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Got trashed during spring break- to sue or not?

Mango avatar
MangoSoWal Insider
16,249 views
My neighbor and I rent our side by side units together for larger groups. We had spring breakers who we spoke to the mothers and they said they would be supervising 8 girls with 4 moms. Sounded reasonable.
Found out from one of the other owners they threw a party, and cars from Alabama were parked up and down our driveway, in the street etc.
The other owner called prior to the party and she said she spoke with one of the moms. WE called after the party and asked the other on-site owner to stop by and ask to speak with a parent under the pretense of a maintenance issue. This was 8:30 am. Girls claimed parents were out. Got a call from a Mom on cell who claimed she was at the beach. Assured me she was supervising, that the party was the next door unit to ours, and that she owned a house in Gulfport once and understood our concern.

My neighbor who I rented with came down the beach that Friday night to check it out and stayed in my other house on grounds, and found a hellish nightmare. Margarita mix all over her down comforters, down the banisters , broken twin metal frame, our toilets were all backed up, my sinks backed up, and broken disposal. She seemed to get the brunt of it. But we knew the moms could not have been there when we found vomit glued to our decks and railings!
We had a $600 security deposit, and fortunately her husband was able to repair everything himself in my unit and his, comforters were replaced, and they even managed to lightly power wash the deck (which was just stained!) to get the vomit off.
I gave her all the deposit collected, but I have a couple of questions?
1) If my lease has a limit of occupants, and a party is thrown, and my lease says they can be evicted, cars towed off grounds for violation, can I deadbolt the unit and leave their stuff by the curb?
2) Can I sue for additional damages? The deposit just covered the new linens, comforter, disposal, not to mention the time involved for my friend who did the work while on spring break with her family.
We are not sure it is worth persuing further, but seething from doing our due dilegence and then being outright lied too by adults! We decided only families from now on. No groups! even adult groups, since only one person is signing lease usually.

Thanks,
Donna a/k/a Mango

Replies

92
Cork On the Ocean avatar
Cork On the Oceandirectionally challenged
#27
She said at one point while she waited for the Mom's to get there she almost called Walton county just to haul them all off to jail and let them deal with trying to explain to the rest of the groups parents why their kids were in the pokey, while under their supervision. She was amazed at how offended they were that she would dare evict them. :confused:

I can't belive our board of directors didn't deal with the group in our neighborhood. Bad thing is once you allow it.....it's hard to unring that bell. I hope if something of that nature takes place at my home, I get a call. It may take several hours but I would be there in person to take care of it. Although, I have a good managemnet company that makes drop in visits if they suspect things are not as they seem.

The good thing about Seacrest Beach is there are some full time residents on nearly every street that will complain and call the police. I'd have no problem calling the police. It still happens. I noticed one of my client's house was accumulating a lot of beer cans around the outside so I called him. Problem was I wasn't his management company and couldn't knock on the door and I really didn't see or hear any bad behavior, just lots of trash. We made sure the management company cleaned up the outside but that's all we could really do on that one.

The busload of kids weren't unruly. If was a religious group and the kids were pretty quiet, but the issue was the bus parked out front that they refused to move. Enforcement of our covenents has been a real problem on many levels and it seems that more often than not they'd rather look the other way than engage in a confrontation. Personally, I think the primary responsibility is to the homeowners who pay a lot of money to have those restrictions and there should be no exceptions. 3 days were spent screwing with them, IMO, if they wouldn't move the bus, we should have had them towed at their expense. I'm sure the owner would have gotten ticked but where do you stop? What if somebody parks a semi in front of your next door neighbors house? Would you want it removed?
InletBchDweller avatar
InletBchDwellerSoWal Insider
#28
Cork,

My mom lives at Seacrest and she said that this last week was a doozie. She said kids were running around the pool, jumping over the waterfall walls, when she asked them nicely to quiet it down they all congregated under her balcony and talked and laughed for what seemed hours. I drove by a house one day and kids had electric guitars set up and were giving a "concert"??? to the whole neighborhood. The mom just said "you know 16 year old boys"....
I know that some signs were broken and some things stolen.
I know last year our golf cart was highjacked and driven to Rosemary!!!!😱
Every year I am floored as to how some parents have no control.....
Cork On the Ocean avatar
Cork On the Oceandirectionally challenged
#29
Cork,

