Palmetto Palms and Yes! Communities Mobile Home Park or Concentration Camp? Columbia South Carolina

It's official! Palmetto Palms recently issued over 300 harassing notices to tenants, which confirms that Palmetto Palms is more of a concentration camp than a mobile home park! Palmetto Palms' owner, Yes! Communities, has not yet addressed the issue of certain tenants, particularly the Hispanic VIP tenants, who continually violate "Community Living Guidelines" with impunity; such as parking on lawns, failure to seed/sod lawns and playing LOUD tuba music at all hours of the morning, day and night. Harassing warning notices have been delivered to tenants for years; however, the only "Guidelines" enforced are those against African Americans for failure to mow lawns, at a charge of $50. Perhaps the aggrieved tenants won't hesitate to enforce their court judgment, after they win a class action suit against Palmetto Palms "Concentration Camp" and Yes! Communities!

Who is the resident identified as having received a recent violation as the source of his anger? None of the information contained herein identifies any specific, complaining tenant(s). It is more apparent that the recent Ripoff Report is the source of anger for Palmetto Palms management and "Yes! Communities". Further, the truth is a defense to a defamation claim. Perhaps Yes! Communities should reserve such claims for a class action suit!

Shortly after this Ripoff Report was filed, Palmetto Palms posted signs throughout the community warning that parking on lawns is prohibited and that towing would be enforced by a named tow company. Of course, tenants, especially Hispanic tenants, who blast their tuba music until the early morning, ignore the signs and park wherever they please with impunity. What happened to the "community living guidelines"? Now, Palmetto Palms is offering $100 referral fees for referring others to lease units in it's "concentration camp". Someone must have struck a nerve!

YES! Communities complies with the Fair Housing Act and is a member of Equal Opportunity Housing. That being said the community is working to improve the community appearance and is enforcing all of the Community Living Guidelines fairly and without discrimation throughout the entire community. Recently over 300 violations of the Community Living Guidelines were sent out to residents to work to remedy violations so Palmetto Palms will be a nicer, prettier place for everyone who calls it home. This particular resident did receive a violation and this is the recent source of his anger. Unfortunately, this is not the first time this resident has voiced personal issues with the community in the past years. Palmetto Palms management has worked very hard to try to accomodate this resident and make their living situation within the community an enjoyable one. The community management will look into both Lot 80 and Lot 45 and if they do indeed find violations of the Community Living Guidelines the residents will receive notices and the management will work with them to ensure the problems are corrected. To this date there have been no other complaints on these two lots. If any residents do feel they are being treated unfairly or have been discriminated against we do encourage they take their testimony to the Better Business Bureau or other organizations that can work for them to make sure any wrong doing are rectified. 

YES! Communities

Whether tenants entered into lease agreements requiring adherence to any community rules or not, such rules must be enforced uniformly. For example, the Hispanic tenants at Lot 80 have a barking dog housed outdoors in violation of community rules, which "would no longer be tolerated". The Hispanic tenants at Lot 45 play loud tuba music at all hours of the day and night causing picture frames to vibrate on the walls. Complaints to management have negative results. However, African American tenants are required to keep their lawns perfectly manicured or be subject to a fine of $50. Any tenants who believe they have been discriminated against, or unduly harassed, do have legal recourse and they are encouraged to exercise their rights. Perhaps a class action suit would be an appropriate remedy.

Whether tenants entered into lease agreements requiring adherence to any community rules or not, such rules must be enforced uniformly. Any tenants who believe they have been discriminated against do have legal recourse and they are encouraged to exercise their rights. Perhaps a class action suit would be an appropriate remedy.

Palmetto Palms requires all residents to sign the Community Living Guidelines prior to moving into the community, by signing this document residents are agreeing to abide by community living guidelines or face the reprocussions which include fees, fines and can lead up to evictions. The Community Living Guidelines specifically states that residents will be charged a mowing fee if the community has to mow the resident's lawn because the resident has not mowed it as required. The Community Living Guidelines also outlines the specific condition the exterior of the home must meet which includes items such as skirting, yard as well as others. Palmetto Palms is part of Equal Opportunity Housing and does not discriminate against any residents, all residents are required to abide by the same Community Living Guidelines. The alleged complaint is borderline defamation of character, the accusations are innaccurate. The complainant, along with all other Palmetto Palm residents, had to read the Community Living Guidelines before moving into the community and therefore should not have siged and agreed to them if they felt they would not be able to adhere to them.