Triple S Properties and Mike Seitz : Be Careful of Undisclosed Fees Ozark, Missouri

The threat of eviction came in the mail yesterday. Either pay the Shannaclaire Place Home Owners Association dues or you will be evicted. 

This battle has been going on for months. We moved in on October, 1, 2011, with the best intentions for our new home. We were excited because it was a lease to own option, but we should have known something was up when the lease to own verbiage wasn't in the lease and we had to ask their agent Ryan to hand write what she told us on the phone into the lease terms. 

Come December, we began getting bills from the home owners association. We first ignored them. We aren't the homeowners yet and when that responsibility becomes ours, we will be more than happy to face that responsibility. The bill came in an envelope from Triple S Properties. After they sent the second bill at the first part of the year, we called them to find out what the deal was.

This had not been disclosed to us upon our signing the lease. We looked in our leasing terms, and there was not one mention of the any requirement on our part to pay these dues. We called Triple S Properties and explained this to them. They would pass this off to the owner Mike Seitz, and we wouldn't hear anything until the next bill was sent.

Finally this week, we got a letter from Triple S Properties threatening us with eviction on May 1, 2012, if we don't pay the home owners association fees. My wife went to Triple S Properties the day after we received the letter asking them for proof with our signatures on a contract that we agreed to pay the home owners association fees, and they would not provide copies of the contract. Honestly, if we signed it, we would pay the dues. We have looked over while having friends and our attorney look over the contract and there is no disclosure that these dues are part of our requirement to remain in good status for the lease.

With that said, over the past ten days, we have been battling the home owners association over landscaping. The owner, Mike Seitz refuses to upkeep the property and hasn't even established grass in the yard in the five years since the house was built--it's mostly weeds. The home owners association is threatening us with a lien on the house telling us they have the right to landscape the house and charge the home owner for the costs if the landscaping isn't done. 

Now, we have been good renters. Not one payment to Mr. Seitz has been late. We even have begun ordering landscaping for the yard starting with the grass; however, I am canceling the order for the new zoysia grass, which is going to cost me a lot more than these home owners association dues, which would also increase the property value of the house, because Seitz is threatening to evict us for fees never disclosed or agreed to in our lease. Mr. Seitz should be thrilled that we take care of his property and are willing to invest in it, especially as the home owners association is threatening a lien on the property so the landscaping rules are met. However, he would rather have our attorneys go at it than be honest. As well, Mr. Seitz expects us to pay the dues but won't turn over his right to vote in the home owners association, which makes paying the dues even more bitter.

The Home Owners Association President told us yesterday that former renters were never made to pay these dues before. Like I said, the leasing agreement has been gone through with a fine tooth comb and there is nothing about home owners association fees.

So, beware of Triple S Properties and Mike Seitz. It doesn't pay to be a good renter who pays their rent on time, taking care of his property, and actually investing in it to make it better. All the money that I was planning on planting shrubs and grass with will now be used to pay my attorney, and Mr. Seitz can deal with the lien placed on his property once the home owners association follows through on their promises to landscape this property. I refuse to spend another dime to improve this property as long as Mr. Seitz pushes undisclosed fees not covered in the leasing agreement, which makes him a very foolish man considering the costs to landscape.