Norwalk : Landlord Offers Extension to 2 Women Facing Eviction

An ailing elderly woman and her daughter, who are facing eviction Sept. 20, will be allowed to remain in a Norwalk house until Nov. 1 if they agree to pay rent for a month and a half, the landlord said this week.

Richard Magdaleno told the Norwalk Consumers’ Rental Mediation Board on Monday night that he is willing to grant an extension to Gladys Jenkins, 78, and her daughter, Faye Zamora, 46. Jenkins was diagnosed several years ago as having Alzheimer’s disease. Magdaleno said he had sought to evict the women because they are five months behind in rent payments.

He said he will agree to the extension because he feels sorry for Jenkins, but that he cannot continue “carrying” them after Nov. 1. Magdaleno said the house is owned by his elderly mother, who needs rent income to support herself.

Zamora has until Monday to accept Magdaleno’s offer. If she agrees, she must pay Magdaleno $870 rent. Zamora said Tuesday that she probably will request to move out in mid-October and pay Magdaleno for a month’s rent. Zamora says she has paid Magdaleno rent for May, but she admits that she fell behind in June. She said she believes that Magdaleno wants her and her mother out so he can raise the rent.