Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Listed Below | Case#**-*113
SEATTLE,
WA -
98104 2692
Staff putting my life in danger. Harassment, living conditions, bedbug INFESTATION due to staff personnel, giving me 10 day notice Harassment... Not completing work in my apartment, taking to long to complete work in my apartment, black mold in garbage shoot with bedbugs, cockroaches and rodents and fumes coming up from garbage shoot because of the shredder from cleaning bottles and more. Staff being unprofessional and refusing my letters in the office
Repairs To Furnace, And Flooding Basement | Case#**-*672
Warrenton,
Missouri -
63383
Dec the furnace went out, it was a gas furnace and the gas leaked into the house for a few weeks causing me to get sick and have severe headaches, I was not aware of this problem for the home did not have a smoke detector or a carbon monoxide detector, so there was no warning of the gas leak. The bedroom window would not open, so in case of a fire I would not have been able to get out unless I broke the window. Jan the basement started to flood. The basement has a 2 foot X 2 foot hole in the floor with a small sump pump that did not work. The water started going up the steps. My belongings we ruined and covered in mold. I tried to get my things out of the basement the best I could being by myself. I ended up slipping in the slimy water and injuring my right ankle pretty bad. I have pictures, witnesses, doctors bills, storage unit rental agreements of trying to move my stuff out of this horrible home that owner refused to fix.
Charging of Marketing Fees Against Security Deposit | Case#**-*698
Denver,
Colorado -
80206
â?˘ I am an Australian who resided and worked in Denver, CO on an L1 Visa. I was employed by Rio Tinto Minerals (the company)
â?˘ I leased a condo from Mr Krovinksi commencing in August 2006, and had my final lease agreement expired on April 30 2010
â?˘ I was repatriated to Australia in early Oct 2009 by the company, which was only five months into my final lease agreement
â?˘ As a result, I arranged an agreement between the company and Mr Krovinsky whereby they guaranteed to pay rent to Mr Krovinsky on a month-by-month basis until the completion of my lease in April 30 2010 providing he could demonstrate that the condo had not been re-leased. I have the attached letter from the company to Mr Krovinsky outlining the agreement.
â?˘ Soon after I repatriated, Mr Krovinsky proposed to the company that a search agency be engaged to find a new tenant. I was not at all involved with these discussions, but I was informed by the company of what transpired.
â?˘ In these discussions, Mr Krovinsky sought to have the company pay the agentâ??s fees upon their successful signing of a new tenant, in addition to the ongoing monthly rent up to signing a new lease.
â?˘ At about this time, it came to the companyâ??s attention that Mr Krovinsky had undertaken improvements on the condo during the month of October without prior consultation with them, which effectively meant that the condo was not in a position to be rented during this period while the company was still paying the rent.
â?˘ The company agreed to pay only half the agentâ??s fees, and their reasoning was that Mr Krovinskyâ??s improvements consequently made it unavailable to be re-occupied for the month of October, and thus it was unreasonable for the company to pay the full agent fees while also covering the rent during this time.
â?˘ Mr Krovinsky agreed with my company to pay half the agentâ??s fees, and a new lease was signed effective January 1 2010 (see email dated Nov 14 2009).
â?˘ When Mr Krovinsky reimbursed my security deporit two months after it was due, in addition to the cleaning and repair fees, he deducted half of the search agentâ??s fee, or $972 from my deposit.
â?˘ Mr Krovinsky has unfairly and unlawfully charged marketing costs (the search agentâ??s fees) against my security deposit,
â?˘ Mr Krovinskyâ??s use of a search agency was outside of the agreement between him and the company, and was unwarranted as the company had guaranteed to pay the monthly rent until the end of my lea
Tenant Right To Privacy | Case#**-*686
LODI,
CA -
95242 4721
Liberty prop. Mgmnt. Took over upon Kazakian prop. Mgrs. Retired. I recieved a letter taped on my front door labeled \\\'notice to take over\\\' and the letter indicated i should call for an appt. For an i spection. I phoned the landlord, geri taylor,made appointment for an \\\'inspection\\\'. I was told this inspection was to check the carbon monoxide and fire detectors.i let a female, angela, inside at the designated appointment time and she said she was going to take photos. I explained this was not spoke of or agreed upon when I made the appt. With geri. Angela began taking pictures. As shes clicking away I\\\'m looking at her tablet seeing my personal belongings, personal pictures on her pictures. I told her I didn\\\'t feel comfortable with her continuing and asked her to stop. She ignored me, continued taking pictures of my belongings and said they would be on their computer system so they would be safe and not viewed by the public. After Angela left I called her office and spoke with geri taylor about angela taking pictures of my belongings, pictures, etc. I told her I felt I was blindsided and my privacy invaded by Angela taking apprx. 50 photos of my things, pictures, property, vehicle, etc throughout my home. Geri offered no resolution. She said no one else complains. She was rude, uncompassionate, unprofessional. I feel she took her position as the property manager to a power level to do what she wanted.there were no repairs needed at the time in the home. And pictures of my personal property was not necessary.
