Ohio 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 Ohio 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
Bed Bug Infestation | Case#**-*811
GLEN CARBON,
IL -
62034 4304
On the night of July 28, 2011 I (Luke Erickson) discovered bed bugs on my wall and subsequently around the outlet behind my bed and 2 beg bugs between my mattress and box spring. After alerting my roommate he also found bed bugs on his wall and around his outlet. We killed at least 10 bugs that night. We alerted our landlord (Osborn Properties in Collinsville, IL) the next morning Friday July 29, 2011. They said someone would be out "shortly." On Monday August 1, 2011 I went to turn in my rent for the following month and inquired about when someone would be coming out. I was told it was on the list and someone would be out soon. On Wednesday August 3, I received a call from the manager "Cindy" (will not give her last name) saying someone would be out next Monday at the latest. That same night we found many more bed bugs in our beds, box springs, along our walls, and by the outlets. I killed 10 more in my room and my roommate Chris Opperman killed many more in his room. On Thursday morning August 4, 2011 I called and spoke with the manager who said they would get someone out as soon as they could, but their bed bug guy was out of the state and was unwilling to seek other options or give us any form of restitution. Today is Monday August 8, 2011 and still no one has come to deal with the issue. I have called Osborn Properties twice today. The first time I was told "Cindy" was out of the office so I left a voicemail. The second time I was told she was not in, but after pressing I was put through to her and she claimed that the bed bug guy would be out in the next few days. This is unacceptable given it has been 11 days since Osborn Properties has been made aware of the issue and nothing has been done. I am seeking to me released from my lease and refunded both our deposit and our last month's rent considering this has not been a livable apartment for this month that we have both paid for.
Discrimination/complaint Against Upstairs Tenant | Case#**-*219
San Antonio,
Texas -
78245
Filed a complaint with management about upstairs tenant excessive noise when we moved in September 25th 2021. Tenant received a violation from management in October 2021. Tenant has continued to harass me my family since violation was given. Then on June 27 2022 after the previous property left. I received a violation
for harassment that happened when the previous property manager was here. That came from previous emails that didn\\\'t get sent. Due to the fact I forgot to add the a in manager. Plus the old manager never saw or read any of the emails. That were sent I didn\\\'t send emails until previous property manager left. Which was June 18 2022 so there was no way tenant could have made a harassment complaint against me. The new property manager stated that the previous property manager wrote the violation but never sent it out to me. How when it was dated June 27th 2022 the day it was delivered and it was signed by the new property manager.That had complaints from my emails that the tenant. Never would have know I wrote unless ithe emails were shown to tenant. Also management has known about the harassment that aa taken place this year and stated nothing was going to be done after a mediation meeting took place.
Habitability Mold In Unit | Case#**-*483
Winnetka ,
California -
91306
Health conditions cracks and holes in the walls ceiling leaks water damage in the walls and ceiling the growth of bacteria and mold there have been there condition has been reported to the landlord many time and nothing has been done.
Repair Issue | Case#**-*375
SAN DIEGO,
CA -
92102 1771
On September 11, 2015 I contacted my landlord about a broken air-conditioning unit in my apartment. After three weeks of catching my landlord in lies and obviously wasting time to fix my air-conditioner, maintenance showed up with an AC box that was too big to fit in my wall. They then left without covering up the giant hole in my wall or being able to tell me when they will be able to install a new unit in my apartment.
The temperature in my apartment has reached 95 degrees almost daily in the last 3 weeks, which is unsafe for me and my dog to live in. And now, there is a giant hole in my wall in which bugs can get in. I have been living in an unsafe enviroment for the past 3 weeks because of the inability for my landlord to properly do her job.
Deposit | Case#**-*502 I completed Haven Homes' notice to vacate in December 2014. Their form asked for my forwarding address, which I provided. I did the walk through inspection on 1-12-15 and was told there were no issues. After waiting longer than 10 days without the return of my deposit, I e-mailed Haven Homes and was told they sent my deposit to the vacant address on 1-23-15, 12 days after I had vacated the premises. Why would you ask for my forwarding address and when you know someone has moved out, send their money back to the old address? I have waited patiently for the return of my money, checking the mail daily. My mail has been forwarded from the post office, with only a 3 day delay. To date, I still do not have my deposit refunded and Haven Homes is being uncooperative and defensive about the situation they caused. At this time, Haven needs to accept responsibility for their lack of attention to details and rectify the situation immediately as this is now causing an undue financial hardship for me.
