CHAPTER6
Angie reachedfor the phone and cradled the receiver in the crook of her neck while she punched one of the line buttons.
“I need to speak with you,” an angry male voice boomed over the phone.
She sighed. “Who is this?”
“Sonny Copeland. I got a threatening letter from you.”
“It’s not threatening; it’s just stating the facts. I listed all the items that need to be repaired at Madera Crossing. I also suggested other things that you can do to upgrade your building into a nice place for—”
“I know what you put in the damn letter—I read it.”
Angie leaned back in her desk chair. “Then, what’s the problem?”
“Most of the BS in here is lies. Tenants are always whining and playing on you government workers, trying to get some sympathy.”
“I detailed everything I personally saw when I was at your building not too long ago. Are you telling me that I made them all up? I can meet you over there in thirty minutes if you want me to point each one out to you.”
“Uh … no. I’ve been so busy that I may have been a bit negligent with Madera Crossing. I have a few other properties, and occasionally the time gets away from me.”
Angie paused for a few seconds, then said, “Mr. Copeland, your—”
“Call me Sonny.”
She paused again. “As I was about to say,Mr. Copeland, your building is a dump. I’m sure you wouldn’t expect anyone in your family to live in such a place.”
“You should be a landlord for these tenants. They’re always breaking shit or stealing things. When someone moves out, they destroy the place. I’ve even had the sinks ripped out and taken with them. It’s easy for you to sit back and judge me.”
“I’m sure it’s challenging to have an investment property, especially in a not-so-decent part of town, butyouare the one who bought the building and applied to be a landlord under the HUD-subsidized housing program.”
“I’m doing the best I can,” he snapped.
“I disagree. When I was over there, I counted more than a dozen shattered windowpanes, several lightbulbs out in the hallways, and broken locks on three of the six security doors, most importantly, the two that lead out to the parking garage. There were roaches in the elevators and hallways, and I’m sure they’re in the tenants’ apartments too. I found numerous water stains on the ceilings and walls, which tells me that you have some major leaks. Apartment three-eleven has a pipe that’s been dripping under her sink for about a month. Why hasn’tthatbeen fixed?”
“I fixed it.”
“When?”
“A while back. See, that’s the problem—the minute I fix something, the tenants break it again. I think they’re doing it on purpose.”
“You’re telling me that the tenant in three-eleven broke the supposed new pipe you installed? That’s ridiculous.”
“I think so, too, but that’s the waytheyare. I’m losing money all the time with that property. And as far as the security doors and the other things, well …”
She tried to stay focused on the litany of vapid excuses the slumlord was making as to why she was wrong in her assessment of the property. He told her that he was the victim and the tenants were manipulating him because he was such a nice guy. Angie almost gagged onthatone.
When Joey looked over at Angie, she rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers and thumb together repeatedly as the landlord kept going on and on and on. Joey laughed and turned back to his computer screen.
“Do you understand what I’m trying to tell you?” Copeland asked.
“What I heard is that you don’t think you’re responsible for keeping up the premises. Sorry to shock you, but you are responsible. This is your property, and if you want to continue in the HUD-subsidized program, Madera Crossing has to be habitable. It would help if you made the repairs listed in the letter you received within thirty days. If you don’t, you will be fined for each violation, then given a second chance to make a decent home for your tenants. If you refuse, you will be kicked out of the program.”
“You think you could do better?”
“I don’t thinkanything. You’re the one who bought the property. If you intend to be a slumlord, then you shouldn’t be surprised when you get forced out of the program, and the Fair Housing Department shuts you down.”
A large guffaw from Joey echoed through the office. Angie glanced over, and he gave her the thumbs-up sign.