My mom lives at Seacrest and she said that this last week was a doozie. She said kids were running around the pool, jumping over the waterfall walls, when she asked them nicely to quiet it down they all congregated under her balcony and talked and laughed for what seemed hours. I drove by a house one day and kids had electric guitars set up and were giving a "concert"??? to the whole neighborhood. The mom just said "you know 16 year old boys"....
I know that some signs were broken and some things stolen.
I know last year our golf cart was highjacked and driven to Rosemary!!!!😱
Every year I am floored as to how some parents have no control.....

I don't get to the pool too often. What a zoo! And it's only going to get worse with all the communities using the pool. Apparently now the developer is offering to sell us the pool. It's my understanding that there was something said about giving it to us but now he wants to sell it. I can't even imagine being on the pool. I'm on the west end where it's pretty quiet so far. I love the area but would like a community with fewer rentals since I'm full time. It's a great community for rentals though.
InletBchDweller avatar
InletBchDwellerSoWal Insider
#30
yes she is full time for now....
scrltbegonya avatar
scrltbegonyaBeach Fanatic
#31
Donna, well, I see your sense of humor in intact--I commend you on that! So sorry to hear about what happened, though.

I have nothing profound to say...but SO SORRY! Not fun 😱
peapod1980 avatar
peapod1980percy
#32
I am appalled at how many parents will swear and sign agreements to the effect that they will be on the premises at all times, then head for the hills after procuring the keys for their angels.
This is what totally galls me--it goes so completely against my sense of right and wrong that I can't even comprehend the parents who will do this. As a parent, I want my kids expand their experiences by doing things like thinking outside the box, and I might even be guilty at times of encouraging nonconformity, but...blatantly encouraging them to break rules and/or laws serves no good purpose. To then take it a step further by lying for them is inexcusable.
Jdarg avatar
JdargSoWal Expert
#33
This is what totally galls me--it goes so completely against my sense of right and wrong that I can't even comprehend the parents who will do this. As a parent, I want my kids expand their experiences by doing things like thinking outside the box, and I might even be guilty at times of encouraging nonconformity, but...blatantly encouraging them to break rules and/or laws serves no good purpose. To then take it a step further by lying for them is inexcusable.

OK- so y'all will be the other parents chaperoning with us!!:clap_1:
Sheila avatar
SheilaSoWal Insider
#34
This is what totally galls me--it goes so completely against my sense of right and wrong that I can't even comprehend the parents who will do this. As a parent, I want my kids expand their experiences by doing things like thinking outside the box, and I might even be guilty at times of encouraging nonconformity, but...blatantly encouraging them to break rules and/or laws serves no good purpose. To then take it a step further by lying for them is inexcusable.

Even though both mine are grown..... I just cannot comprehend how some parents write the check and then totally disengage!?! :idontno:
Cork On the Ocean avatar
Cork On the Oceandirectionally challenged
#35
Even though both mine are grown..... I just cannot comprehend how some parents write the check and then totally disengage!?! :idontno:

Me neither. I was very trusting of Heather when she was a teenager but for just about whatever she wanted I always had her to do something towards attaining it. These kids are just spoiled.

Like pea said, there's nothing wrong with non-conformity or innovation. This is just disrespect and ungratefulness for what they have. If it was their parents house they had a party in, they'd be busting their butts to clean it up the next day. I just don't understand, are they clueless that this is someone's hard earned money or do they assume that they came easy because apparently things come easy to them? Can you imagine if they are this loaded the promiscuity that occurs. Scary 😱
Unplugged avatar
UnpluggedBeach Fanatic
#36
Folks: Shelly's earlier post sums it up...
Sheila avatar
SheilaSoWal Insider
#37
Me neither. I was very trusting of Heather when she was a teenager but for just about whatever she wanted I always had her to do something towards attaining it. These kids are just spoiled.

