Local

Tenants say rent money stolen by former property manager

ORLANDO, Fla. — Some tenants in an Orlando community told Channel 9 they paid their monthly rent, but are now getting eviction notices after the former manager was fired.

Residents at Parkwood Inn on W. Colonial Drive contacted WFTV after receiving the eviction notices.

"This is not right," resident Deborah Glenn said.

Glenn has called Parkwood Inn home for four years. She and several other tenants got eviction notices on Monday telling them to pay up or move out.

"Within three days I have to leave the premises and I owe them $4,256, which I do not owe and have receipts to contradict," Glenn said.

Her receipts show former manager Patrick Dickinson received her $633 monthly payment in March to cover rent through July.

"What has management told you when you've said 'I have paid you my rent?'" reporter Kendra Oestreich asked.

"Well I have to take your receipts over to the corporate office," Glenn said.

The current Parkwood Inn front desk employee, who identified himself as Ron, said the motel is trying to work with the tenants.

Ron told Oestreich that Dickinson was terminated in April for unsatisfactory performance.

Dickinson, who is a registered sex offender, would not speak to WFTV's crew when they reached him at his home in Apopka Tuesday. He hasn't been arrested or charged in the missing rent case.

"If they don't have the money, I don't have it, who has it?" Glenn said. "I don't think it's too hard to figure out."

WFTV's legal analyst said if the tenants have paid their rent as the receipts show, they have the right to stay and the owner will have to go to court to kick them out.

The registered owner of the property, a company called Aveiro Inc. in Miami, had no comment.