JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville woman learned she had just days to leave her rental home after the property management declared the space unsafe.
Alexis McBride moved into a Moncrief Park home in the summer under a different property management company.
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Soon after moving in, she began noticing problems with the floors, prompting her to file complaints with management.
“The floor is falling apart,” McBride said.
Since then, the property management changed to Locklear Property Management. McBride said she continued sending complaints to them and eventually issued a notice to withhold rent.
Locklear responded by deeming the property unsafe. An email to McBride stated that the original contractor should never have installed the floors, given the foundation’s condition, and that she needed to move.
McBride received a letter dated Nov. 18th notifying her that the foundation was compromised and needed extensive repairs, so her lease was terminated.
She shared texts from someone she said worked for the property management who appeared to be helping her find a new home, including offers of free rent at another property for the first month.
However, McBride said she cannot afford the rent at the offered property.
One text also suggested putting a rug over the damaged floor area, based on advice from a contractor.
Locklear Property Management issued a statement addressing McBride’s concerns. The company said it did not write the lease for a place with issues that predated its management:
“Several issues raised by the tenant including conditions prior to move-in and any pre-existing defects occurred before our company assumed management. These conditions were not disclosed to us, and we are unable to confirm or dispute anything that occurred prior to our involvement,” the statement said.
The company also clarified that they do not advise tenants to conceal needed repairs and that the rug suggestion may have come from an independent third-party vendor, not Locklear staff.
“We do not advise tenants to take actions that could conceal or substitute for needed repairs. Our records show that this suggestion may have come from independent third-party vendors. This recommendation did not originate from Locklear staff,” the statement added.
Locklear said it addressed McBride’s concerns promptly after taking over management. After she issued a 7-day notice to withhold rent, the company said it is legally permitted to terminate the lease since repairs could not be completed within that time.
To assist with relocation, property management said they offered McBride two months of free rent to help secure a new home.
McBride expressed uncertainty about her next steps.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do, because I have nowhere to go,” she said.
Locklear Property Management said it will continue to comply with Florida statutes and refrain from further comment while the matter proceeds through legal channels.