Drew Karedes
KHOU 11 News
December 13, 2013
HOUSTON — A southwest Houston complex is under fire after tenants say they were punished for late rent in a cruel and unusual way.
At least three residents at Villa de Cancun, in the Sharpstown area, claim their front doors were removed.
That includes Jacqueline Greene, a 27-year-old single mother of three.
Greene admits she is two months behind on her rent. She knew she was in a bind but couldn’t believe her eyes when she returned home last week.
“It’s humiliating, embarrassing and shameful,” said Jacqueline Greene. “It’s almost barbaric.”
Greene says she thought somebody had broken into her home at first. She looked around and saw that nothing was stolen inside her second story unit.
She then went to the leasing office to sort things out.
“She says, you have to pay $600 today if you want to get your door back,” explained Greene.
Greene says the complex refused to set up a payment plan.
She says she slept three nights in the door-less apartment with her three kids, ages 2, 8 and 9.
“Someone could’ve came in here. There’s child molesters and crazy people out there,” said Greene.
A neighbor, also a single mother, says her door was taken too.
“At first, I was like, what apartment complex does this? Like, are you serious,” recalled Nathalie Clayton. “When you don’t have anywhere else to go, it’s kind of hard to come up with the money, especially when you’re doing paycheck to paycheck.”
These residents say the complex threatened to take their appliances as well.