tenants have rights, solving security deposit problems is your right...
Every day, tenants like you, turn to the RPA to quickly get deposits refunded & unfair charges dropped.Filing a Complaint with the RPA is the fastest and most effective way to get your deposit refunded and unfair deductions dropped. - even attorneys rely on the RPA to help solve dispute problems for their clients. As a tenant you have rights to fight for your every penny of your deposit. Yes, the RPA fight to get your deposit back.
What Security Deposit Problems Can the RPA solve?
Did you know... the RPA accepts all deposit complaints, but these are the most common complaints resolved by our organization:
Security Deposit Refunds
Getting your security deposit back promptly.
Charges to Security Deposit
Unfair, False, Unreasonable, or other types of deductions
TIP: On the complaint form you can request that your landlord reimburse you for the $35 complaint filing fee. (that's the only required fee to file a complaint)
Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Repair Issues | Case#**-*241
ARVADA,
CO -
80004 5062
Myself and other residents have been asking the office staff to repair the outdoor lights (Ex. Light by the mailboxes, lights outside of building landings into apartments) for months now and each time are met with a vague, round-a-about, unhelpful answer. This is a safety hazard for many reasons and I want it resolved immediately.
DEPOSIT AND BED BUGS PROBLEMS | Case#**-*752
LITTLETON,
CO -
80120 1739
The apartment\\\'s manager did not tell me about the apartment had bed bugs and cheated me to rent the apartment. After our family moved in that apartment then we found out the apartment had lots of bed bugs. my whole family were biting by the apartment\\\'s bed bugs. the the whole apartment\\\'s renters complaint the apartment had bed bugs, but the manager just did not pay attention and ignored the renters. The manager used to hired people to kills the bugs, but it did not help at all, we were still biting by the bugs. My family just moved into that apartment for two weeks and we were biting by the bugs in that apartment for two weeks. we could not sleep at all. so we have to move out very fast, but the manager told us that the we would loose the deposit money if we move out. we have been asking for the deposit money back for many times after we move out that apartment, but the manager always refused to see us and talk to us. He just walked away when we talked to him. i do not think that is right for this apartment cheating on us. we lost so much money to hire movers to move out and move in this apartment, we also had to spent so much money to do the laundry because the apartment\\\'s bugs. I think they should return all my deposit money and pay for all i lost on this apartment. We have lots of pictures to show we were suffering by the bugs in thjat apartment.
Deposit, Uninhabitable Living Conditions, Breach Of Agreement | Case#**-*180 Landlord refusing to return deposit, we paid $7000 deposit. I was repeatedly sick due to mold in the house and uninhabitable living conditions, ended up losing my job, incurred medical bills, we made improvements out of our expense to make house more livable and safe and want to be reimbursed. House had open insulation on walls, no electrical wiring, ran on generator, heat and cooling source inadequate, no insulation in floor, no flooring
why we are being evicted. | Case#**-*264
BREMERTON,
WA -
98311 2594
this is not right,i have paid rent on time and i have a child with bipolar.and believe i am being discriminated against.because we have not been louder then any ordinary neighbor.she has no sympathy and has not been nice to me from day one,even when i tryed to talk to her............im tired of her harrassing me and my guest and talking crap about me to other people in other buildings.
Wrongfully Charged | Case#**-*147 I moved into this apartment a little over a year ago. During this time I never once was late on payments and ALWAYS kept the apartment clean. I even cleaned the windows outside etc. Then I needed to move to another apartment as it was closer to work. I went by the book; I did not break my lease or anything. Then before I moved out I cleaned the apartment, which was hardly anything as it was already clean. I moped, vacuumed, wiped down baseboard, cleaned window rails, clean counters, cleaned appliances, everything! Then I received my refund from $350 to $11.68.
I am being charged the following:
$70 for Carpet care move out cleaning
$ 85.90 in house move out painting charges
$95.00 kings cleaning move out cleaning charges
$87.42 Yes Energy Management.
The only thing I can say was left in the apartment was a few SMALL nails that were on the wall for pictures. I spoke with the apartments about this and they said “don’t worry about that its fine”. I even called them before I put a few nails on the wall. They said “if we need to do a touch up its only $60”.
I cannot believe how much I am being charged especially as my apartment was seriously cleaner when I left it then when I got there.
Please assist me with getting my refund back as this is seriously a company taking advantage of me.
Thank you,
Igor Alekseenko,
Lease Issues | Case#**-*080
Manchester,
New Hampshire -
03109
Landlord will not respond to my emails or fax to remove me from my lease due to the fact my Co-tenant, has allowed her boyfriend and his son to move into the one bedroom apartment and they have Not paid rent since April 2011. During my sit down meeting with the landlord on March 17, 2011 and August 15, 2011, she refused to let me break my lease and said I was responsible for rent owed since my name is on the lease and Co-tenant still occupies the apartment.
