Phony landlords take advantage of vacant houses

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Renter beware: Phony landlords take advantage of vacant houses

When Essie Holiday handed the so-called landlord $500 in cash for the first month's rent on a house on Cleveland's East Side, he gave her the keys along with a receipt. He signed it Maxwell Johnson.

Holiday put the utilities in her name and moved in July 11. Two days later, the police were at her door with the two owners of the house. No one was named Maxwell Johnson.

The owners of the Abelwhite Avenue house are two brothers, Charles Donahoo of Mentor and Maurice Donahoo of Canton.

They told Holiday the house, which used to belong to their parents, had been vacant for two years and was on the market for sale, not for rent. She would have to leave.

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Renter beware: Phony landlords take advantage of vacant houses - Cleveland Metro News – The Latest Breaking News, Photos and Stories from The Plain Dealer