Residents of the Victoria Square Apartments in Newport received notices to vacate on Tuesday, giving them about ten weeks to find other living arrangements.
These notices arrived about two weeks after Cincinnati-based Sunset Property Solutions, or SPS, acquired the property located at 506 Central Ave.
SPS Management has sent out two different notices to residents. One was a “notice to vacate” and the other was a “construction notice.”
The difference between the notices, according to an employee of Victoria Square Apartments, is that the renovation will take place in two phases. Residents who were asked to vacate are in phase one, and residents who received a construction notice are in phase two.
Residents in phase one must leave by Sept. 30; residents in phase two have until Jan. 31, 2023.
“Your lease agreement is on a month-to-month basis and requires a 30-day notice to vacate,” said the notice to vacate, though it also says residents have until Sept. 30, which gives them 46 days.
The reason for the notice?
“New ownership has decided to start major construction at the property which requires apartments to be vacated,” it said.
Those who received the construction notice were told that “although significant exterior work will start within the next 30 days, the interior renovation is expected to be completed in two phases.” People whose apartments are in the second phase of the renovation have until Jan. 31, 2023 to move out and that rent will stay the same until then.
According to the initial notice put on residents’ doors on July 13, walkthroughs of every apartment would occur on July 14 and 15 “to evaluate the status” and “see if there are any outstanding maintenance issues.”
Residents speculated that because Sunset Property Solutions specialize in “high-end remodeled apartments,” renovations were going to occur and drive up their rent even though SPS did not mention renovations until the July 19 notice.
When asked last week if there were any renovation plans or if rent prices would increase, co-founder of Sunset Property Solutions Josh Slonim said, “I don’t have any comment on what is going to occur with current residents and for our vacant units. Once again, I think this is something that happens every day in the business of real estate.”
Morgan Mullins told LINK nky last week that the Victoria Square Apartments were the only option her family could afford. They have lived in their unit for the past three years.
“As far as I’ve seen from regularly looking, these are the only apartments anywhere in Northern Kentucky for the current price,” Mullins said.
The existing website for Victoria Square apartments promotes the property as “An Affordable Place to Live.”
Now, after receiving the notice to vacate, Mullins said she and her wife and two kids would stay with family.
“They don’t seem to care about how we are affected,” Mullins said. “We are going to stay with my family and try to save up to get a house.”
She said they plan to be out of their apartment by Aug. 15.
“But honestly, we are lucky. We prepared for this because we had a feeling and my family will make space for us no matter what,” Mullins said. “I know other people here aren’t that lucky or don’t have the option, and my heart hurts for them. Two months is not enough time for these people to get that kind of money together.”
Jake Nicholson, who received a notice to vacate, would have lived in the apartments for 11 years this December.
“This is the only home my children have known,” Nicholson said. “They’re so confused.”
Nicholson is looking to move out of Newport to somewhere in more rural Campbell County. He said he currently pays $650 in rent for a two-bedroom, one-bathroom unit. The cheapest option he has found for the same setup is $1040.
“Most of the residents here are low income, elderly, disabled,” Nicholson said. “My mom survives on SSI (Supplemental Security Income) alone. They don’t care what happens to her; they’re just kicking us out to the streets to figure out.”
Last week, Slonim told LINK nky said he didn’t understand what the concern was.
“They’re on a lease; I don’t understand that,” Slonim said. “We haven’t notified anybody of anything. So, I’m just curious what the concern is on their behalf. When leases end, apartment owners all the time make decisions based on a variety of things.”
Victoria Square Apartments is a more affordable option because they accept housing vouchers (Section 8 of Housing and Urban Development/HUD.) Housing vouchers assist low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford housing in the private market.
Last week, Newport resident Krystle Smith told LINK nky that she has been on the apartment waiting list for three years. She was interested to live there because they accepted HUD.
“I’ve called a few times, and the receptionist always told me nothing was available,” Smith said. “I’ve been on the list for three years. I receive HUD. It’s really hard to find a landlord, apartment, or home on HUD in Newport.”
Missy Hambrick has lived in the apartments for almost two years. She also pays $650 in rent. Though she said she has been able to find a one-bedroom apartment elsewhere, the rent is $850, and her maximum budget per month is $750.
Hambrick said Victoria Square Apartments were the “last affordable place in Newport.” She said she had no idea where she was going to go.
Both notices sent out by SPS Management listed properties in the area “at a similar price point.” Mullins said there are a lot of other factors to consider.
“They gave people this list with ‘similar prices options’ but what about the people here with housing assistance? What about the down payment and first-month rent, application fees, and credit requirements? Rent is getting outrageous everywhere, and there is so much that goes into starting over,” Mullins said.
These notices come to residents less than a month before the new school year begins. Nicholson said his daughter was set to start kindergarten this year. Now, they will have to consider reapplying weeks before she is expected to start school.
“All options are on the table at this point given our small timetable they’ve given us,” Nicholson said. “With the way rentals have been in general; this is the absolute worst time and way for them to do this. Their lack of humility and humanity is mind-blowing but not shocking.”
