Tacoma apartment complex accused of hassling tenants during pandemic to pay $345K
A Tacoma apartment complex sued by the state for allegedly violating Gov. Jay Inslee’s eviction moratorium during the coronavirus pandemic will pay nearly $345,000 to settle the case.
JRK Residential Group, a real estate investment firm and property management company, will pay the majority of the sum to tenants across Washington, including Tacoma’s Boulders at Puget Sound.
An agreement between the Washington Attorney General’s Office and JRK Residential Group was approved by a Pierce County Superior Court judge Wednesday.
The Washington Office of the Attorney General provided a summary of the $345,000:
Full rent forgiveness or refunds of April 2020 rent for the 14 Boulders at Puget Sound tenants who received 14-day Notices to Pay or Vacate for a total of $26,878
$500 payments to 257 tenants who were behind on April rent at the time that JRK sent letter — a total of $128,500
$100 payments to 1,184 JRK tenants who received letters but were not behind on April rent — a total of $118,400.
Waive or refund fees for tenants who need or choose to move out before their lease is up while the governor’s proclamation is in effect — $20,868
Send the state $50,000 for attorneys’ fees.
JRK Residential, based in Nevada, owns at least four apartment complexes in Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties and manages property in 19 other states.
The Attorney General’s Office said residents in three other JRK Residential apartments, Trillium Heights Apartments and Silverdale Ridge in Silverdale, and Carroll’s Creek Landing in Marysville, have complained of harassing eviction notices.
A spokesperson for JRK Residential Group, James Bauman, said the company halted all eviction actions, waived late fees and reimbursed third-party fees.
“While JRK is proud of these steps, we recognize we could have done more,” Bauman said in a statement. “To that end, we have worked with the State to further improve our policies and procedures and to offer our residents financial compensation to ease their burden during this time.”
Two residents who spoke to The News Tribune last month said they received numerous emails, letters and calls to pay rent. Crystal Martin said the continual notices made her worried for her family. Martin, her husband and their three children have lived at the apartment complex for more than a year and a half.
The state filed a lawsuit against the company after tenants notified Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office of its tactics.
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 1:56 PM.
