Lexington County Faces Troubling Times as Westwood Estates Heads to Foreclosure
Lexington County, South Carolina, is currently facing some unsettling news regarding Westwood Estates, an apartment complex that has recently fallen into foreclosure. This situation has arisen after the complex failed to repay a hefty loan by its repayment deadline. According to documents from the court, Westwood Estates is now at the mercy of 100 Riverbend, a real estate company that previously lent the complex over $24 million in 2021. With an inability to meet repayment obligations that were due in June of this year, Riverbend is now preparing to sell the property through a foreclosure auction in hopes of recovering the unpaid funds.
Legal Perspectives on the Foreclosure
The situation raises a lot of questions not just about the legality behind the foreclosure but also about the impact on the tenants living in Westwood Estates. Mark Fessler, Deputy Director for Litigation and Training at SC Appleseed Legal Services, explains, “The real estate company is legally in the right to come to this conclusion.” He elaborates on the options that could have been available to the complex, noting that they could have looked into refinancing the loan or securing an extension; however, lenders are not obliged to provide such extensions.
Tenants Speak Up
As this controversial legal battle unfolds, the voices of the tenants living in Westwood Estates are becoming increasingly urgent. Many residents, like Quindara Williams, are coming forward to share their troubling experiences while living in the complex. Williams, who has called Westwood Estates home since 2020, has faced numerous challenges, including a rather distressing encounter with squirrels inside her apartment. Adding fuel to her frustration, she transferred to another building and had to pay out of pocket for repairs. “I have a two-year-old who is on a nebulizer because of the mold issue caused by the water damage last July,” Williams shared, pointing to the critical nature of her situation. She also indicated that she hired someone to do repairs that Westwood’s maintenance team had not completed.
Another resident, Timothy Bridges, who has lived there for over two years, echoed similar inconveniences. “At one point, I had to go to Planet Fitness to take a shower because our water was shut off for so long,” he told us. His concerns also extended to prolonged plumbing issues which took an astonishing two years to finally get resolved.
Conditions Raised in the Apartment Complex
Adding to their collective grievances, resident James Lewis lamented about the state of his living conditions. “It was really horrific,” he stated, describing holes in his bathroom walls and a growing problem with roaches invading his space. “It’s really gross in there.”
Tenant Rights and Procedures
With tenant conditions becoming a significant topic amidst the foreclosure, Fessler emphasized that tenants have the right to be informed about their living conditions. “If the landlord doesn’t provide this information or address necessary repairs, the tenant can file a lawsuit in the Magistrate’s Court to demand repairs,” he explained.
A Turn of Events
Our inquiries into the matter included reaching out to Westwood Estates for comments, but they declined to respond. We also contacted an attorney representing 100 Riverbend, who noted that they are still in the early stages of the foreclosure process.
This unfolding situation at Westwood Estates pulls back the curtain on both a legal struggle and the living challenges faced by its residents. As the community watches closely, the hopes for a better resolution rest now in the hands of the legal proceedings ahead.
