trenton Tenants Face landlord Negligence Amid Licensing Issues

TRENTON, Tenn. – A Gibson County renter is struggling with uninhabitable living conditions and potential legal battles after alleged negligence by her landlord, compounded by the landlord’s company facing licensing issues with the state.

Tenant Endures Water Shutoff and Property Neglect

Jessica Stemmer,a Trenton resident,reports enduring important challenges at her rental property on Christmasville Road since relocating from California in 2019. Stemmer claims that the landlord unexpectedly terminated her water service despite her consistent payment history. She also alleges general neglect of the property, including burst pipes and structural damage.

stemmer stated she went without running water for three weeks, despite being current on her rent. Her immediate goal is to secure a habitable residence. “We’re hoping to move here in Trenton by the end of the week if the place is ready,” Stemmer said, noting that she had to wait for repairs like flooring and paint to be completed on a mobile home she found.

According to the EPA, the average U.S. household uses approximately 300 gallons of water per day. (EPA)

Did You Know? Landlords in Tennessee are generally required to maintain a safe and habitable living environment for their tenants, including providing essential services like water.

stemmer also described an incident four months prior where pipes burst in the ceiling, causing a collapse and water damage throughout the house.

Stemmer shared proof that she has always been up to date on her payments the entire six years they’ve rented.

Landlord’s Company Faces Licensing Revocation

Stemmer received notification that Zoe Asher, a Wyoming-based limited liability company contracted with Baldy Properties in Jackson, Tennessee, is reportedly no longer licensed to conduct buisness in Tennessee.

“The secretary of state actually revoked their license due to failure to pay licensing fees, taxes and mortgage payments. It basically seems like they have succumbed tenants out of the money that they were paying for rent and pocketed the money. They weren’t paying mortgage dues as all of the properties that they own have been auctioned off and foreclosed on by the state,” said Stemmer.

Pro Tip: Tenants can verify a landlord or property management company’s licensing status through the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website.

Living Conditions and Legal Options

Currently,Stemmer and her husband are confined to their living room,sleeping on an air mattress while awaiting the readiness of their new residence.

“It really sucks becuase we are living out of our living room. We can’t use our bedroom. We can’t use our backroom.We can’t use anything. Our bedroom has become a storage room at this point we can’t even use our bed. We’ve gone through two air mattresses at this point because it such a tight space they pop easily,” said Stemmer.

Stemmer believes the landlord intentionally cut off the water to force them to break the lease, perhaps setting the stage for legal action. However, she believes the landlord’s licensing issues and foreclosure on the house may provide an escape from the lease.

“We got lucky at the fact that they lost their license and lost the house, that’s the only reason we’re able to move and finagle our way out of the lease,” said Stemmer.

Stemmer hopes her experience will serve as a cautionary tale for other renters, urging them to thoroughly vet potential landlords. She and her husband are considering seeking legal counsel to address the emotional distress caused by this ordeal.

Tenant Rights and Resources in Tennessee

Navigating landlord-tenant disputes can be complex. Here’s a summary of key aspects:

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Tennessee has a shortage of approximately 140,000 affordable rental homes for extremely low-income renters. (NLIHC)