Latter & Blum review: Real estate broker

I am a PCI/CISSP remote technology professional. I work for a large multimedia/technology company located in Los Angeles. In February 2001, I moved to New Orleans. I signed a lease agreement with Latter & Blum LLC and moved into an apartment unit located at 1140 Decatur Street. Sometime in late August of 2021, following Hurricane Ida, I left the unit and the state. The property was unlivable, and the landlord was totally unresponsive. However, even after leaving the unit, I continued to pay the lease each month. In February of this year, I returned to the unit to collect my remaining items. They were gone. The landlord, in cooperation with Latter & Blum agent, Patrick Knudsen, entered the unit without my consent and absconded with my possessions, which included sensitive company technology equipment with user data/PII. A PFI is underway to determine a potential breach. Additionally, a report has been filed at the New Orleans Police Department. Further, after contacting the landlord about this matter, Mr. Knudsen informed me that my possessions would be mailed to my new address. Instead what he sent was a box full of Mardi Gras beads. Mr. Knudsen then explained there was a mix-up at the sipping service – unlikely story – and has yet to provide any follow up. To date there has been no response whatsoever from Patrick Knudsen. I have paid in full my lease. But I still don’t have my possessions. The landlord has also kept my full deposit and has even demanded more money to cover repairs for items damaged in Hurricane Ida. From my perspective, it is no wonder skilled remote workers and companies will not locate to the area. Why would they? A supposedly reputable company like Latter & Blum acting like absentee slumlords to the detriment of the city and state is shameful.

Listing: 1140 Decatur Street, New Orleans

Agent: Patrick Knudsen

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