Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Late Notice of Vacate | Case#**-*324
Dallas,
Texas -
75243
My landlord hasn't left me the notice of vacate when the time comes and tied me an extending 30 day leasing with higher rate. Moreover, they blame me as this is my irresponsibility of handling this. My end date leasing is on July 31, 2014. I had positively mentioned this to them on June 27, 2014 and be responded a late notice of vacate on June 30, 2014. Can I report this to an organization that helps me get rid of unexpected spend? Please assist me this problem since I have to pay for my new place to live.
Refusal To Replace Broken Furnace | Case#**-*082
Hamden,
Connecticut -
06514
On March 2, 2017, the landlord Ms. Yin was notified by email and text that the gas company had come to fix the furnace as it had been blowing cold air. The Southern Connecticut Gas Company repairman informed the tenant (myself) that the furnace was inoperable and needed to be replaced. He shut the gas off to the furnace immediately. Ms. Yin was notified right away of the fact that the furnace needed to be replaced. Despite numerous emails requesting that Ms. Yin install a new furnace, Ms. Yin would not agree to do it. In email, Ms. Yin stated that \"she could not afford it as she was in the middle of an investment.\" When I responded to her that she was breaking the law, Ms. Yin became combative and threatening. Ms. Yin told tenant in email, \"I can terminate the lease early if I like\", \"If you are not happy in the condo you can move out ANYTIME\", \"I don\'t understand why you are unhappy you have lived in the condo for four years and should know right away if you not happy in condo to leave. She also threatened that she needed to have \"Brian McGovern leave prematurely so she could renovate the condo.\"
This tenant has had to rely on space heaters to heat the apartment which are EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. Ms. Yin has said in her own words that she cannot afford to replace the heater. Her phone numbers are also not working as well. All i want is for the furnace to be replaced so I can have heat. Ms. Yin sent emails thanking me for being a responsible tenant until this issue came up.
Stacking Penalty Fees | Case#**-*394
JACKSONVILLE,
FL -
32256 3798
My rent and water sewer fees are always on time or paid early, however a prior payment of the public utilities of water returned a money order indicating the money order was outdated, the complex charged a returned check fee to my account. In addition the original money order was never returned to me and notice regarding this matter was never given for several months after the fact. I travel for my living and am away for extended periods of time ...no email no phone call etc until a notice was attached to my front door claiming I owed close to 300 hundred dollars by my son who is a tenant also. In addition water usage is based on square footage compared to actual usage. As noted I travel out about 75% of my time so 1 person is using my utilities Please also note the returned money order amt for the water bill was paid at the time of notification.
unfair notice to quit | Case#**-*207
vernon,
Connecticut -
06066
Since i been living here, I been harassed and now falsly being evicted. The inportant thing is that. On 11-13-2010, I got a warning letter, about unauthorized tenants living in my unit. After i got the letter, the next day i went to speak with my landlord and which she was very rude. She told me that 'I can make people lose there section 8' and to prove yourself, then you gotta bring rental lease of people whom visit you. So I left and got the prof that they needed. I did everything they wanted me to. and on 1-13-2011. I got a notice to quit. and for what, I did everything they told me to do, and now I still going threw an enviction. This doesnt make any since. So i went to the office. which she yelled at me, and said "I spoke to your section 8 worker. And i working on you losing your section 8". THEN SHE SAID " I HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT SOMEONE. is staying in your unit. Which is untruth. and when i told my landlord, that i was gonna contact you guys, she started talking about other things about the apartment
Mismanagement | Case#**-*860
Houston,
Texas -
77047
I applied for apartment rental at Landsborough Apartments. The first mistake, the company that was used for my credit report gave out wrong information that I was evicted. I have the documentation that I received after appealing the fact that I have never been evicted. I went back and the Manager, Tracy told me that everything was okay. I get a call today and she informs me that I have to pay a double deposit because of an A T & T bill on my credit and also she needed my bank statements for the last six months to show there was at least $5000.00 dollars in my account. I am on housing and disabled. I ask her to show me on the paperwork that she gave me that this was a requirement; she could not show me proof. She then proceeded to say that I cursed her which I did not. She hung up the phone in my face. I called her back and ask for the owners phone number and she gave me the wrong number. This is not acceptable, that I have to pay for mistakes that management of this complex made.
TEST TITLE COMPLAINT | Case#**-*960
CITY,
Alabama -
12345
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Deposit Problems, Privacy Issues, Repair Issues, Bug Infestation | Case#**-*461
STEUBENVILLE,
OH -
43953 7145
I moved into the rental house with my boyfriend & our two young daughters in 03/2012. We paid the landlords a $575 security deposit upon moving in. The roof over the kitchen leaked everytime it rained that their would be puddles in every cupboard,on the counters, & the floor. We could not keep our food or appliances in the cupboards because they would get ruined & the landlord would not reimburse us. We informed the landlord multiple times that the roof leaked until he attempted to fix it by patching it with tar which didn't work, so he put a tarp over it and that obviously did not work either. And that was his last attempt at fixing the roof, even though we still informed him that it leaked & it was causing black mildew to grow on the wall inside above the window. The yard was divided by the driveway & in the contract it stated that we were not allowed on the side of the driveway in which the house did not sit. The Landlords would be on the "forbidden" side of the driveway almost every day giving us absolutely NO privacy. We would have family cookouts & they would come over & just start cutting up wood with a chainsaw 50 ft away. My boyfriend caught them sneaking around the yard at midnight one time. They came to our house at midnight another night while our two young daughters were in bed. They followed us from the neighborhood, all through town, got beside us, & demanded us to pull over so they could talk to us. They were getting to become so creepy that my boyfriend told them that they weren't allowed to talk to me & our kids only to him. The house was infested with termites, stink bugs, & ants. My oldest daughter was scared to sleep there because of it. We told the landlords & they said they would get an exterminator to take care of it but of course they never did. There was black mold growing in the basement & the smell from it was awful! They told us just to open up the vents down there. Our lease was over on 09/30/2012 & we could not have been happier. We kept the place clean the whole time we lived there we did not damage anything but when we moved out we scrubbed the carpets & bleached what we could bleached & cleaned everything. All we left there was the landlords stuff that was there when we moved in. My boyfriend did a walk through with them and they said it looked better than it did when we moved and and that we would have our deposit in 30 days and so he handed them back their keys. But 30 days later and no deposit.
Bed Bug Infestation | Case#**-*134
Rumson,
New Jersey -
07760
It has been over a month since I notified Mr. Manning regarding the bed bug infestation in my apartment. He said he would get back to me and I have not heard back. I informed him of the fact that I was forced to leave my apt. and stay with relatives. I also threw away all my bed and pillows/blankets. I bombed the apt 3X and also been going there almoste every night spraying. It is impossible for me to resolve this problem without a professional treatment.
Landlord Not Refunding Deposit | Case#**-*497
SALT LAKE CTY,
UT -
84111
The landlord has charged $1500 for carpet replacement. The carpet was not damaged...
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.
