Condo Owner In Burien Is Displaced By Fire And Cannot Get Hardship Assistance

A condo owner in Burien has been displaced by fire and is now paying rent on top of her mortgage and other fees. She struggles to gain hardship assistance from her mortgage and property management company.

Displaced by Fire

Nellie Kim is a unit owner in a condominium building on 4th Avenue in Burien, Washington. When a fire started in the unit below in April, she was forced to move out because of the smoke damage. The toxic smoke pushed into her condominium walls and was deemed a hazard.

The homeowners association hired a crew and stripped Kim’s unit to the bare studs. This work began in May but has since been stalled. The work might even take a year or more, according to Kim. This is because the bids for the rebuilding project have been higher than expected. The homeowners association’s insurance company is unwilling to pay for the high bids.

No Hardship Assistance

Since the incident, Nellie Kim has been displaced by fire and has moved out of her condo unit. She has been staying at a different unit in the complex. Kim has been paying rent on top of the mortgage for the condo she cannot live in. Moreover, she is paying for the HOA fees, twice the amount in utilities, and is even covering insurance. She is working 50 to 60-hour shifts as a first responder every week to survive. Her coworkers have also provided support and offered some money to help. However, it has all been overwhelming for Kim.

When she sought hardship assistance, her lender, Flagstar Bank, refused to agree. Her property management company, Windermere Property Management WPM South, has also denied her any assistance. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Flagstar Bank said they would recheck the service agreements but offered no specific details on this issue.

After being displaced by the fire, Kim advises others to review their insurance coverage to know how much they will be expected to pay if these accidents come to fruition.