Former tenant claims Colorado Springs landlord harasses residents

“I need someplace to live, that’s my most imperative thing and fast,” said Annabelle, a 72-year-old tenant, who didn’t want to disclose her full name Monday night.

She still doesn’t know where she’ll live by the end of the week.

Heather O’Hop knows exactly how she feels.

She was evicted by the same landlord and has a lot of documents to prove it.

“It made me angry, because basically it’s not her fault, and I was being harassed to be put out on the streets too,” O’Hop said. “They’re doing it to people on disabilities because they know they can’t afford attorneys or get help.”

O’Hop took video of broken concrete and deplorable conditions she discovered under carpeting in her apartment.

She complained to the landlord, with no luck in getting repairs. So, eventually, she went to the Zoning Department and that unit was condemned.

She was forced to move up a floor, but when she was told she wasn’t moving fast enough, O’Hop got threatened with eviction.

“They harass people and continue to get away with it,” she said.

The landlord of O’Hop’s complex and Cedar Creek is Terry Ragan.

We called one of the complexes but was told he likely wouldn’t return our call.

According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office website, a landlord must give a notice of three, 10 or 30 days to vacate.

If the tenant doesn’t comply, they have to schedule a court date.

If the court rules in the landlord’s favor, the sheriff’s office can evict them.

Annabelle has a court appearance Thursday, where she will learn whether that eviction will be carried out.