I’ve lived in my apartment for 5 years – I’ve always paid my rent, but now I’m being kicked out for fees I didn’t know about

A NEVADA resident received an eviction notice without warning.

Cameron Mack lived in his apartment for more than five years. During that time, he said he was in good standing with his landlords.

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“I never had any problems with the office and always stayed on top of things,” Mack told the ABC affiliate KTNV channel 13.

Even during the pandemic, when he lost his job, Mack received rental assistance and followed a payment plan to cover the rent.

“I have always been open with the office about what was going on,” he said.

However, Mack claims his landlords did not reciprocate the same standards of communication with him, which resulted in his lease expiring without notice.

“In all my years here, I have always received notice two, sometimes even three months before the end of the lease,” said Mack.

Once the lease expired, Mack was given a 30-day notice to vacate the apartment, during which time there was no reason to vacate the apartment. This termination is a form of eviction.

“If a landlord believes a tenant has done nothing wrong but wants to get the property back, they can file a 30-day notice to vacate without giving any reason,” said Aaron McDonald, a Southern Nevada housing attorney.

Mack admitted that he was behind on payments to his landlords, but that these were dues due to his unemployment.

“The last time I got rental assistance, they said there was some late payment interest left over from it,” he said.

The problem Mack is having with his eviction is not these fees, but the discrepancy between his rent and the quoted rent. Mack pays $940 a month, including water, sewer and trash. His landlords offer units like his on their website for $1,150 to $2,257.

“It feels like I’m being pushed out so they can raise the rent for the next person,” Mack said.

Rent increases are a malicious practice, but they are not illegal in the state of Nevada.

“We don’t have rent control in Nevada,” McDonald said.

“It is the tenant’s duty to know the contents of their rental agreement and whether they need to extend it or not.”

Despite the lack of rent control, McDonald said tenants should always challenge an eviction in court before submitting to it.

“When you receive an eviction notice, you respond legally. Go to court and file a short three-page document defending yourself. This will ensure you receive a hearing before an eviction takes place.”