Valenica Park Apartments    |    Minnie Acero    |    Phoenix    ,    Arizona 85008    Landlord Complaint 23-2997

I moved into unit 2020 at Valencia Park Apartments on 6/8/13. Within a week, I noticed bites on my arm. I did not think much of it until another week went by and the bites grew in numbers. I notified the office and they sent pest control to inspect my unit on July 3rd. I had a bed bug infestation. I immediately reported it to Valencia Park mgmt. Per my lease, I had only 48 hrs within move-in to report any signs of bed bugs. My apartment was sprayed 3 times from 7/9 to 7/23. For those 3 weeks, all clothes had to be in plastic bags. After the 1st treatment process was over, I started to get bites again in 2 weeks. I called the office twice to report the issue. No one got back to me. When my work scheduled allowed, I went to the office to report the issue. Finally, my apartment was sprayed a 4th time in early Sept. I discovered that not only did my neighbors and I have bed bugs, but other units had them as well. The club house needed to be sprayed. I talked with a neighbor from another building who also had bed bugs. I was charged $300.00 for the treatment. When I spoke to the prop manager Minnie Acero, she said that ‘all units are thoroughly inspected and cleaned after the tenants move out.’ I completely disagree. When I moved in, I found that my unit was not thoroughly cleaned. There was maple syrup on a shelf in the kitchen. The shelves in the closet were covered in dust. Given that my unit was not thoroughly cleaned, I do not believe that it was thoroughly inspected for bed bugs. Valencia Park Apartments did not provide a habitable living space for me, beginning shortly after move in. I was bitten repeatedly by bed bugs, was forced to keep my personal belongings in plastic bags, and incurred expense by having to dispose of my queen size mattress set. On 8/14 I gave management a 30 day notice and moved out on 9/14/13. I received a letter dated 9/20/13 stating that I owe $1,154.84. $854.76 for a Lease Buy Out (2 months’ rent) and $300.00 for the pest control treatment. An additional $.08 is shown as my balance at move out. The full amount is due within 15 days of the letter. If I do not pay the full amount within 30 days my account will be referred to collections. I spoke to Minnie Acero about coming up with a fair solution to the issue, but she was not cooperative. I believe a fair solution is paying one month’s rent ($427.38) as a lease buy out, and NOT paying for the treatment. Paying 2 months’ rent + $300.00 for the pest control treatment is NOT fair.