Residents of Bolden Townhomes in southwest Atlanta have long been upset with their living conditions, but now they face something even worse: eviction.
Many of these disgruntled renters spoke with Atlanta News First about the “unlivable” conditions they’ve been forced to endure — which reportedly include mold, collapsing ceilings, boarded-up windows and a lack of electricity and air conditioning.
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And now they’re demanding answers from the property owner about eviction letters taped on the front doors of tenants who have been paying rent for these undesirable homes.
“I don’t understand how you would take our money and kick us out,” Martavious Pope, a resident of Bolden Townhomes, shared with AFN.
Another renter, who AFN identified as Ba Ba, said his children cannot visit him because of the poor condition of his home. Ba Ba showed AFN reporters his portable stove top — which is typically used for camping — that he uses to cook his meals, adding that he’s lived with no power or air conditioning for months.
“There’s been no accountability, no one here to tell the landlords that this is an unjust living situation and tenants should [not] live in these conditions,” said Alison Johnson of the Housing Justice League.
Atlanta City Council Member Jason Dozier is also calling for “a swift, coordinated response from the City of Atlanta, including our code enforcement agencies, housing officials, and legal partners.”
Bolden Capital Group pushes back
While residents and local politicians share their concerns, Bolden Capital Group — which owns Bolden Townhomes — claims that problems including “unauthorized occupancy, utility theft and damage to units” have made it difficult to maintain the homes.
“These issues have created difficult and unsafe conditions for our legal residents, our team members, and the broader community,” Bolden Capital Group said in a statement shared with ANF, adding that there are pending legal matters the company is currently dealing with.
Bolden Capital Group also said it’s working with local law enforcement to resolve the situation, adding that the company believes residents are living illegally on its property.
If Bolden Capital Group can prove that residents of Bolden Townhomes are unlawfully occupying its homes, under Georgia law, the company can issue eviction notices with a notice period ranging anywhere from 24 hours to 10 days.
If the notice period expires without the occupant leaving the property, Bolden Capital Group can file a forceful detainer lawsuit and — if the lawsuit is successful — the local sheriff’s office can conduct the eviction on behalf of the company.
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Fighting unlawful evictions
Ba Ba is one of the Bolden Townhomes residents who received an eviction letter. As he gave AFN reporters a tour of his home, he brought out the lease agreement that he signed with Bolden Capital Group, proving that he’s living there legally while adding that he pays his rent every month.
For residents like Ba Ba, who have been paying rent and can prove they’ve signed lawful agreements, there are a number of ways they can fight against unlawful eviction. Contacting local news organizations and drawing the attention of government representatives is a good start, but residents can also challenge the eviction if the landlord has obtained the appropriate court documents.
Under Georgia state law, a landlord must have an eviction warrant to legally evict a tenant. If Bolden Capital Group has obtained the necessary court orders, residents such as Ba Ba can file an answer to the eviction warrant. This would give them the chance to state to the court why Bolden Capital Group does not have the legal right to evict them.
Bolden Townhomes residents can also sue Bolden Capital Group for its unsafe living conditions. In most U.S. states, Georgia included, the implied warranty of habitability principle states that landlords must provide basic living standards and conditions at the moment of and throughout a tenant’s occupancy. As part of the basic living standards, landlords must provide tenants with drinkable water, sanitary living conditions, working electricity and adequate heating and ventilation.
If you find yourself in a similar situation as Ba Ba, reach out to your representatives at the municipal, county and state levels to make them aware of the situation and get them to advocate on your behalf. You may even consider contacting your local news outlet, as the residents at Bolden Townhomes have done. If these tactics don’t apply enough pressure on your landlord, you can consider the legal options that we mentioned above.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