Also - landlord has not responded to my emails or fax questioning additional charges on the monthly rent invoice (ie, base energy, domestic hotwater, space heating). I was responsible for paying electric directly to PSNH, waster was included in rent and Landlord requested me to pay $96.72 on March 17th for "Gas" usage.
Deposit Improperly Withheld | Case#**-*864
MIROMAR LAKES,
FL -
33913 8980
Landlord made false claims against the deposit including claiming damage to bedsheets not used, damage to furniture and carpet and walls which were either false or normal wear and tear. Tenant requested that the landlord retain the alleged damaged items for inspection and evidence but landlord destroyed/disposed of the evidence. Landlord also falsely claimed that the tenant had a pet. Tenant had to deal with broken appliances, broken air conditioner and black mold throughout the duration of the lease.
Cheating and Lying | Case#**-*935
SANDY,
OR -
97055 6303
My wife and I gave a sizeable deposit of 1 months rent for an older rental home in Sandy Oregon, after being assured that the home that we would be renting "would be totally renovated, and would get all new vinyl floors, and new stove and refrigerator". After viewing the home only some of the floors had new vinyl. the rest still has this nasty old orange vinyl that was pealing up at the ends. The stove that she had installed was not only old, but it was dirty and beat up and not one of the four burners worked. The refrigerator that she had installed was also broken, and looked older than the house.
I informed her that I did not want to rent from her because I could not trust her any more, because she does not do what she says she is going to do. She then informed me that I would not be receiving my deposit check back, even though the home was not ready to move into and I had not moved in yet.
I had to contact a tenant lawyer, and threaten to sue her before she finally sent back my deposit check.
RENTERS BEWARE!!!!!
Repair Issues | Case#**-*045
WILMINGTON,
DE -
19810 1901
I have been living in mold.
My front door barely closes due to the weather some days.
Ceiling is damaged
No screens, allowing spiders and bugs to enter.
Poor management and communication.
Extra Charges | Case#**-*743
Plano,
Texas -
75075
Trying to charge me for Deep cleaning of the apartment, Drip pan charge, Carpet replacement charge, Which I should not have to pay. The Landlord never did a walk through with me, she changed the locks on the do before we could do a walk through and now she is trying to have me pay an extra $546.06 for their personal gain. I will pay the $134.15 for the utilities, the $6 for the 2 damaged outlet plates and the $50 for the damaged blinds and that is it.
Deposit Dispute 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 Me Get My Deposit Back?
As a tenant you have the right to get every penny of your deposit back. When you file a complaint through the Rental Protection Agency this starts a formal dispute resolution process in which the RPA will do everything in our power to see that your landlord promptly resolves your complaint. Landlords know that if they fail to cooperate with the RPA it can result in a negative public record that can make it hard for them to fill vacancies in the future.
Why is there a Filing Fee of $35
The $35 filing fee is the only required fee to process a complaint. The fee is required to help offset the cost of representing your complaint. The RPA complaint center is designed as a low cost legal solution for tenants and in most cases is more affordable than other legal options. Many tenants will compare the cost of filing a complaint to the cost of not filing a complaint. If you file a complaint and the problem is resolved will the solution be worth the cost of filing the complaint?
TIP: Don't forget, on the complaint form you can request that your landlord reimburse you for filing fee.
Most tenants file a complaint with the RPA to solve the problem such as getting a deposit refunded, or to get an unfair charge or deduction removed. However, some tenants file a complaint to report the landlord publicly as a warning to other tenants. When a complaint is filed against a landlord it will show up on their public record which is indexed by all major search engines. Filing a complaint is one way for tenants to stand up against bad landlords to warn future tenants about deposit problems they've had.
Does the RPA Guarantee to Solve My Deposit Refund Complaint?
We do guarantee to do everything in our power to solve each complaint that is filed. However, there are some situations where bad landlords fail to cooperate. The RPA can't force a landlord to comply if they refuse; but we can impact their public record which can make it difficult for them to find new tenants. We guarantee to represent the complaint and to create a public record against landlords that fail to resolve complaints.
Will My Name Show up Publicly?
No. After the complaint is closed and made public; your information (tenant name) is removed. During the complaint process your complaint can only be accessed through your case number and pin number. Both the landlord and tenant are assigned a pin number that is unique. The RPA protects tenant's privacy by blocking your name from the public record database. However, the record does show the landlord name.
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.
All 50 States have regulations that protect security deposits. In most cases the landlord is required to provide a refund within 30 days and must provide proof cost associated with charges or deductions against your deposit. Many states require the landlord to furnish copies of receipts for work completed. If you have a deposit refund dispute or feel your landlord is being unfair with your security deposit; you have rights. Filing a complaint is one of those rights.
