Three years ago Robert Lee founded the Richmond County Landlord’s Association with just 22 members.

Now the association has a member list of 120 landlords in Richmond County, represents more than 2,000 residential properties, and is looking for more.

“We’re trying to get everyone in the county on board,” Lee said. “The only way the association will work properly is if every landlord in the county is a part of it.”

Lee said he started the association because there weren’t enough laws in North Carolina that protected the landlord. For example, if a tenant decides not to pay rent one month, the only thing a landlord can do is evict the tenant, but that takes 30 days and an official court filing.

Once those 30 days are up and the tenant moves out, if there are damages, the court can make a judgment, but there’s still nothing that says the tenant has to pay back the money. There’s nothing in place to enforce the judgment.

“Since we started the association, a lot has changed and we now have a list of people that have damaged property or been evicted for non payment,” Lee said holding up a multi-page list. “Once an individual is on the list, the only way to get off is to settle your debt with the previous landlord.”

Lee said it’s more of a credit reference list than anything else, and it allows landlords to protect their properties by ensuring they aren’t renting to folks who will take advantage of them. The list is updated bimonthly and sent out to the members.

“I personally will not put someone on the list who’s lost a job, became sick or had another reason beyond their control,” Lee said. “I’ll only put them on if they’ve damaged the property or been evicted.

“This is to benefit the landlords and the tenants because landlords that are in the association know there are standards they have to uphold. If a tenant has a problem with the property, the landlord has to do the right thing.”

Lee said this type of mutually beneficial relationship between landlords and tenants will discourage “slumlords.”

“Hopefully none of them exist in the county, but at this point it’s to the benefit of all.”

Lee said there will always be renters, especially in an uncertain economy when people can’t afford to buy their own homes. For any new member he can get to join, Lee said he’ll cover their $5 annual membership fee. All they have to do is visit him at work at Rockingham Guns and Ammo on Highway 74 and he’ll get them on the mailing list, or call 997-7727.

The Richmond County Landlord Association is a non profit, limited liability corporation. Their next meeting will be at the end of November.

n Staff writer Eren Tataragasi can be reached at (910) 997-3111 or at etataragasi@yourdailyjournal.com.