Renter trashes Las Vegas house on way out, property managers say it’s a pandemic trend
https://www.fox5vegas.com/coronavirus/re...bdb4ed9a83.html
Drew Andre
Posted on May 3, 2021

The pandemic has brought more protections to help renters, but landlords say some have taken advantage of the system by not caring for the home. Property managers took FOX5 inside one house vandalized by a renter.

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -- A home near Jones Boulevard and Hacienda Avenue sits vacant. Inside, there is trash on the ground, house fixtures ripped out, profanity scribbled on walls and cigarette butts in the toilet.

"It gives me a knot in my stomach. I don't even want to see what it looks like," homeowner Dawna Priest said.

Priest purchased the home in 1998. Since 2004, she has rented it out.

"Being a single woman and buying a house by myself it was really special to me," Priest said.

For the last five years, the same renter has lived in the home. Priest said pre-pandemic she never had any issues with the tenant. Then, last March they stopped paying rent. Rental assistance finally arrived through the CARES Act Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) in December.

However, in the New Year, the same problem persisted. Priest said she was willing to work with the renter, but there was no communication. Struggling financially and unable to evict under the moratorium, Priest decided she would sell.[...]

"Once you negate one aspect of the contract, the tenant thinks it’s free game. They're like, ‘we don't have to listen to any of the other rules anymore,’" Campa said.

[...]“Now I'm left with $8,000-10,000 in damages."

The Nevada eviction moratorium ends May 31, which means the court process for evictions can begin, but can’t take place until the federal moratorium expires June 30.-- excerpt, rest at link above --