Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Deposited Not Returned Fairly | Case#**-*567 Other than discriminating that "We people" how she called it (hispanics).. come from all over the place.. She never fixed anything.. never gave a proper receipt of rent given.. Floors have mold and doors have termites..No AC.. Sink is licking.. They don't pay trash so they pick it up from the unit when ever they are available.. which attracts rats..
Severe Bedbug Infestation Issue | Case#**-*101
BRADENTON,
FL -
34210 2517
A qualified inspector was sent to our home today (03/16/17) and discovered that my suspicion of bedbugs in the unit was indeed, correct. I initially reported a pest problem on March 14, 2017 and was advised at that time an exterminator would be out Tuesday, March 21st.
I called the office manager again yesterday, March 15th, to specify that I thought the pests were bedbugs after an emergency room visit. A physician identified the bites as bedbug bites. I suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction to fifty plus bites which compromised my breathing and caused me to experience full blown anxiety attacks. As I am writing this, I am still experiencing an allergic reaction to the bites on my body and may have to return to the emergency room.
After consulting with the office manager this afternoon, Holiday Byrd, we were handed a checklist of things to do to prepare for treatment. I am completely overwhelmed with this situation, and I am trying my best to cooperate. My fiancé and I have never had to deal with bedbugs. As a matter of fact, we are a couple that rarely goes anywhere besides the grocery store. We do not have guests as my family lives in Georgia and I have not seen them in years. Ms. Byrd requested that this checklist be turned into the office as soon as possible. We are in the process of getting the apartment ready for treatment and will submit this checklist first thing in the morning, 03/17/17.
I do not believe that the costs of extermination and treatment should fall on our shoulders. We were told that we would need to compensate $500.00 for the cost of treatment just within our unit, and if needed we could set up “payment arrangements.” We are a hardworking couple that has always paid our rent in full, with respect to management and our neighbors. The past three days and nights have been a nightmare and sleep deprivation has started kicking in. We have already destroyed and disposed of our furniture, beds, and roughly ninety percent of our personal belongings. Thousands of dollars… irretrievably gone.
Due to the bugs, we had to spend last night in a hotel room. To avoid getting covered in bites and in an effort to get a good night’s rest we had to come out of pocket even more.
Bedbugs are not \"bugs,\" they are in fact parasites that must be dealt with in a timely manner before other units are affected if they are not already. I do not assume responsibility for the current infestation nor have I had issues with bedbugs in any previous dwellings.
Maintenance | Case#**-*869
INDIANAPOLIS,
IN -
46254 1568
I went in the office last Thursday of April and submitted a work order for my A/C now a month later my A/C still has not been fixed i have called or went in everyday and they always tell me they have to ask maintenance why he has not fixed my A/C yet. My A/C had not worked since I moved in August of 2014
Deposit Problems | Case#**-*515
Salem,
Oregon -
97301
I was refused our deposit back as well as being charged an extra $275.00 for unaccountable charges, by my ex landlord. I will be adding supportive documents to prove my case is valid.
Reimbursement And Repairs | Case#**-*740
New Orleans,
Louisiana -
70115
After Hurricane Ida, the rental property 2236 Jefferson Ave., suffered damage to both the upstairs and downstairs unit. The initial damage was noted the day after the hurricane as I hired a handyman ($75.00) to take outside pictures of the property. Broken windows were upstairs. Due to these broken windows, the ceiling fell into the living room of the bottom unit where my son and his roommates live making the property uninhabitable. The property manager was unresponsive. We sent many emails, texts, voicemails. We got in contact with the upstairs tenants who said the very window upstairs that blew out from the hurricane was broken since they moved in and they have a record of hundreds of unanswered texts and messages. This neglected window is what caused the water damage and ceiling to fall into the bottom unit ruining the living room furniture. Black mold mushrooms set in 4 days later and the property manager was still unresponsive. We were finally able to get ahold of the maintenance man and due to our requests, he cleaned out the debris that had fallen. We asked for proper hurricane remediation to fix the damage. This never happened. We were not given information as to how or when the damage would be fixed. The maintenance man just went into the property without the tenants\\\' knowledge and fixed the ceiling as inexpensively as possible with no mold remediation. We had to incur the expense of an asbestos and mold test ($350), hire a pest control company ($175) for the rat and roaches that set in, and buy new furniture ($650). We are requesting these fees in the total of $1,250.00 be reimbursed or deducted from the rent.
Now, there is a bathroom leak that started after Hurricane Ida and a black mold mushroom growing from the bathroom crown molding which needs proper mold remediation and is not done by the maintenance man. The dryer needs replaced and there are still 2 broken windows that have not been replaced. We are requesting proper mold remediation for the bathroom, a new dryer installed and the 2 windows replaced. We again have tried to get these issues resolved with no progress and no email responses back from the property manager.
Water Leaks In Ceiling In Two Spots. No Kitchen Sink. No Proper Fire Exits | Case#**-*240 Water is leaking in the ceiling. Mold is growing in the ceilings and walls. No kitchen sink due to water leaks destroying more of the property. The upstairs lady keeps her pit bull on a shared fire exit so I don't feel save using it. They also say the same lady is the caretaker but I'm sure it's just cause its not legal rentable.
security deposit problems | Case#**-*037
houston,
Texas -
77089
My husband and i were thinking about renting a house and Ms. Jessica palmer helped us find one that was in our budget we payed $55 for the application fee and and was told that in order for them to hold the house we had to pay a $1175 security deposit ($1175 is also the monthly rent) we wasnt able to put all the amount at once so we put $900 to hold the house and was suppose to pay the rest the following week. Well a family emergency happened which kept us from moving and we called Ms. jessica to let her know that we decided no to rent the house after all and now they only want to give me $400 out of the $900 i put down. We signed the lease because we were told we had to in order to put the deposit meaning hold the house if not we were going to lose the house because they had a showing the following day. but now they are using the lease against us and wont return our full $900. We never put the whole amount or got the keys and i needed help getting my money back.
Standing Water/ Garbage Disposal Issue | Case#**-*303
INDIANAPOLIS,
IN -
46260 5703
Our garbage disposal has been broken for 2 weeks now and it now has standing water. I’ve put in requests, no one will come out. I’ve gone up there and they basically said there was nothing they could do.
repair issues and contract issues and unsafe and indangerment of property | Case#**-*083
phoenix,
Arizona -
85019
Was told by agent that this is not a hoa when we told them we dont want hoa
2) neighbors throwing alot of dead birds in are hard to are dogs
3) have mold in gararge had water heater replace been leaking for a while and had replaced guys said under neith it there was mold
They send someone out to check it and they didn't move the water heater it just dusted around it and said it was dirt
4) people been throwing poisonis food to our dogs to eat had to rush to er
5)when we call them about the problems and issues they never answere the phone and we leave messages and messages
And they never return the calls
6) my truck been broken into 4 times and windows shot out by a weapon and no other cars been damage in the area
Just our truck because no one wants us there
6) people throw things at our dogs rocks and other stuff
There is alot more stuff
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.
