Halloween Decor Lands Toms River Couple In Dispute With Landlord

Toms River NJ

26 October, 2021

5:53 PM

Description

TOMS RIVER, NJ — When Joey and Anthony Krupocin put up their Halloween decorations at their Toms River townhouse in late September, they were looking forward to a festive Halloween season. But that festive spirit has been zapped away in the midst of a battle with the townhouse development's property management company, which has demanded the Krupocins — and their neighbors — take down the decorations, claiming they are violations of the residents' leases and safety issues. It's a battle that has left the Krupocins and their neighbors perplexed, because it's the first time the property management company has objected to decorations. "We decorated for Halloween and Christmas last year. Nobody said boo," Joey Krupocin said Tuesday. Gabrielle Run, the townhouse community where the Krupocins rent, is managed by Edgewood Properties. "There is no comment from any of us," said a woman named Kim who answered the phone at the property's office when asked for comment. "Please don't call again, thank you," she said, before hanging up. Krupocin and her husband put up the decorations on Sept. 26, "my birthday," she said. "Forty-five minutes later we got an email." The email, the text of which she shared with Patch, said holiday decorations and lights are a violation of the lease. "As per your signed lease agreement: Rules and Regulations: General Policies regarding Balconies and Window Treatments States: The use of balconies/patios for storage, cooking, maintenance of wash lines, bedroom purposes, hanging of personal property, or any other use which detracts from the neat and orderly appearance of the building in which the apartment is located or causes inconvenience to other Residents is expressly prohibited. Clotheslines, and hanging clothes outside to dry, is prohibited. *This includes but is not limited to holiday décor. This rule applies to townhomes & apartment homes. Please refrains from hanging lights on trees & bushes or disturbing the mulch beds with any type of outdoor décor," said the email, which Krupocin said went to all of the Gabrielle Run residents. There is nothing in the lease that bans holiday decorations, Krupocin said. "My husband even searched the lease," she said. "Nothing at all mentions holiday decor." In early October, the property management company raised the stakes with a certified letter addressed to the Krupocins, threatening them with eviction if they did not remove the decorations. The letter, dated Oct. 7, alleges the decorations are "destroying the affected property/landscaping" and that the couple is "acting in a disorderly manner as to destroy the peace and quiet of the occupants or other tenants" in the community. "If you do not immediately cease doing the acts complained of, you will be EVICTED," the letter said. In an interview with ABC7, property manager Kelsey Triozzi said the couple is not being evicted, but said the spider web poses a safety hazard to children. The threat, however, was disconcerting for the couple, Krupocin said. "I'm 35 weeks pregnant," she said. "There's no way we could move on short notice, let alone find place in this market." Krupocin said the property management company has claimed the plastic stakes, which she said are 4 inches long, that hold the web in place are damaging the landscaping. "But we've been telling them for 10 months that our sprinklers don't work," she said. The only decoration that makes noise is a witch, and Krupocin said they are not turning it on until Halloween. She also said she and her husband aren't the only residents who've been running afoul of the property management company. "One of our neighbors was banned from even putting out a pumpkin," Krupocin said. That neighbor was told "she was too excessive in decorating." "She had a cute Halloween fence, a ghost, a skeleton hanging, some pumpkins on her stoop," she said of the neighbor. Another neighbor, Bill Novak, told ABC7 that the property management company ordered him to remove a Trump flag from in front of his home last year. "They're saying I can't decorate. Last year I decorated for Christmas and nothing was said." "It's funny because this isn't an HOA like people think it is," Krupocin said. "They make up rules as they go along. You can't just make up rules." Click here to get Patch email notifications, or download our app to have breaking news alerts sent right to your phone. Have a news tip? Email [email protected] Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.