During a stagnant housing market, some landlords opt to reduce deposits or waive the first month's rent in order to reel in ambivalent renters. But, as one Tennessee tenant learned, some move-in specials are simply too good to be true…or at least legal.
Corey Gaines, 32, should have exercised more caution when reviewing the terms allegedly set forth by his landlord, Scott Williams, the 54-year-old proprietor of Kairos Investment Properties. Authorities believe Williams, who owns multiple properties near Nashville, offered Gaines five months of rent-free lodging and $1,000 to torch two properties to collect an insurance payout.
According to a grand jury's indictment of both men, multiple arsons set the stage for fraudulent insurance claims and even serious injuries sustained by a local firefighter in one such blaze. When the smoke cleared, fire investigators discovered gasoline around the charred homes, leading them to suspect arson and specifically Williams, who sought tens of thousands of dollars in compensation from his insurance company.
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