News Summary
Residents of Westwood Crossing apartments in Brandon, Florida, are confronting eviction due to misapplied rent payments. Tenant Catherine Regan reported significant discrepancies in her payments, leading to an unresolved balance that triggered an eviction notice. Many residents share similar frustrations regarding their accounts, prompting legal action and investigations into management’s practices. As tensions rise, tenants strive to find resolution amidst administrative errors affecting their housing stability.
Brandon, Florida – Tenants residing at Westwood Crossing apartments are facing eviction due to issues relating to misapplied rent payments, which have left many residents in precarious housing situations over the past year.
Among these tenants, Catherine Regan reported her troubles began in June 2024 when she submitted a total of $2,375 through money orders for her rent. However, only $575 of this total was credited to her account, leaving an unpaid balance of $1,800. Regan explained that because she was a few days late on her payment, she could not utilize the online payment system, and thus chose to pay with money orders. By July 1, her online account still reflected the $1,800 balance.
In an effort to resolve the situation, Regan traced her payment records through Western Union. She discovered that $1,300 of her money orders had not been cashed, and she subsequently received a refund for those specific transactions. Regan signed the refunded amount over to Westwood Crossing. However, a single money order for $500 was cashed and deposited into a Westwood account without being applied to her rent ledger, leading to further confusion.
The circumstances escalated significantly in November 2024 when Regan received an eviction notice from the sheriff’s office, causing considerable distress, particularly as it arrived just after Thanksgiving. Regan and other tenants have expressed their frustrations in various court records, where many have pleaded for assistance related to their own eviction issues. Investigative reports have revealed that several other tenants at Westwood Crossing are facing similar challenges with their rent payments not being accurately credited.
Despite the issues surrounding her account, Regan acknowledges that she likely owes two months of rent. To secure some form of remedy, she has initiated legal action against Westwood Crossing and has vowed not to vacate her apartment until her account accurately reflects a zero balance. Regan also filed a report with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, naming a former apartment manager as a suspect in the alleged mismanagement of payment records.
As the investigation unfolded, a detective informed Regan that the former manager had been terminated from her position, although no criminal case has been immediately established against her. However, there is an outstanding warrant for embezzlement in North Carolina tied to Regan’s case. Throughout this tumultuous period, Regan has kept up with her rent payments by depositing funds into a court registry to avoid falling further behind.
In June 2025, a judge dismissed the eviction case against Regan and ordered that all funds in the registry be disbursed to Westwood Crossing. Despite this ruling, Regan’s account with the property management company remains unresolved, raising concerns about the accuracy of her payment records.
Requests for comments from WGA Legacy Property Management, the owner of Westwood Crossing, along with their legal counsel, have gone unanswered. The court documentation reveals that Regan’s receipts for her money orders correlate with her report of misapplied payments when compared against her rental ledger.
The situation at Westwood Crossing highlights a troubling trend of misapplied rent payments that has led to significant distress among tenants. As residents like Regan navigate their own eviction challenges, the overall climate at Westwood Crossing remains tense as many strive to protect their right to housing amidst administrative discrepancies.
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Additional Resources
- WTSP News: Hillsborough County Renters Face Eviction
- Wikipedia: Eviction
- WTSP News: Westwood Crossing Rent Payment Issues
- Google Search: Hillsborough County eviction process
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Landlord and Tenant Law
Author: STAFF HERE TAMPA WRITER
The TAMPA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETampa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tampa, Hillsborough County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Gasparilla Pirate Festival, Florida State Fair, and Tampa Riverfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce and United Way Suncoast, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and technology that power the local economy such as BayCare Health System, Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, and KnowBe4. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HERESTPetersburg.com, and HERETallahassee.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
