Man ends up as only resident of 28-story building in Miami 

If his lease doesn't expire until NEXT year, he's not a squatter 🙄

He's technically not a squatter if his lease isn't expired

Protip: If you ever come across any legal document that contains a clause giving the other a party the right to do something, in this case the owner to evict, and the party claims they aren't going to do that, take out a pen and draw a line through that clause, and have the other party initial it. If they refuse to do so, then clearly they intend to make use of that clause.

If his lease hasn't expired and he's paying rent then he's literally not a squatter

Having to turn his utilities back on by court order pretty much tells you who has a case and who doesn’t.

In my honest opinion that other people that live there shouldn't have buckle so damn easily. I give this man props for what he's doing.

He’s done nothing wrong just simply not allowing them to pressure him

This is an injustice. When ordinary people break leases, these large companies go after them with no mercy. When these companies break their own leases, they just shut down your electric and water and making living unbearable to get you out. They deserve to be sued for breach of contract.

Perfect case of do NOT follow the crowd without understanding of what it's about!! Strong individual 👍👍

So many people are willing to protest but he was the one who actually walked the talk!

He’s the only one who has a backbone. He didn’t sell out

The fact the court ordered his utilities to be turned back on says alot!! Hope he stays strong and doesn't give in!

If everyone would have banded together, the renters would have won!

I thought this was going to be about how those other buildings in Florida collapsed and end residents were scared.

Calling him a squatter is completely false, his lease is still good and he's standing his ground because he's smarter than the other tenants and read the fine print n didn't fall for the new owners' sneaky antics. Im proud of this man's stubbornness and persistence / perseverance, it must be very annoying living in a construction site. Realestate Development Corporations are given too much power to screw over their tenants far too often and always seem to get away with it. Im glad this man is standing up to them and their slimey tricks.

Its stupid how in order to maintain your rights, you need to spend thousands on a lawyer. They literally tried to force him out by shutting off his water and power. That wouldnt have come back on without a very threatening legal letter or court.

Good for him, little guy fighting corporate big wigs. Leave him alone.

He's smart and playing hardball until he moves out. The owner attempted constructive eviction and was court ordered to restore his utilities. He has a strong case to counter sue for harrassment and breach of contract. He may even get a better settlement offer from the owner than the previous tenants had been offered.

Next he's gonna attach balloons to his apartment and fly away.

I lived in a very large apartment complex in San Diego that got bought out by a large investment firm and wanted to vacate the complex to do renovations on every apartment. They set up meetings with each tenant and basically negotiated lease buyouts with each tenant based on how much time you had left on the lease. I only had 3 months left on my lease at the time and I got my last month free + full deposit back without inspection + $2000 for moving cost + $1000 lease buyout (total of $7200 value). I took it no problem. Funniest part is the very next apartment I moved in to the exact same thing happened a month after I moved in and I got another lease buyout. That was a good couple months lol.

So after renovations, rent will be $4k a week.

The owner had the option of not renewing peoples lease to begin with. Thus people would have had to move. However they signed new leases to collect rent until they were ready to start Renovations. This shows that the owners were not bargaining in good faith to begin with.

I had a similar experience where I was the last man standing in a Tempe apartment building. All my neighbors were on a month to month lease and hit with an increase from $750 a month to $1200 by the new owner who wanted to remodel the place and market it as “luxury.” I had insisted on signing a one year lease with the old owner, and refused to move until I found the perfect place to move to. Props for a this guy for not allowing himself to be bullied by the greedy property investors.

He has every right to be there until that lease expires. Good to see him fighting for his renters rights.

The company is already playing dirty by purposely turning off his water and electricity trying to force him out but had to turn it back on only by Court Order. Next they will turn off the elevators etc.

I love seeing people who can't be bullied by big business. I wish I could stand with him in another apartment.

As soon as “renovations” and “enviable rent” were mentioned, yeah, I’m inclined to believe the new owners scammed their tenets.

