PORTSMOUTH, Va. — An apartment complex in Portsmouth has issued apology letters after mistakenly sending its tenants eviction notices days before Thanksgiving.
At the London Oaks Apartments complex off of High Street, a letter obtained by 13News Now written by the apartment's management team acknowledges the error of eviction notices incorrectly sent to households that were not getting evicted.
In the letter dated Tuesday, it reads:
"As new management, we are working to ensure rent balances are accurate. Our intention is to communicate and speak with residents to correct any rent balances, accordingly, notify residents of any balances due that are true and correct and offer options on payment options or how to obtain rental assistance. As you know, in some cases failure to pay rent may result in eviction as well. However, after further investigation, we have discovered that the notice issued to all residents did not apply to all households and was sent in error."
A spokesperson for PK Management said in a written response that "should have only been sent to specific households with large balances was sent out property wide" in an error.
Darrell Redmond, a local community activist, called attention to the matter via social media after he said his mother received a notice saying she owed more than $1,000 dollars or faced the possibility of eviction. The letters, Redmond said, gave residents a five-day window before possible eviction.
“They sent my mother a letter, but I pay my mother’s rent every single month," he said.
Management of London Oaks, a project based Section-8 community, was taken over by PK Management in August 2024.
Redmond tells 13News Now issues like this have happened each time the property transfers ownership, which has happened several times over the last couple of years.
“Every time someone gets it, it’s 'balance is owed’ but not having a conversation, not looking into whether these matters have been resolved or what happened with the prior management company. What is happening these companies are abruptly leaving," he added.
The letter continues by acknowledging the notice may have caused "confusion and inconvenience," as they go on to call it an "isolated incident."