PORTLAND – A tenant was believed to be responsible for destroying a home that he rented in SE Portland. The landlord thinks it is retaliation for her trying to evict him for not paying rent.
Cindy Hiatt told NewsChannel 8 her tenant, William Olietti, wrecked every room of her home on SE Rhone Street. “I just walked through the house and I was in shock,” she said. “Every step I took I was in more shock.”
The kitchen cupboards were taken down and burned. Trash was left in the sink and the faucet was broken. It looked like Olietti took a jackhammer to the tile floor in the kitchen.
“It’s just like, you’re numb and in shock,” said Hiatt.
Olietti also smashed windows, broke holes in the wall, and trashed the backyard shed.
“I can’t think of anything horrible enough to happen to somebody who could do that,” said Hiatt.
An expert on landlord-tenant rights said there were a few things a landlord could do to avoid similar situations.
“The landlord can ask for references, can ask for a security deposit, can ask for a co-signer,” said clinical professor Mark Peterson.
Olietti was arrested and charged with criminal mischief. Hiatt does not think the house will be available to prospective renters for several months.
“I can’t begin to think how much it’ll cost,” said Hiatt. “It’s unbelievable.”
From KGW.com
by Mike Benner
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