Tenant Faces Financial Crisis After Landlord's Death: Expert Advice on 'Ask Anything'
TV personality Seo Jang-hoon offers advice to a troubled tenant.
On the October 13th episode of KBS Joy's 'Ask Anything', airing at 8 PM, a 28-year-old tenant shares her predicament of potentially losing her deposit after her landlord's death.
The tenant, facing the end of her lease this month, is distressed as her landlord has passed away and there are no heirs to contact. After graduating from college, she worked as a play therapist and saved 30 million won, adding a loan of 120 million won to secure an officetel lease for her graduate studies. However, she was unable to contact the landlord during her stay, and after her certified mail was returned, she discovered through the local office that the landlord had died, leaving her in shock.
Tenant Faces Financial Crisis After Landlord's Death: Expert Advice on 'Ask Anything'
She began searching for heirs through public notice. The first in line, the spouse, was already divorced, and both children sent documents renouncing their inheritance. Even the third in line, the siblings, have all renounced their inheritance, complicating the situation further.
Tenant Faces Financial Crisis After Landlord's Death: Expert Advice on 'Ask Anything'
Seeking professional help, she hesitated due to the 3 to 4 million won cost of hiring a legal expert. When she contacted HUG Jeonse Deposit Insurance, she was told that a property manager could only be appointed if all fourth-in-line heirs also renounced their inheritance, which is difficult to verify as it includes distant relatives. The hosts express frustration, saying, "The law is too harsh."
Despite her deposit being tied up, she is also burdened with loan repayments and graduate school tuition, yet she hasn't asked her parents for help, choosing to endure alone.
Tenant Faces Financial Crisis After Landlord's Death: Expert Advice on 'Ask Anything'
Seo Jang-hoon advises, "Many don't inform their parents early to avoid worrying them, but it becomes harder if they find out later. You need to make a quick decision to minimize losses." He suggests seeking professional help, saying, "Paying for someone else's time is also a solution." Lee Soo-geun adds, "Why waste your youth trying to solve this alone and miss opportunities? Let's meet with a legal expert quickly."
Catch the full story on the October 13th episode of 'Ask Anything' at 8 PM.
