Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Moved into a bed bug infested apartment | Case#**-*907
ESTERO,
FL -
33928 6344
Moved in to Bella Terra on November 15th of 2011, within 10 minutes of moving in our things we noticed bugs on the walls. Contacted the real estate agent, and he told us to take pictures and send them to him by email, which we did on the 19th because thats when our interent was being hooked up. After that, he contacted the pest control company and they came out within a week, and claimed they were "dog ticks", and he sprayed the house and the problem seemed to be okay for a little while. But, last weekend (Friday the 3rd) I was doing some cleaning around the house, I decided to wash the bed sheets, and when i took them off I noticed that there was little black stains on our mattress pad. So I took the mattress pad off, and thats when I found the bugs on the mattress. I called the owner right away and she told me that she will have the pest control come out on Tuesday between 1-2 and her parents will be there. So, he came out and he classified them as bed bugs, and he claimed that they don't travel between apartment units and I was probably the only one who has them, and he also said that the best way to get rid of them is just to throw away my bed and couch which I agreed to, and I asked the owner where am I gonna be able to sleep. and he said "Thats not my problem, and neither are the bed bugs" And I tried to explain to him, that they have been here on day 1 and he still denies it. He also said that I have to pay to get rid of these things, and hes not paying for a new bed or couch.
So Much Noises | Case#**-*636
New Castle,
Pennsylvania -
16105
I want my landlord and I solve the problem about the noises issue. If not, then I want to put her on warrant for her arrest because of no cooperation and shej\'s breaking the violations against me and the neighbors.
I have a problem with my landlord that she turns up the music and the vibration so high almost 24 hours but on and off since October, 2015. I end up going to the hospital for several times because of her. I have a very bad anxiety and panic attacks problem. I love to keep everything quiet. I have nothing against her or anything wrong against her since I moved in last March, 2014. We were just fine for each other till last October which I do NOT understand at all because I am her a very good tenant for almost 2 years.
I called the police for a few times but one of them didn\'t do anything about it till the cop came here and I was told that if I call the police again 1 more time, then he will fine me of $300 dollars the citation for no reason. I feel so HELPLESS and want her to stop making so much noises almost everyday. I am getting very frustrated, tired, (lack of sleep and eat) for a few weeks till now. My blood pressure goes up real high. I want the problem to be solved ASAP!
AC Has Been Out For Over A Week And I Still Have A Leaky Roof. | Case#**-*615
JACKSONVILLE,
FL -
32277 1240
My AC has been broken since March 11,2019. The people came out to fix it but they need parts and said they will come back..... On 3/13/2019 came back and said they need a motor and will have to order that. The next day they same we need a new AC and will start on 3/15/2019. When that day came no one showed up and I call and was asking what was going on.. I was transfer to the Apt Manager Teri, which tol me the parts was under warranty and she don\\\\\\\'t know when they will send them. She offer some portable AC units but still haven\\\\\\\'t received them... My roof has been leaking since Dec and they fixed the roof but I still have a leak......
Maintanence And Communication With Tenants | Case#**-*419
Desoto,
Texas -
75116
Moved in May 2016 A/C went out four times in three months this last time it took a week to repair the air, never received copy of lease when asked and my vehicle was towed because of rear facing parking when I was not told about this until the vehicle was towed and then they gave me a copy of the lease after three months of living there and had to pay $300 to get car out when it was not even there for 24 hours.
Eviction / Broken Lease Dispute | Case#**-*871
Rock Hill,
South Carolina -
29730
60 days before my lease was due to expire. I turned in a 60 day notice, informing them that I would not be renewing my lease. One month before my lease was up my employer shorted my check and I informed Emily Wescott of my situation. Basically I was going to be able to pay the rent and late fee, however it wouldn\'t be until I was paid by my employer. (Which was not far off). Well I was basically given an ultimatum of be evicted or break my lease. Obviously I didnt want an eviction on my record so I was forced to break the lease. Now they\'re adding a fee onto my bill for $1700+ saying I didnt give them a proper 60 day notice, (when i actually did) they just decided they weren\'t going to give me a chance or anything. Now I\'m out if a place to live, being expected to pay these people $3300 because they forced me out. They aren\'t willing to work with or help their tenants, they just care about leasing out the property. I currently have a friend who lives there that is going through almost the same thing, she had to take out a personal loan just to pay these people. Its absolutely ridiculous, someone needs to say something so that\'s why I\'m sending in this complaint.
