Struggling Md. Condo Under New Management

A Prince George's County condo that was at risk for losing its utilities earlier this year is now under new management.

However, Treetop condo owners are not quite out of the dark. They lined up outside of the condo's new management company Friday to see if Pepco could really cut their power at the end of the month.

"There was a huge passed electrical bill that had accrued years ago," Trent Harrison, regional president of Wentworth Property Management said.

• Prince George’s County Condo Complex Could Have Its Lights Turned Off

Harrison told News4 when his company took over for Legacy Investment and Management, LLC there were major financial issues left behind.

"[The condo owners] had some bad cards dealt to them with Legacy Management and what records they did have, they weren't sure if it was accurate or clear and they weren't getting straight answers," Harrison said.

Legacy is now defunct. Its owner, William Kyndall Francis, is facing criminal gun charges in Howard County.

Legacy managed dozens of properties throughout Prince George's and has a laundry list of closed and pending civil suits ranging from fraud, to unpaid debt and accusations mishandling funds.

"That's basically what led us to file a lawsuit," Treetop condo owner Merry Wiley said. "There was no financial accountability for what was happening to our funds."

Wiley and several other condo owners are naming Legacy, along with the Treetop board of directors, the condo's attorneys and others for alleged illegal property leans, bad bookkeeping and lack of transparency.

"Our clients are saying, 'Account for the money you've been given before you ask us for more,'" one of the condo owner's lawyers told News4.

Management is saying some people have refused to pay higher assessments or, in some cases, the condo fees period could cause Treetop to go into bankruptcy.

"People have to pay," Harrison said. "If we go bankrupt, then people are still going to have to pay for the condo."

Maryland Delegate Dereck Davis (D) attended Thursday night's community meeting to hear the arguments for himself.

"There is a crisis that's being played out throughout communities throughout the country," Davis said. "Some people think that there needs to be better state legislation over condominium and home associations to protect folks. I think there is always more the state can do to protect the homeowners."

A bill requiring management companies to be licensed failed to make it through General Assembly.