A HOMEOWNER was left homeless and forced to live in his van for a year while his tenant rented his property making thousands each month.
Jason Roth’s strange story earned him national attention last fall as he shared how tired he was living in his car.
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“I just want my house back. I’m not sleeping. I’m sick of sleeping in my van on couches,” he told CBS affiliate KIRO-TV.
“I just want to be back in my house. So, my only thoughts going through my head right now.”
Roth still had to pay for utilities and the mortgage on his home, which brought him no rental income.
Meanwhile, Kareem Hunter, the tenant who was living rent-free in Roth’s Seattle, Washington home, had posted a listing of the bottom unit on Airbnb.
He was charging $434 in rent, making anywhere between $2,000 to $4,000 a month by Roth’s estimate.
Airbnb requires hosts to have permission before renting out their spaces.
However, just a few weeks ago, Hunter was met with King County Sheriffs.
“The agreement that my attorney and Housing Justice Project came to was he would leave before the court date, which are supposed to be on Tuesday. So, he was supposed to be out Monday, 11:59 pm,” said Roth.
“And he stayed and he wasn’t making any efforts to move. And he had all the warnings from the Sheriff’s department and at that point it was in their hands.”
The Housing Justice Project (HJP) is a law firm funded by taxpayers who represented Hunter in court.
I’m not sleeping. I’m sick of sleeping in my van on couches
Jason Roth
Roth lost more than $80,000 in back rent and legal fees, however, the eviction was considered a win.
“I’m shocked that this was considered a win. You know, providing housing for a complete scam artist for a year and having him walk away with no punishments is a win,” he said.
“That’s crazy.”
Hunter’s lawyers argued to get rid of the eviction from his record, using “an order of limited dissemination” clause that is included in several evictions in King County.
Roth thinks this is going to mean bad news for smaller landlords.
“He’s going to do this to someone else. So, even though it’s a win for me, it’s not a win for the whole situation because you still have this guy whose inspiring others to do the same thing, who will probably do it himself,” he explained.
Roth said that being a small landlord has left him financially and emotionally exhausted.
“I’d say that was probably the lowest point that someone could look at this guy who’s an actual professional scam artist, who is opening my mail, who was getting free rent here, throwing parties here, making an income off the property, you know, has passed evictions, has passed judgments and lawsuits and a criminal record,” he told the outlet.
“Some people would say that he’s the victim.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Airbnb and the King County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
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