Breach Of Agreement,violation Of Civil Rights And Privacy | Case#**-*233
FALLBROOK,
CA -
92028 4040
Breach of agreed contract that was added to my lease violation of civil rights and privacy unfair treatment and denied of privileges verbal abuse
Unprofessional Correcting Of Maintenance Issues | Case#**-*199
SAN JOSE,
CA -
95136 2644
The property owner has never done any maintenance of the property in the 10 years we have lived here, we just took care of any repairs and didn\'t even deduct from rent for doing them. In early November we had a major plumbing issue and sewage came into our home from 3 different locations. For 6 months we were required to live in a house that had major portions unusable, destroyed furniture and other construction trash all over the backyard, for over a month a nonexistant kitchen, and a constant expectation that somebody should be home at all times fo let workers in and help them find access to electrical box, water main, etc. Recently with no notice she had an unlicensed crew come out and tear out a couple of trees without permits and without taking any safety precautions. with no notice (2 separate days). during this entire time we were paying full rent and finally withheld rent for 2 months to make up for the loss of use, but she is saying we must pay this rent. There is still trash on our property.
Deposit Dispute | Case#**-*904
Brentwood,
Missouri -
62144
Mr. Mahmud deducted $30 for light bulb replacement (3 light bulbs at $10 each) and $30 for light trash removal. I left light bulbs in the condo, but the landlord is charging me for removing the burnt out bulbs, which is not in the terms of our lease. I cleaned and removed all my trash. I did leave items that the landlord had left in the condo from the previous tenant. The landlord is now attempting to charge me for this removal. Due to the state of the condo upon renting, I paid for cleaning and rented a carpet cleaner at my own expense. Upon vacating the property, I attempt to contact the landlord multiple times upon leaving the condo to discuss the return of my deposit. I provided my new address without acknowledgement or confirmation from the landlord. It was after my 6th attempt, were I indicated I would be filing an action in small claims court if I did not receive my deposit, he returned my correspondence.
The landlord had a history of non-responsiveness. I was required to contact him 2-3 time before he acknowledged any repair issues. It would be 1-3 weeks before a repairman would be available.
Constant Harassment By The Landlord. Won\\\'t Pay Security Deposit. | Case#**-*098
THORNTON,
CO -
80260 4304
My husband and myself signed a lease on this townhouse in Thornton on Feb-March of 2016. The landlord, Patrick Tarver, seemed so nice. We had no idea what we are going to experience with him. From the minute we signed the lease, he was obnoxious. A short time after we entered the house, he called and yelled at me because he thought we were making noise, but it wasn\\\'t true. He threatened us multiple times that he will evict us, just because we asked for pest control. There was an outrageous amount spiders in the house; including our clothes and shoes. He refused to do pest control and threatened to evict us instead, so we had to suffer through it. I was scared of him, because he was never nice, always angry and yelling. He ignored everything we had trouble with (pests, refrigerator, doors, electrical, etc...) He just didn\\\'t care. 80% of the time we weren\\\'t home because of our work, so we left the house untouched and in perfect condition. When he came to inspect the house and look for flaws, like all landlords do, he did not find anything. He tried really hard by telling us the carpets need to be cleaned; when 3 months before that we had huge leak that damaged the whole place (wasn\\\'t our fault). He demanded us to pay for problems that we asked over and over to fix but got ignored. He was yelling, bullying, harassing, abusing, and swearing (my friend heard him yell \\\"f*** you\\\" towards me and was shocked). I wouldn\\\'t write all this down if it wasn\\\'t less than terrible, traumatic, scary experience. On top of everything, he won\\\'t give us our deposit money back. There is no reason, just that he doesn\\\'t want to. It doesn\\\'t make sense that landlords can do whatever they want and get away with it. I\\\'m doing this for the sake of the new tenants after me. It was a horrific experience. We paid on time every month. sometimes we paid 3 months and 2 months rent! He demanded the rent only by sending the check and didn\\\'t give us any other option, which made it hard on us due to the fact that we worked outside of Colorado most of the time.
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.