Repair Issue and Poor Upkeep In General | Case#**-*977
North Hollywood,
California -
91601
I moved into my apartment jan. 15th: Apartment wasn't cleaned properly, but I was nearly homeless so I had to move in ASAP.
1. Leak in my ceiling( in which previous renters mentioned to me) has never been fixed. Now the hole is larger and I now have leaks in a bedroom damaging carpet and clothing.
2. Front gate buzzer has never worked. Key I was given for lock is difficult and has broken off in the lock 3 times. Lock has not been upgraded.
3. Rear exit is chained shut and unsafe.
4. Kitchen cabinet has been installed poorly, needing repair now for a 3rd time.
REPAIR ISSUES | Case#**-*419
Brooklyn,
New York -
11249
WE NOTICED A LEAK IN OUR LOFT IMMEDIATELY AFTER MOVING IN. WE NOTIFIED THE LANDLORD AND HE LOOKED AT IT. THAT IS ALL HE DID. WE CONTINUED TO NOTIFY HIM AND HE BRO0UGHT THE SUP TO LOOK AT IT. AND NOTHING ELSE. WE NOTIFIED HIM AGAIN, AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. HE DOES NOTHING. HE SAYS HE WILL FIX IT BUT HE DOES NOTHING. NOW TE LOFT IS INFESTED WITH MOSQUITOES DUE TO STANDING WATER IN THE CEILING AND IT IS STILL LEAKING. THE LANDLORD JUST IGNORES THE ISSUE. I HAVE EVEN SENT HIM PICTURES, THREATENED TO TURN HIM IN. HE COMES TO MY LOFT TO VIEW THE LEAK AND DOES NOTHING ELSE. THIS IS A VERY UNHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT -- MOSQUITOES SMELLING MOLDY WATER. MY LANDLORD IS A SLUMLORD.
The Landlord And The Manager Rented Me Out An Illegal Bedroom. | Case#**-*026
CHICAGO,
IL -
60614 2483
The landlord, Jeff Lawler rented me out an illegal bedroom.The property was advertised as a 4 bedroom unit. There were three actual bedrooms and my room was advertised as a bedroom. Within the next two months, I lived there and started having health issues to the dust accumulation and let the landlord know. He didn\'t do anything about the dust, so I sought a resolution on my own. This is when i found out the room I was renting was illegal. It is considered an Illegal bedroom because it does not have two ways of egress. It only has one door. There are absolutely no windows in the bedroom. I am now off the lease, however, I want to make sure no one else\'s life is put at risk since this is a fire safety hazard. The landlord is also renting out the unit underneath which is also advertised as a four bedroom but one of the rooms does not have a window. The landlord Jeff Lawler and the owner of the building John Davis do not care that they are renting out an illegal bedroom and putting college students lives at risk.
This is a building code violation that has not been addressed before, however, I am sure the landlord/owner dealth with this privatly as well.
There are multiple violations codes on this building and the owner John Davis has been sued multiple times which shows that he has not learned his lesson and is still offering illegal rooms.
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Excessive Complaints Against Me From My Downstairs Neighbor. | Case#**-*418 I have lived in an upstairs apartment at Raintree for 3 years now. I have 2 kids (18mos and 6yrs). They both wake up at 7am and go to bed at 8:30pm. The downstairs neighbor has been complaining to the main office excessively regarding my baby walking and us talking during normal hours. She claims she cannot sleept. She moved in less than a year ago. When she moved in she started banging on the walls to every step we took. She also starting yelling out the window "Shut the fuck up". I wouild wake up at 7:30am shower and blow dry my hair by 8am and she would be banging on the wall. I complaing back in May regarding her pounding on walls to the main office. Nothing was done. She complaint about me regarding noise. I have been complaining to the Main Office Manager several times. The downstairs neighbor does not tell the main office of the pounding she does on her walls, which not only disturb me but also my surrounding neighbors. At this point, I dont know what to do. I have expressed to the main office that I feel harrassed and to move her to a different apartment since she is not happy where she is at. Out of the three years I have been living there, we had never had an issue with any of our neighbors including the two previous tenants downstairs. She moved in and Im not sure if she did not like us but she started banging on those walls the second week she moved in and yelling like a maniac. She slams the door as to do it on purpose so that we could hear it. Please help and move her to a different apartment.
