In the United States, even if the tenant is approaching 100 years old, eviction is still possible. This is in any case what the misadventures of the occupant of a senior residence in Pacific Grove, a coastal municipality in Monterey County, California, reveal. The woman named Jean Jacques (remember that in English Jean is a feminine name), 96 years old, occupying the same accommodation since 2002, received an eviction notice in mid-August explaining to her that the only way to avoid being put on the street would be to pay within 3 days a bill of 110,000 dollars (a little less than 100,000 euros). In France, tenants over 65 years old benefit from special protection both for an eviction and for a notice (which does not prevent them from being able to terminate the lease or proceed with an eviction in very specific cases).
However, the nonagenarian had signed a “lifetime” care contract when she moved in, paying a capital of $250,000 on arrival, along with a monthly rent of $5,000. With longevity helping, the old lady left all her savings there. Things went wrong when the structure created by the Methodist Church of California and Nevada to manage this residence went bankrupt. The premises were then taken over by a private company which agreed to take back the tenants on site under the old conditions (grandfather clause).
“They have all my money”
The problem is that the new owners feel they don’t have to keep her in the same residence. “I will not go away, “The nonagenarian, who is still alert, told the American television channel KSBW, which was reported by the New York Post. They’ll have to bury me because I have nowhere else to go anyway. They have all my money.” What is certain is that Jean Jacques can count on support and that his case is being followed by lawyers.
“She invested all her savings in this place, confirms Bob Sadler, president of the Pacific Grove nursing home residents’ association. “I don’t care about the legal ramifications of this case. It’s just morally unthinkable.” In fact, the authorities are starting to look into the matter because the eviction procedure seems illegal. The original document only provides for a ridiculous 3-day deadline (which was not applied) and makes no mention of how to appeal the decision, other than paying $110,000. So far, there has been no news of the eviction procedure or official reaction from the owner.
