Arrr! This kinfolk be swashbucklin' and spendin' a fortune restorin' a rum-soaked estate, only t'be told by the government, 'It ain't yers!'
2023-11-26
Avast ye scurvy dogs! A family of four hath spent a fortune of 600,000 doubloons to fix up their coastal abode, arr! But alas, the scurvy government be suing them just as they be ready to sell their treasure trove. Blimey!
A couple who specialize in renovating houses found themselves in a legal nightmare after spending $600,000 renovating a bayside home in Nova Scotia, Canada. The Canadian Department of Justice informed them that they couldn't sell the property, accusing the local government of illegally auctioning it off. Lorna Tenniswood, one half of the house-flipping couple, expressed her frustration, stating that the house felt tainted and like a prison of their own making. The Tenniswoods had purchased the property for $50,000 in 2021 after a small claims court ruling. However, when they attempted to sell the home after restoring it, the Justice Department intervened and filed a lawsuit against the property owners, arguing that the auction conducted by the local sheriff's department was invalid because the previous owner, Mehdi Martin, had not been notified. The couple had already invested a significant amount of money into renovations by that point.Mehdi Martin, a New York-based artist and the previous owner, expressed his shock and frustration at having his house taken without being informed. He insisted that he wanted his house and land back and to be compensated for his pain, valuing it in the millions of dollars. The Tenniswoods had originally been hired by Martin to repair the house but were not paid in full due to a dispute over the work done. They took him to small claims court, and when Martin failed to respond to correspondence from the sheriff's department, the property was put up for auction.
The case has prompted changes within the Department of Justice, according to Nova Scotia Attorney General Brad Johns. The outcome of the Tenniswoods' lawsuit will determine whether Martin can reclaim the recently renovated house. The trial is scheduled for August 2024. Lorna Tenniswood expressed regret over the situation, calling it a massive mistake.