Article Courtesy of Channel
4 FOX News
By Lauryn Moss
Published January 17, 2022
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WATCH VIDEO |
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NORTH FORT MYERS — A local couple renting what they thought was the perfect home
and as they moved in, they learned a rule didn't allow them to stay. Now, they
are left homeless.
“It was the perfect
house for us. So we like the house, the neighborhood in the
location in price range. The price was perfect too," Annette
Kriete said.
A perfect home, she said. That is a perfect distance from
their family. The five-month search for a home for herself
and her partner, Michael Simon, was over. The couple was
relieved.
“It was a lot of stressful months trying to find the house
that market is up right now," Kriete said.
The couple moved into the home in North Fort Myers on New
Year's Eve. |
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“Everything was going to be really nice. I thought and then we got the bad
news," Simon said.
That same day the couple was told they couldn't stay because of a Property
Owners Association rule. The president of the POA told them there was a rule
that doesn't allow homeowners to rent their property.
“He said, well, that's not allowed. That's gonna be a problem," Kriete said.
The couple was in-shock after forking out thousands of dollars for their
rental.
“From what they're saying is they don't want to have to pressure us into
leaving, but we have to just because of the rules," Simon said.
Finding another place to rent in a short time frame, they said, is nearly
impossible.
“I've been in tears. I've had migraine headaches, which I don't usually get
unless I'm under stress and I'm getting them every day right now," Kriete
said.
She now spends hours outside of work and on her weekends frantically
searching for another home, but she said time is ticking.
“They have offered our money back, but they're asking us to hurry and
leave," she said.
For now, they live with only the essentials. They live out of boxes and
bags.
Kriete said they have explored other options, but most are too costly.
“You know, find Airbnb, which is going to cost us out of our pocket. We came
up with a lot of money to move into this house," she said.
The pair wants time to find another place and once again load up their
things and move to another home.
Fox 4 spoke with the president of the Terrapin Woods POA. He said, "the
rules are the rules." He said the rules state that renting in the
neighborhood isn't allowed.
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