Failure To Deliver Deposit Monies Within Required 30 Days | Case#**-*321 On July 1st 2014 I spoke with Williams Property Management-Cory Williams in regards to returning deposits to myself and two other tenants who moved out of his property 1927 S Devin Lea on May 31st 2014. Cory stated he was not able to return the deposit monies at the present time. His reasoning was since our duplex had not been immediately re-leased it was put down to the "bottom of the pile" in terms of going, looking, and assessing the property to remit deposit payments. As of July 1st 2014 Cory stated our duplex had not even been looked at to be assessed. Cory admitted to operating outside the "Oklahoma Landlord Tenant Act". As a responsible tenant I feel I am being taken advantage of by someone who feels is above the law. Cory stated his "hands are tied and there is nothing he can do". Cory was unable to give an exact date as to when our deposits were to be returned. He stated that a letter had been placed in the mail apologizing to all the tenants affected and to ensure we were "not forgotten". I am requesting that this office be investigated to ensure they know and are in compliance with the "Oklahoma Landlord Tenant Act" as the actions they are preforming at this time is causing immediate unjust harm to myself and countless other tenants. Sadly is is people like Cory Williams who do not uphold the law and give landlord's a bad name. I sincerely hope no one else has to go what the office of Williams Property Management has put me through.
Complaint Process in 3 Simple Steps:
File Apartment Complaint: Fill out complaint form with your proposed resolution. Instantly recieve your case number.
Check Status: See the current status, respond, upload files or images, accept fair solution or purpose alternative solutions.
Landlord Public Record: Positive or Negative record is attached to landlord based upon their responses. Your (tenant) information is not made public.
Complaints Tips:
Uploading pictures / files is helpful
Try to request fair solutions
Focus on major issue, not on many
Check your status every 3 days
Avoid accusations or hostile tones
Be willing to accept alternate solution
How Does the RPA Help Resolve Rental Problems?
Once you file a complaint, the RPA will contact your landlord or property manager to mediate a prompt resolution. The RPA online mediation system provides an effective complaint resolution process that helps solve problems quickly. Complaints filed through the RPA are documented and help protect tenants' rights by providing a program that protects against landlord retaliation and unfair practices. Agreements reached through the RPA Apartment Complaint Center are legally binding and enforceable. When required the complaint can be used as evidence in court.
The RPA requires a $35 one-time processing fee to cover the cost associated with contacting the landlord, online mediation, paperwork, and public record filing. Prior to 2006 the RPA complaint program had no fee. However, due to abuse by tenants that were filing bogus complaints; the RPA found it necessary to charge of fee to eliminate fake complaints and to cover costs associated with complaint handling. If you are looking to report the problem only and not seeking a resolution, you can use our free Report Landlord option. (The report landlord option will only document the problem and will not provide any assistance in resolving disputes.)
Tip: On your complaint form you can request that management reimburse you for RPA filing fees.
How long does the process take?
The RPA is able to resolve complaints fairly quickly, unlike court or other legal options. Cases are normally assigned in the order received; however, you can upgrade your case to be rushed if you need your case escalated. (option available immediately after filing)For fastest processing try to submit your complaint before the next processing deadline. (Count down shown next to "File Complaint" button.) Once the mediation process begins, your landlord will have 3 business days to respond to the mailed notice. If a landlord email address is provided the RPA will send out both a written notice and email notice which can provide an immediate resolution. Many times cases are resolved immediately after receiving the RPA® notice, however depending on the complaint, it can take longer if both parties are unable to reach an agreement quickly.
Tip: To speed up the process... On the complaint form request reasonable and fair solutions.
Does the RPA Guarantee to Resolve Every Complaint?
Each complaint is guaranteed to be worked by the RPA complaint system. The RPA mediation system will work to resolve every complaint regardless of how big or small the complaint. However, the RPA can't guarantee the end results of any complaint. While we work to solve each complaint, the guarantee is limited to our processing of your complaint. All fees associated with the complaint are non-refundable dispute the outcome of the complaint. Each complaint is Guaranteed to be worked by our complaint system and will be documented against the landlord should they fail to cooperate.
Tip: To get positive resolutions to your complaint; try providing resolutions that are fair.
What Happens After I file a Complaint?
Upon filing your landlord / property manager complaint you will instantly receive a case number. Your complaint case number can be used to immediately access your complaint status page. The RPA will process your complaint and contact your landlord for an immediate resolution. On your status page you can view case status, upload files or images, respond to the complaint, update/ change resolutions, accept or close complaint. The RPA complaint center updates your case status in real time and provides you with tracking to see exactly what is happening with your complaint. Once the case is closed, the complaint will be attached to your landlords public record which is quickly indexed by all major search engines. (Your information is never made public)
Tip: Check your case status at least every 3 days. (Respond / update your case as required)
Protection Against Landlord Retaliation
Its unlawful for your landlord to retaliate against you because you filed a complaint. Your landlord cannot evict, harass, limit access, raise rent, or treat you unfairly because you filed a complaint. As a tenant, you must still pay rent and comply with rent terms stated within your contract. Filing a complaint does not eliminate your responsibilities.
Tip: Check your case status at least every 3 days. (Respond / update your case as required)
Who Can File a Complaint with the RPA?
Any renter located in the United States of America has the right to file a complaint with the RPA. The RPA does not accept complaints outside of the USA. In general, the RPA will accept every complaint regardless of how big or small the problem may be.
Tip: When possible, try resolving your problem with your landlord before filing a complaint.
