Payment change upsets renters

Portsmouth, Va. (WAVY) - Some residents at Chelsea Pointe Apartments are upset that the management agency changed when the rent was due. They say it forces them to pay a late fee.

Clutching a receipt in his hand, Yancey Thomas walked out of the Chelsea Pointe lease office.

Thomas is disabled, and when he receives his check on the third of every month, he pays his rent. However, changes to the payment schedule could force him and his wife to pay a late fee in June.

"We asked her, 'Does it apply to us since we're on a fixed income? We only get paid on the third,' and she said 'Yes, it applies to everybody,'" said Yancey's wife Tracey.

Residents found a flier in their doors last week notifying them of the change in payment schedule. Beginning June 1, rent payments will be due on the first of the month and considered late on the 2nd. At that time, a 10 percent late fee will be added.

The change has resident Yolanda Jenkins worried about how it will affect her budget. "I don't get paid on the first of the month. I get paid on the seventh of the month or the fourth of the month," she said.

This is not the first time residents at Chelsea Pointe Apartments contacted WAVY.com for help.

A year ago, we investigated problems at the property and found property's management company -- The Bethany Group -- filed for bankruptcy. A federal judge appointed McKinley of Michigan to oversee the property.

Residents resigned their one-year leases ahead of a January 1 rate hike.

"I resigned in October. At that time they said you have until the 5th of the month," said Jenkins.

WAVY.com took the lease agreements to Attorney Kirk Levy. He said if residents signed a new lease, then the old lease with the grace period is no longer in effect.

"Most apartment complexes in Tidewater provide a five day grace period, but because it takes longer to get into court than it used to take, some apartment complexes are cutting off the grace period after the first of the month," said Levy.

He recommends before renters sign any lease agreement they read it over carefully. He also suggests having the landlord highlight variables, such as rent payment, due date and end of lease terms.

Some Chelsea Pointe residents believe this is not the home-sweet-home they had hoped for.

"We want a place to live and we're paying faithfully and I mean, I don't understand it, I really don't."