Like pea said, there's nothing wrong with non-conformity or innovation. This is just disrespect and ungratefulness for what they have. If it was their parents house they had a party in, they'd be busting their butts to clean it up the next day. I just don't understand, are they clueless that this is someone's hard earned money or do they assume that they came easy because apparently things come easy to them? Can you imagine if they are this loaded the promiscuity that occurs. Scary 😱

Mabe not and maybe therein-lies the problem! There is such a sense of
entitlement among so many young people. It's sad that some parents care so little for their children that they 'buy" their way through life. I am fully aware that there are bumps along the road to adulthood. But, some of life lessons that stuck with me and prepared me for life in the real world were lessons that my folks ,(Dad in particular) chose to let me ride out. As a parent myself, it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. But, I think the rewards have been tenfold.
kimbug avatar
kimbugBeach Lover
#38
Reading these posts has been helpful to me as a parent- even though my son is only 13, we have already had conversations with other parents about Spring Break. Sounds like SUCH a nightmare for property owners.

As of now, our future plan is to rent a house in Grayton, and BE THERE, with our kid, and his friends. He can invite a set number of friends and the trip will be on my dime, BUT- I will be there, with not only rules, but lots of ideas for cool things to do. The choice for him will be easy- he can go to the beach with his friends and have a good time, with his parents there, or he can stay home and do nothing. There will be no option C,D, or E! Hopefully, we will like some of his friend's parents, and they can come too!

Thanks for posting, jdarg. You make me feel like it's okay to be a "mean" mommie with rules. I have a 17 year old daughter and so far she has been no problem (except the occasional attitude that comes with being a teen :roll: ). She has some grand ideas of spring break next year for her senior year and we also have no option C, D, or E! Either enjoy a great trip with your family and a friend or stay at home with grandma and have fun in the cold, Ohio spring! Parenting definitely is a full time job and sometimes it feels like you are the bad guy but I know for sure that I'd NEVER sign a lease for a bunch of kids going on spring break just to keep them happy. Things can get out of control fast even for good kids.

I'm sad to hear these bad stories of irresponsible people. Call me naive but I feel like we always take care of the beautiful places we've stayed and I just expect others to do the same. Sad but true that is not always the case :( .

Good luck to all of the responsible owners out there who bust their butts taking care of their investments and actually caring about the experience that their renters have while vacationing!
Mango avatar
MangoSoWal InsiderAuthor
#39
Paula, didn't you mention in a thread about calling your guests when they arrive to check to see everything was okay? This instance of Mango's house being trashed reminds me of it--maybe that extra personal touch might be what's needed to instill another layer of responsibility in guests. When you "know" someone, it changes things. I don't know if it could prevent unfortunate incidents like this, but perhaps it could lessen the damage significantly. Might be worth a try, at least.

We did call our houses twice, and spoke to one mother once. There was an owner on site who the girls told him they would be having a small gathering, and if they heard noise, to please let them know. There was also a party next door to us as well, so we could not determine where all the cars were going to. he said that there was no one in the pools and he didnt hear noise. His unit is way down the other end. he did look and said he saw kids coming in and out of all 3 homes. This particular owner is not the friendliest and I wish he had called the police, because I guess he went to sleep and in the morning reported a mess on grounds.
Fortunately, another owner who serves on the Board with me is moving down full time, and he will be policing the grounds.
Donna a/ka Mango
Miss Kitty avatar
Miss KittyMeow
#40
Mango....so sorry for your mess. :( But, I am glad you have joined us here!

I think some of the problems with these type of parents, is they are trying to be friends rather than parents of their children. I saw it in my son's class. The moms dress like their daughters and have a need to feel popular. Kids at this age are still not "cooked" and handing over responsibility of someone else's home is a bad place to start. I wonder if these parents would just open up their own homes to a group of high school kids for a week? Even the most "responsible" kid can make bad decisions in a group.

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