Jari Hilpipre, her children and her grandchild began renting a home in Conway, S.C. this January 2020. The home is located at the Maple Lane Mobile Home Court.
From Jari’s statements, the home could best be described as shelter, rather than a true residence.
Ms. Hilpipre told MyrtleBeachSC News, “On January 3rd, we moved to Conway S.C. After several talks with the landlord she said she had squatters in her home and needed some good tenants. She told me that this was her only income. The Landlord has special needs just like my children who have autism. The Landlord said the house needed some work, but with my rent she could get it fixed.”
“She however didn’t disclose there was no working heat, 3 water leaks, the stove didn’t work, one of the bathrooms can’t be used at all,” added Hilpipre.
The home is filled with what appears to be black mold. The electric grid in the house is poor. The interior and exterior is covered in, what appears to be, mold as well.
LANDLORD’S LEGAL ISSUES
Jari states, “Since it was winter, the landlord said she would put a screen door up and screens in the Spring. She did not disclose the house had been raided and flashed potted and that the electric was bad. Three days after being here, she would not answer our calls.”
Said Jari, “While watching local news, I discovered that she and her boyfriend were wanted by the police. My family had nowhere to turn.”
Situation gets worse
“In February, she showed up to collect the rent and said she couldn’t fix anything because she had to get out of legal trouble. So, still without heat, I started saving money up, looking, and asking for help. The coronavirus hit and we were in lockdown,” says Hilpipre.
“It’s now 90 plus degrees in my home and we are breathing in mold. We are unable to cook. I have reached out to people with no help available. I didn’t get unemployment nor did I get a stimulus.”
In closing Hilpipre adds, “We can’t live like this. I’m 57 years old and the sole provider. My water is scheduled to be turned off, my electric my car payment. I’ve never not had a roof over my kids heads nor have they ever had to live like this. It’s inhuman.”
Renting situations like these are becoming more common in a rapidly changing, ever poorer America.