Landlord owed thousands from Wake Co. Housing Authority finally gets paid: ABC11 Troubleshooter

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- New details in a Troubleshooter investigation about some Wake County landlords who say they're not getting the rent they're owed. It's a story Troubleshooter Diane Wilson first told you about in May.

After we got involved, some of the landlords did get paid the back rent they were owed. Now Wilson is hearing from another landlord who says he's owed rent from the Wake County Housing Authority that dates back to June.

Landlord Damon Evans says, "I just want my money. I'm providing a safe, affordable house for a tenant that's a wonderful tenant, and I just want to be paid." Evans says rent payments from the WCHA add up to more than $5,000 and date back to June through October.

"I don't have that liberty with the mortgage company to tell them I'm going to give them their payment when my payment comes. I still have to absorb that, and I'm a private landlord. So, trying to provide affordable housing to the Raleigh area and participating in this voucher program is really hard and straining on us." Evans' tenant uses the Housing Choice Voucher Program. He said he reached out to the agency right away and several times over the last few months. "I have a wonderful tenant. And that's honestly the reason why I've stayed true to this, because she's a wonderful tenant. And it's not her issue, you know, it's not a tenant-landlord issue. It's a landlord-Wake Housing issue," Evans adds.

Before turning to Wilson, WCHA did respond to Evans in an email saying they'd have an update no later than September 26th. But by October 6th, he still didn't have his rent money, so he got in touch with Wilson. "Right now, I can't get any movement, any traction. Emails don't get answered, calls don't get a reply back, and that's why I'm here right now. I can't get any answers."

This is not the first time we've heard from Wake County landlords not getting paid by WCHA. Wilson first told you about this problem in May and June, when several landlords showed us proof they were owed thousands of dollars in back rent for their Wake County tenants who are part of the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

In May, the Wake County Housing Authority admitted it owed $1.9 million in back rent to landlords. After our stories aired, the agency said in July it had managed to pay down close to $1 million in back rent. At that time, WCHA blamed the issues on employee turnover and said that some of the payment issues were due to the initial housing authorities where tenants' vouchers originated. The agency also admitted that in some cases, they did not submit the required HUD documents and annual recertifications needed to receive payment. After our stories, the landlords we spoke with did receive the back rent they were owed.

When it comes to Evans' case, Felts Lewis Jr., the Executive Director of WCHA, sent this statement: "The Housing Authority has worked with the landlords and respective residents to make them whole regarding rent payments and to have the residents housed. After consideration of HUD guidelines and the circumstances involving these payment matters, the Authority shall pay the appropriate amount of funds to the landlords in the coming days. The timeliness of these payments is not ideal; however, external factors, including HUD Field Office involvement, were necessary to come to this decision. Wake County Housing Authority is making positive strides to ensure timely payments are made to landlords who have housing choice voucher residents moving to the area from outside its service area. Timely billing to initial housing authorities and unit inspections according to program requirements are occurring. Staff are going the extra mile every day to make sure cases like these are addressed for a positive outcome for all involved."

It took about a week, but Evans said the agency met with him and made full payment on the rent he was owed to the tune of more than $5,200, and he says he is happy. When Wilson asked Lewis how much the Wake County Housing Authority still owed in back rent to landlords, he provided this statement: "Wake County Housing Authority has made substantial strides to address amounts due to landlords of our Housing Choice Voucher residents. We are current with respect to vouchers for our local program. Amounts due for other vouchers is being confirmed. We are on target to resolve payment issues relating to our overall voucher program in the near term."