Landlord who charged NC State students $18,000 for beer pong table at center of multiple investigations

Following an extensive 5 On Your Side investigation, a landlord with properties spanning across the state, including multiple units in Raleigh, faces potential disciplinary action and legal scrutiny.

WRAL and our Charlotte partners at WCNC first reported on Lisa Eustathiou in October. Former tenant Tyler Parziale and a group of other NC State students were slapped with $23,000 in fines from Eustathiou when they moved out of a rental property on Dixie Trail in Raleigh. The fines included an $18,000 charge for a large wooden table used for drinking games and studying.

“I have never seen an $18,000 charge for a pong table,” said North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein in an interview with WRAL 5 On Your Side.

In the state of North Carolina, landlords cannot indiscriminately try to collect fees that aren’t agreed upon in a lease or authorized under the law, according to legal aid. The attorney general’s office has received eight formal complaints about Eustathiou. Stein told WRAL 5 On Your Side that Eustathiou is communicating with his office through an attorney.

“We're hearing back from them and getting their side of the story,” Stein said.

The attorney general has the authority to pursue restitution and civil penalties if deemed necessary.

“If we don't feel like they are doing the right thing, we will not hesitate to go to court to force them to do the right thing,” Stein said.

The North Carolina Real Estate Commission is conducting a separate investigation. Janet Thoren is the Real Estate Commission's legal counsel and director of regulatory affairs. Thoren says their investigations usually target unlicensed real estate activity. Still, because Eustathiou is a licensed real estate broker, the commission can investigate. Her license hangs in the balance, and the commission can potentially help renters recoup security deposit trust money. "They may be able to recover that money if it's stolen." Thoren confirms that they are aware of 24 tenants with issues with Eustathiou.

Eustathiou's attorney maintains no wrongdoing on Eustathiou’s part. Eustathiou confirms she is no longer charging the group of students for the wooden table.

The Real Estate Commission expects their investigation to wrap up in mid-December.