COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s a problem that we’re hearing about more and more throughout the city of Columbus: new ownership takes over a rental property and forces the current tenants to vacate.
A property in northwest Columbus is now going through the same thing, where families living in the 36 units are being told to leave.
One of those tenants is Sheryl Brown, who has lived with her family on Griggsview Court for the past 18 years.
"It's heartbreaking... I have so many memories here like my kids growing up,” Brown said.
Brown said she’s been told she needs to move out by the end of this month after Peak Property Group took ownership of the townhomes along Griggsview Court in January.
"When they first started doing this, we all started talking about, well, if they want to come in and renovate and charge more rent, we would be willing to do it,” Brown said.
But Brown said the tenants weren’t given that option and were told they’d have to reapply. Brown said she paid $1,245 a month in rent, and the new owners are raising prices to at least $1,850 a month.
Each tenant was told they’d have either a month or 60 days to vacate.
"One of the tenants, their daughter started here in kindergarten and is graduating this year and they made them move out a month before graduation. And they asked, hey, could we just have a one-month extension so our daughter can finish the school year? And they refused,” Brown said.
"It's a lot of stress for a lot of people,” said Michelle Smith, another tenant.
Some families already moved out, and the new property owners have wasted no time getting to work, adding a greater nuisance to those who haven’t left yet.
"I literally was like trying to lay down take a nap and literally my walls are vibrating, my bed is vibrating, like I feel like I'm in an earthquake or something and it's just very frustrating,” Smith said.
As hard as it is to pick up and leave a place you call home, Brown said it's that much harder to leave a community as tightknit as this one.
"Honestly, I mean there's been days when I haven't even been able to get out of bed because it’s just so heartbreaking… it just takes the wind out of you some days,” Brown said.
This move is similar to what’s happening at several other complexes throughout Columbus. It has left many tenants wondering, where is the humanity?
"I wish they would have a heart and care about people more than money,” Smith said.
10TV reached out to Peak Property Group for comment and are waiting to hear back.