BED BUG INFESTATION | Case#**-*475 The apartment that I am living at has never been treated for bed bugs. The entire complex is infested with them and the staff neglectfully fails to explain that to all the potential tenants and new tenants coming in. Apartments have been treated but mine has not. I was told their was no activity but there is activity. Im bitten all up, I have had to throw away all my furniture this month. I am a young adult and barley starting on my own and having to deal with this situation is not ohkay. I recently called the office and asked if they were still treating for bed bugs, they asked me what building I was in and when I told them I was in building 11, they simply said, Sorry, we have already sprayed that building, so we will not do it again. And that's all the help I was given. PLEASE HELP ME GET OUT OF THIS AWFUL COMPLEX.. PLEASE SOMEONE INVESTIGATE SOMETHING, THEY ARE INFESTED WITH BED BUGS.
Refuse to redund my deposit | Case#**-*848
Plano,
Texas -
75093
I satrted my lease contract on June 1st 2010. On July 2st 2010 and as a reult of extremly poor condition of the apartment, i had to notify the landlord of leaving the flat. I have settled all my payment to the landlord. I left the flt on August 20th, 2010. sincethen, i keep asking for my 800$ deposit by phone and they do not give me any answer apart from we are working on this. Then, lately, i received a letter from the landlord claming that i owe them addtiona 440.55$. I tried to inquire about howthy come up ith this figue and what are the reasons and proofs. I received no answer from them except, i better pay or they are going to ruin my credit report!
I asked to meet the proprty manager, and se refused to meet me.
Erroneous Accounting And Billing Practices | Case#**-*834 The office admitted to mistakes in their accounting but have yet to correct the errors. I am still receiving incorrect statements, incorrect alerts on the portal and even an intent to evict on my door due to their errors. My rent has been paid on time and in full. I provided copies of proof of receipt and payment for my move in (where they say the error was). I have personally gone to the office twice for this. The last time I left the office, they said they would have it corrected. Yet, I received another erroneous statement and the online portal is erroneous, today. The online portal does not accurately show my payments either. I have personally gone to the office and have E Mailed them through the portal. Lydia the Manager has never reached out to me. I am shocked that she cannot follow up on a tenant issue. I have E Mailed and visited their office. I obviously need 3rd party help on this because I can't get it resolved on my own. I am a veteran and spouse of a retired veteran. I can try and reach out to a veteran organization but as a renter and a civilian, these poor business practices and probably affecting other tenants no doubt as well. Please help me get this resolved. Thank you!
Harrassment | Case#**-*722
MT PLEASANT,
MI -
48858 2567
I sublet a room from my sister at this apartment. One month ago my sister died from a brain herniation. As if this weren\\\'t already traumatizing enough, the landlord has been harassing me ever since she died. I am physically disabled, so I informed the landlord that I was going to take the month of July which was already paid for, to sort, clean, and move our belongings, at my pace so that I don\\\'t injure my back. Landlord said he would \\\"work with me,\\\" not sure what he even meant by that because he was not entitled to instant repossession of the apartment that was already paid up another month, and apparently his idea of working with me means showing up a few days later complaining about my motor home I picked up from storage to move with, threatening to have me towed when I pay to live here and am entitled to a parking space, and trying to pass off fake Notice To Quit papers since he couldn\\\'t get real ones from the court due to the current eviction moratorium, not to mention how unnecessary they are when I\\\'m the one who informed him that I would not be staying for the last month of the lease in August. He also tried demanding that I pay off $945 in back rent and late fees from the tenant who rented the room before me, I told him that I absolutely would not be paying off Stephanie Dunn\\\'s debt, and he threatened to sue me in court for it, which he legally cannot do, since I only sublet the room and was not on the lease like my sister Gina and Stephanie were, he can only go after Stephanie because she is the only lease holder remaining alive. Stephanie defaulted by not paying Dec and Jan rent, she moved out the last week of Jan, and I moved in to the spare room in Feb. At one point he even tried to threaten me with immediate eviction, which he also cannot legally do, calling me a trespasser for not being on the lease, when my money is what saved his ass during this pandemic, when he would not have been able to do anything about my sister being unable to afford all of the rent by herself. He is ungrateful, rude, disrespectful, has no empathy for people grieving, is willing to forge false paperwork and pretend to speak for Michigan courts he hasn\\\'t even contacted because they would immediately deny him an eviction, and has zero ethics to be harassing and threatening me just because he didn\\\'t succeed in his illegal attempts to swindle me for Stephanie\\\'s debt. His behavior is abusive and unlawful, and makes me wonder how many others he has harmed in these manners.
Discrimination | Case#**-*049
Corona,
California -
92882
I have multiple complaints. I am being sexually harassed and I have found dates written down on a piece of paper of when I have started and ended my menstrual cycle. There is two full baths and I am required to use his bathroom in his room that has no door and no privacy. He has asked me to stalk and give an address of his former girlfriends new boyfriend and because I wont do any of these he has served me with a 30 day eviction notice.
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.
