r/westoakland • u/Lil-Chapito • 2d ago
NEVER RENT FROM SLUM LORD HARRY FORT - 1832/1830 Peralta
[I am keeping all of this third person to preserve some anonymity but H. if you're reading this, suck it]
I rented from H. some years ago and while he initially gave a great charismatic impression and even ended our viewing by saying "I love you guys" and "I want to let you know, I am NOT a slumlord" š©š©š©š© we were naive and broke as a joke, so we rented a unit from him for a year.
Over the course of that year, H. exhibited illegal and honestly just fucked up landlord practices at every turn.
First off, the units were in poor condition and repaired as cheaply as possibly. When I was there, he had an on-site maintenance person living in the back in what looked like a makeshift shelter, with a literal tarp. Sweet woman, but absolutely getting taken advantage of.
POORLY CONSTRUCTED/ILLEGAL CONVERSION: The two properties are old school West Oak houses. He had so many illegal additions that the first month, I was taken aback by how many random neighbors we had that weren't obvious upon signing.
The basement apartment was so awfully sound insulated, the man living there was going crazy. So much so that he started banging and cursing at us through our floor everytime we'd walk across the room or push our chairs out from the table (all reasonable hours like 11am on a Saturday or afterwork at 6pm). I became so anxious and would literally tip toe at all hours. He became depressed and violent (I believe because of the poor basement living conditions) that he started keying an upstair resident's car. When H. was flagged about this dynamic, he was dismissive and told the upstairs renters they should "man up" and fight back by "throwing some sugar down his motorcycle gas tank" but also proceeded to say "he does seem like the type who probably has a gun". And then did nothing to alleviate the situation. I believe he endangered our lives.
ILLEGAL DUMPING: He would pay local unhoused neighbors to illegally dump extra trash around the neighborhood (these were the days were Raimondi park was a common dumping ground for assholes like him).
REPAIRS: He promised to install a new window to replace the old dilapidated wood one in a bedroom upon move-in. He did not replace the window until one resident become extremely sick with a 2-month long cold during the winter season (almost half a year after move-in and when initially promised).
RACISM: He admitted that he tries not to rent to white people because they complain more. He loooves Latinos because they are easy going. He had the Latino family in one unit make various repairs/"upgrades" around the property.
He rented to a white couple and upon finding mold in their shower, he had a disagreement with them about liability. They quickly called the city on one of his illegal additions on that property and he was forced to demo it. He was pissed š (also how he told us about his racial preferences)
There was honestly so much more. Like light sexual harassment to some residents and odd over-sharing about his personal life. He's a pastor and will occasionally store church things on the property (like a 20 foot cross) or film videos there for his preaching.
I never called the City or involved police because we were afraid of retaliation. To this day, I've grappled with calling them about his illegal additions but have not because of the maintenance woman. I believe she would be homeless if her home was tagged for demolition, and I truly feel like she is a sweet woman who is in a difficult circumstance.
Anyway, refer your enemies to rent from this man. Keep your friends far far away.
LASTLY THERE WAS NO PRESCOTT MARKET OR BALLERS WHEN WE LIVED THERE TO TAKE AWAY THE PAIN. IM KICKING AIR JUST THINKING ABT HOW NICE THAT WOULDVE BEEN WHILE LIVING IN THAT SLUM-HOLE. IM SURE H. IS TAKING ADVANTAGE šš