The fact that the court turned his utilities BACK on just told me all I needed to know here lol smh More people need to stand up for their rights and stop running away so quickly because it’s the easier option. Wrong is wrong and clearly this man is well within his rights!

Next time, don't reveal so much details about where this guy is located all by his lonesome, could prove dangerous.

So how is this now safe for him with people knowing we're he lives ALONE

Much respects to this man for not backing down. He deserves free rent for ever.

We always sign these leases and end up being the only ones expected to hold up our end of it. These companies violate leases *all the damned time* and it's time someone stood up to them and called them out! Screw the buyouts

I'm not mad at all. He held his own, good for him...

Seems to me he can sue the owner for his quiet enjoyment destroyed.

What I was expecting: Another crazy Florida-man story… What I got: A rare, badass Florida-man story

People need to be treated with respect. I pray the outcome is fair in court.

They can call him what they want but as long as he has that lease agreement they owe him housing for the remainder of his lease I hope he wins in court and sues them for a huge amount and then rubs it in the Tennant's faces that were so easily bought😂🤣

He better watch his back....good thing he notified the news

A new owner of a rental building decides to give all of its tenants an option for better leases, but that includes an early termination clause in fine print. And they promise not to evict-huge red flag. Everyone signs except for 1 person. Then the owner (Aimco) decides they need to replace the sewer system, and that everyone needs to get out-nice coincidence. They offer help to move the residents that signed into smaller places with 3 months rent paid. Then the company decides to turn off the electricity and water of the 1 person that didn't sign. Post a sign that says it's a felony to go outside onto the balcony that he is renting, and take him to court for his eviction. GTFO out of here, Aimco, with your %$#% contract! I hope you get sued, never have another tenant again, lose millions, and go under.

Buy him out of his lease. He's not a squatter.

I'm a landlord and I can't help but to applaud this guy!! He stood up to this EVIL Corporation who obviously, UNDOUBTEDLY LIED to the tenants!!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

People are pansies. This gentleman is not. I always respect those who choose to stand alone. ❤

I lived in that building for like 10 years and I definitely remember this guy.

This man has courage. I salute him.

This is the way AIMNCO has always operated. Greedy, bullying, heartless and at times illegal to the core

It must be nice to have that peace and quietness being all alone up there.

That sounds absolutely wonderful as I sit here with my upstairs neighbors kids running around for hours. Sounds like I’m living under a damn pole vault running board

This happened to me in Baltimore. We took the money and ran, the people that stayed endured a nightmare situation and ended up having to move out during Thanksgiving with a broken elevator and no money. It just ain't worth the headache, the leasing departments usually win.

I hear this a loophole owners are doing saying they are renovating to change leases and terminate contracts to jack up rent

Well just honor his lease and don't renew it when it's up and then remodel his apartment when he moves out. Case closed

Good for him for catching the fine print

Good for him! Glad he’s standing his ground.

You the man !!!!! Tell them 250,000 you’ll move

Our laws are passed by the rich for the rich.

Reminds me of an old apartment that accidentally lowered my rent instead of raising it one year. I immediately signed and ratified the new lease, and made 100% sure I had a signed copy on hand. Sure enough, they tried to force me to sign a higher rent lease a few days later, threatened to sue me, threatened to evict me, etc... I told them where to stick their new lease, and lived there un-sued and un-evicted until I bought a house a year later. I called their bluff and won.

The building looks like the one you can tear down in battlefield 4

This reminds me of a story I heard about a long time ago. If I remember right some guy bought his apartment in NYC when his building went condo then some years later the building went back to rentals ( I think the property owner made more money that way. The building's new owner told him he was past due on his rent and wanted him gone, from what I remember or heard ( not sure which ) he said he owned the unit when he bought it years before. The owner try to force him out but after going to court and suing the new owner he ended up getting the apartment next door to his and made both units into one.

I love it, way to go brother!!! fight the power!!!!!

