Kaila Videla is the new property manager for my rental home managed by Fort Lowell Realty. She is…read morethe 3rd PM in three years, effective July 2026. She immediately "sprung into action" by asserting her authority, harassing and blaming the tenant for decisions that were made by the former property manager.
I've had an open dialogue with the home owner and the former PM about my financial difficulties. The owner and former PM had graciously made concessions to work with me and had verbally and in writing agreed to waive the 5-day notice fee and late fees.
They're aware I'm a domestic violence survivor. Additionally, the former PM did not enforce or collect the late fees for months. This pattern of failing to enforce the fees created a waiver or modified acceptance of the lease. I understand it was an inconvenience to the owner and the PM, but I was grateful for the assistance.
All parties involved are aware that this is the rental home I moved to, post-divorce after my ex-husband had me removed from our marital home in an illegal manner. The threat of homelessness is a very real and terrifying repercussion that most survivors have had to endure while married and after. I'm working hard to build my life back up, but the process can be slow.
I explained to Kaila Videla that she could not enforce and retroactively charge the late fees and that going forward she would have to enforce the terms of the lease regarding fees. I'm also a licensed realtor and am familiar with the Landlord Tenant Act as all realtors who work in property management should be.
I tried to communicate in writing, verbally and via text to Kaila Videla. She was callous, uncaring and adamant in her pursuit to collect fees. It was unusual and appeared to be a personal vendetta for her, for whatever reason. I asked to speak to Fort Lowell's attorneys because I was going to communicate and share all of the text messages and emails the owner and former PM had sent. As a compromise, I asked Kaila to take the fees from my $2,400 security deposit because I needed her to cease harassing me with actions that I knew were unlawful.
She then turned off my ability to pay the remainder of July's rent. Then I couldn't pay August rent. I attempted to communicate with her and work something out. By the end of August, the owner had waited over 50 days for a rent payment. Then I received a complaint from the courts with a court date within the next 3 business days.
Kaila, Fort Lowell and their attorneys had combined 12 months of late fees, past due rent, attorney's fees, court fees for a sum of around $6,700 and more. That did not include September's rent which was quickly becoming due in days.
I was in a state of panic and had no choice, but to retain an attorney. He looked at the complaint and immediately questioned the $6,700 in charges. "How much is your rent?" I told him that was a sum including retroactive late charges. It took 30 seconds before he said, "They're trying to be sneaky, this judge caps late fees at $300." Fort Lowell was trying to charge me almost 6x that amount in fees.
I was so grateful for my attorney, but Fort Lowell, Kaila and their attorneys still pressed me to compromise. I just needed it to be over. I was so stressed out, the thought of homeless, I was scared for me and my two dogs.
My lease is up 11/30/26. They tried to get me to agree to vacate 9/30, giving me less than 30 days to find a new place and move in a frenzy. I compromised by agreeing to move by 10/31/26 only because I was intimidated and my nervous system could not withstand much more.
In the end, I paid Fort Lowell zero dollars in late fees. The homeowner had to wait over 60 days for a rent payment. I'm not sure how he continues to have faith in their services. I was penalized by having to vacate the lease early because of the actions and decisions of their employees.
Taking me to court was nothing more than an exercise in more trauma initiated by Kaila Videla. Kaila is a newly licensed realtor. I would tread lightly and strongly caution against appearing biased or discriminatory. I still do not understand her relentless pursuit of the late fees, but I do take pause being that I am a woman of color. As a licensed realtor we are held at a higher standard. Perhaps brush up with another fair housing course, Kaila.
Statistically, most domestic violence survivors lack family support and resources. That is my situation, also. I'm grateful for my attorney and hope we have all learned something.
