rents and others. It also pointed out that residents were being forced to reapply to stay post-renovation of the buildings, despite their right to continue living in Brittany Estates.
On March 18, some of the residents received a notice from Sentry Asset, retracting the eviction notices served in February. However, the correspondence did not reason why the original notices had been rescinded.
As it stands, the evictions have been blocked for now, providing temporary relief to the residents of Brittany Estates. The future proceedings, however, remain uncertain.