Squatters by definition don't have a LEASE. His lease hasn't expired so HE'S NOT A SQUATTER. This is a scam we've seen all over the country for a long time. They're not trying to give residents better leases, they're trying to illegally push them out so they can rent to yuppies who are willing to pay extravagant, unnecessary prices. Absolutely sickening. All those residents need to file a CLASA ACTION against the new owner, the developers, construction company, EVERYONE.

This is classic Larry David. Straight out of a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode 😆😂

Hope he wins. Strong individual. It's great that there's news coverage.

A true American story mirroring that of David and Goliath. Hope this guy prevails. Never believe a corporate landlord.

😂😂😂 I worked for AIMCO for a few years… during the recession of 2008. I tell you from experience that they DO NOT care! They do whatever they want and use their arsenal of attorney to “deal” with difficult residents. They are the worst company to their employees too as they fired the manager, assistant manager, bookkeeper and the one other leasing agent I worked with on a 400+ unit property and gave me inconsistent “helpers” through a temp agency, of which I needed to give the run down to each of because they were new to property management and not versed in landlord-tenant law and what was allowed and not. I begged for experienced help! The residents were amazing though and patient with me but some ripped into higher management on their visit days about the lack of quality office staff to help me. I loved those residents but I had to leave when they decided they were no longer going to pay commissions fairly and instead distribute them amongst all office staff. Has anyone been in sales before? That’s not how that works unless everyone collaborated in landing the sale. 😕 Anyway, I hope this guys wins! I hope he wins big!

This is so typical A percentage leave and do what they’re told Percentage leave and Winge about it And one lone man stands against tyranny Good on him This is what it takes to stand for freedom To stand against the abuse on humanity He has my full support

He is an amazing guy!! Keep going, so glad that they are honoring him legally 😎

That many people fell for that lie to sign a contract? Shame

Very strong individual.. wow 👏

You go man! Best wishes from England 😘

Ooof, new owner of occupied residence should have to honor the lease

I was literally there today watching them film it live while walking my dog.

That has to feel crazy. Having that entire building to yourself. And scary 😅

We found the biggest balls in one building

He better start making arrangements for when his lease is up.

Judgment is always in favor of the party that has the most money.

Normally I am one that wouldn't question the owners but this guy, way to go! I love it!!!!

The owners were ordered to turn on his utilities? Hmm.. That doesn't look good for the owners.

LOVE THIS MAN!!!! Hell yeah!! If more people stood up for themselves or what's right, there wouldn't be much corruption we'd have to deal with....power to the people!

In modern America, EVERYONE is a single resident dwelling in their own reality.

Talk about commitment, salute bro

Good on him for standing his ground.

This story is a cliff hanger waiting for an ending.

He signed a lease that allowed for early termination, it's the same as moving into a H.O.A. condo and then getting mad that you can't paint your house pink.

I was going to say, this sounds like paradise for an introvert, but then I saw all the construction.

It would be nice to hear the numbers of what people were paying, the cost of renovations, then what the numbers are when the start leasing again. Also what profit margins now v then once said and done!

Please, keep us updated. I want him to win!!

I wouldn't have stayed. I would've just left. It looks like an unnerving hell hole in there.

Much respect to that man keep it up

Way to go, dude! You got a lot of supporters!!!

From the title, I was half-expecting a story about a guy being the only person to move into a newly built apartment building. The real story proved to be just as interesting a concept.

I don't think it's too safe for him now with everyone knowing he stays that high with no one around

I respect his commitment. Living there has to be absolute hell with all of the construction.

The fact all of the tenants fell for the landlords lies without questioning is disappointing.

He should run for office. No one will be able to bribe or pressure him to cave like many politicians have.

Stay strong. We're rooting for you, man!!!👏🏾👏🏾

*This is Florida Man's headquarters.*

At least no one can complain of loud music

God bless the defiant little man against large companies and their shenanigans

He’s technically not a squatter if he’s paying his rent through his lease. The lack of disclosure of that detail with the eviction process in place, suggests he stopped paying rent.

Good for you sir!

imagine walking all alone through the apartment at night