The Puerto Rico Family Department faces an eviction lawsuit over more than $53,000 in alleged unpaid rent for its Arecibo offices, even though the agency says it owes only three months of rent. Attorney Melvin Hernández, who represents the owner of the building that houses the offices, said the debt exceeds the three months acknowledged in a letter recently issued by the department.
The dispute became public after details emerged of an eviction complaint seeking recovery of $53,440 in overdue rent. Hernández said the parties met on October 2 to discuss the delinquent payments, and department officials acknowledged delays in processing the rent. At that meeting, the agency said payments for July and August were being processed and that the Financial Oversight and Management Board had already released the funds for prior months.
"We thought we had reached an agreement. However, when the date arrived on which we were supposed to receive the written agreement, it never came, and we proceeded to file the lawsuit," Hernández said. He said the owner sought eviction, the legal mechanism for a property owner to recover possession, after the agency allegedly failed to meet its payment obligations under the lease.
He noted that no payment had been issued to date. The case is scheduled for a hearing on November 17, when both parties are expected to present their positions on the disputed rent and the eviction request.