Photo: dfw.cbslocal.com
Whenever you rent an apartment or house, you are expected to abide by a strict set of rules set up by the owner. These ensure that you don’t do any damage to the property or act in a way that would bother other residents.
However, the management of one complex in Dallas, Texas, seems to be taking these rules a tad too far. They have actually included a “fix it or get towed” clause in the lease, which stipulates that residents must fix all damages to their parked cars or risk getting kicked out – and having their vehicles towed.
Apparently, this doesn’t apply just to severe damage. Cars with chipped paint, minor dents or two-tone paint jobs will also put residents at risk, as it’s currently happening to Sontlux Sukhavachana. He lives with his partner and their 3 kids at the Biltmore Apartments in Dallas, a complex run by Fath Properties.
Sukhavachana drives an older-generation Chevrolet Traverse that has a visible but not very serious dent on the side. In December, he received his first warning that the car would be towed if he didn’t get the dent fixed, he says for CBS 11.
He wasn’t able to do it then and he’s not able to do it now. He is the sole provider in the family and can’t afford to spend money on trifles like a dent that doesn’t affect the overall functionality of the vehicle.
“I got this notice on my car saying that they were gonna tow my car tomorrow,” Sukhavachana says. “We wouldn’t be able to make next month’s rent [if I paid to fix the damage].”
Perhaps the worst part of it is that management isn’t budging on their decision, even with the intervention of the media and criticism from other residents that they’re placing too much stress on this issue. They say the towing policy has been around for 40 years and all residents agree to it when they sign the lease.
“They’re expecting tenants who barely have enough money to make ends meet to invest money in cosmetic damages,” Sukhavachana adds. “They’re not very motivated to repair things or make the apartment look good but they want us to keep our cars in immaculate shape.”
Sukhavachana has gotten the Texas Tenants’ Union involved, with a representative for the NGO saying that, while the decision isn’t illegal, it’s still wrong and they plan to fight it.
Apparently, this doesn’t apply just to severe damage. Cars with chipped paint, minor dents or two-tone paint jobs will also put residents at risk, as it’s currently happening to Sontlux Sukhavachana. He lives with his partner and their 3 kids at the Biltmore Apartments in Dallas, a complex run by Fath Properties.
Sukhavachana drives an older-generation Chevrolet Traverse that has a visible but not very serious dent on the side. In December, he received his first warning that the car would be towed if he didn’t get the dent fixed, he says for CBS 11.
He wasn’t able to do it then and he’s not able to do it now. He is the sole provider in the family and can’t afford to spend money on trifles like a dent that doesn’t affect the overall functionality of the vehicle.
“I got this notice on my car saying that they were gonna tow my car tomorrow,” Sukhavachana says. “We wouldn’t be able to make next month’s rent [if I paid to fix the damage].”
Perhaps the worst part of it is that management isn’t budging on their decision, even with the intervention of the media and criticism from other residents that they’re placing too much stress on this issue. They say the towing policy has been around for 40 years and all residents agree to it when they sign the lease.
“They’re expecting tenants who barely have enough money to make ends meet to invest money in cosmetic damages,” Sukhavachana adds. “They’re not very motivated to repair things or make the apartment look good but they want us to keep our cars in immaculate shape.”
Sukhavachana has gotten the Texas Tenants’ Union involved, with a representative for the NGO saying that, while the decision isn’t illegal, it’s still wrong and they plan to fight it.
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