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Plano tenants fight sudden meal charge: 'It's wrong'
PLAN – Made national news because of a serial killer. Now a Plano apartment complex is back in the spotlight. This time the tenants say that the management is breaking the law in the name of a “free” meal.
Preston Place is a quiet retirement community with a troubled past. In 2017 and 2018, it was the site of a serial killing spree with at least seven victims.
That nightmare is over, and while some tenants moved out hoping for a fresh start, they say rising prices are making it difficult to stay.
“They raised my rent $250 in the last two years,” Charlie Connell said.
Melissa Jackson added, “I had already heard that they were going to raise the rent 8%” when her lease expires.
Marcia Davis says she was already working odd jobs to pay her rent when management announced another new fee. According to a letter, Preston Place was implementing a monthly fee of $30. It included one free meal a month at the on-site restaurant, a place some tenants say is struggling to stay open.
“You're penalizing us because other people aren't using the facility,” Connell said. “It's wrong!”
“Why should we pay $30 for a meal when we can't even afford to eat there in the first place?” asked Jackson.
According to the Texas State Law Library, “a lease cannot be changed midway through the lease term unless both parties agree.” This includes any new “surcharges”.
“They can't change the rent arbitrarily,” Connell said. “What if next time they say, well it's $100?”
CBS News Texas checked with a tenants' rights attorney who questioned the legality of the way the amenity fee was added.
A day after we contacted Preston Place management, Executive Director Colin Sherman said he would send another letter, letting residents know he had reconsidered and decided against implementing the new fee.
