Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Endangerment, Fraud, Lying & Refusal To Complete Fixing Bad Ait | Case#**-*613
Levittown,
Pennsylvania -
19057
I just filled out this form, but it wouldn\'t let me put the text in, This apt. lies, blames the tenant & now we can add fraud & endangerment. My microwave stopped working, then my water turned cloudy, the air quality was bad & I was choking. All this at the same time. I just had a heart attack, this past Friday & they don\'t care. They are causing so much stress, I\'m going back to the hospital & this wouldn\'t be the first time. I have high blood pressure & they know it. The stove was burning the food & the pans, not acting right. I had a mouse that was going under the stove dragging whatever it could find under the stove. The stove finally caught fire. They are lying saying I fell a sleep. How can they say that, they didn\'t see it. I was up & fighting the fire & got it out. Something was feeding the fire. It was maybe two burners worth. This fire was causing things to fly everywhere. Soot marks far from the stove everywhere & it got on the burner. Who cooks with plastic & paper on a burner & there was nothing on the stove. The broom that I got it out with they took out. They were all over my apt & should have only been in the kitchen. Touching my belongings & putting it all over the place. I was broken into 7 times & my place was trashed repeatedly. They refused the change the lock. The last time, I was broken into, my medications were stolen & almost my computer. I\'m an abuse victim & a fraud & abuse advocate & offer them free help. So this is how they pay me back. She had a protective investigator come out who had six police records, who caused all kinds of problems. Their maintance man is on my side. He believes me, my apt was trashed 6 times & he doesn\'t feel the air it fully cleaned. They expect you to clean, when you should be in bed. Cleaning & money is all they care about. They tried to take out a whole rent from a close acct, which they were told. I stay to myself & bother nobody. Three of their tenants are starting with me & one smeared my name & they refuse to do anything. In the summer of 2013 AC problem, which was causing squealing & grinding. All they did was walk around & looked & said nothing wrong. A year later, we had 3 apts. with outside floods & a sink hole re opened up. They already had a man in my apt. with no noticed forcing my door open & taking my electricity. I came out & saw him & was scared to death. He told me, there should have been a notice to tell me. They can not force electricity
General Maintenance And Conduct Obligations | Case#**-*191
Nashville ,
Tennessee -
37207
My downstairs neighbors hits my ceiling constantly over common noises and for me playing music during 6:00 am through 10:00 pm, making noise hours. It feels like I’m walking on egg shells, it’s uncomfortable. I’ve been here at these apartments since 2018, never had these issues until the downstairs neighbors moved in. These apartments walls are thin and some things are just common and bound to happen. You are going to hear people walk, bump things, drop things, and etc. I work 12 hours 6 days a week and the downstairs neighbors would wake me up every time with them beating their puppies and their big dogs barking not once I complained due to thin walls and also because these apartments are cheaply made. I just received a letter for the first time after not sure how many complaints from these down stairs neighbors.. saying violate again or we kicking you out pretty much. Everybody is noisy, somethings you cant control. I use to work 5:00 pm to 5:00 am, 5:00 pm to 1:30 am 6 days a week. Sometimes I have to clean when I get off, due to working hard; so I sleep all day throughout the day until it’s time to work… so I get people have a lot going on but at the same time people expecting too much living in apartments, you don’t get peace and quiet the way you want. That’s what a house is for.. banging on people ceiling is disrespectful and annoying, it’s also harassment. I’m tired of being harassed and walking on eggshells to live in whats being paid for. That’s it that’s all.
I will add I have played music in the past after 10:00pm not thinking because music is apart of my life and I have certain sessions I have to complete. Lately I’ve been listening through my headphones. So I just want to say that’s the only complaint that the downstairs neighbor can have besides me having sex, the bed might squeak… which is weird that I can’t have sex because these apartments are cheaply made so you hear everything. These people are literally on the first floor, what do you expect and that is addressed to the neighbors.
Also I want to add this is for my protection, it sad to be threaten to get kicked out over common noises everyday.
I was once a first floor, so I get it.
My apartment have been shot up, my car been shot, my car been hit from the gate from people entering in the exit side; I haven’t been compensated or got any sorry from the apartments.
It’s a lot going on that’s way more important than common noises from annoying harassing neighbors.
Eviction Based On Another Tenant | Case#**-*783
Glassboro ,
New Jersey -
08028
Landlord is solely believing another tenant over me based on the fact she been here for five years and I been here for six months. Other tenant makes noise and records and complain to landlord that it is me and my children, whom do not stay with me. My children come on the weekend so how can my children be running throughout the house during the week? When my family and friends come to the house other tenant tells them not to knock on door but call me to enter apartment.( Which we do not have door bell or peek hole) I have call local police and they talk to other tenant. She retaliates and call police back and complains to landlord every other day. I can’t be at peace because I’m afraid what this tenant will do and say next.
Deposit Problems, Unwillingness To Acknowledge Military Clause | Case#**-*413
Chesapeake,
Virginia -
23320
Charged for repairs of property that were in the same state as when lease initiated. Walkthrough was conducted after we moved out and incorrectly stated that we were in attendance. Property manager required professional carpet cleaning to be payed for myself, return of deposit was less than cost of cleaning. Property manager did not recognize initial notice of lease termination under military orders, requiring myself to pay an extra month of rent.
Repair AC Unit On My Roof | Case#**-*871
PALM SPRINGS,
CA -
92264 6512
A new AC unit was placed on the roof over my apartment just before Labor Day. Since that time it has been making a loud noise that sounds like something being dropped on my roof. The sound is the worst in the evening between the hours Of 7 and 9 pm. Management has had folks come in to check it but they claim that they can find nothing wrong and that if I could record the sound that would help them figure it out. The sound happens frequently but not ongoing so I don’t know when to be there trying to catch the sound nor do I know if my old phone can capture it very well. I have suggested to cannonmanagement that they have someone come in and night to listen but they claim that they don’t want to pay someone to sit here listening for a sound that may not happen and I claim that if they come here in the evening they will, as it happens EVERY night! This has been going on for a month now. The sound is loud, startling, and the fact that they expect ME to diagnose and verify the sound seems ridiculous to me.
Safety Concerns / Lack Of Protection And Prejudice | Case#**-*355 On Sunday July 6, 2014 at 6:20 p.m., there was a situation in the Edgewood Village Apartment complex that I feel needs to be investigated.
There was a Hispanic Male driving a green Ford Aero star Van with Texas License Plate # DT5 F933 that came flying into the complex parking area with tires squealing. He turned a corner and almost ran into my 4 year old daughter and would have if not for my wife puller her out of the way. She was scared and shaken up by the ordeal and has a leg wound to show it. He then almost ran into an oncoming vehicle head on. The man then parked and was confronted by the gentleman he almost hit (who lives in the complex). The maintenance man quickly walked the Hispanic gentleman away from the nine people who saw the whole situation and then the maintenance man proceed to go back into his home. Six minutes later, the Hispanic gentleman showed up again to leave and that’s when I took a picture of his plate. When taking the picture, he stated very clearly in the company of witnesses that he would “F^%king kill me” if I took the picture. I took the picture and called the police to file a report. That report number is 14061799 (Lewisville PD).
Now my problem with the whole thing is this car IS here often and I “believe” (not 100% certain) this to be a friend of the maintenance man. Also, if the security system would be functional, this may not have happened. The gates have not been functional for months…. Yes months.
I would like to speak to a supervisor about this situation and others that are troubling to me. I choose not to deal with the staff at Edgewood Village
Recurring Bed Bug Problem. | Case#**-*550
CINCINNATI,
OH -
45230 1823
I have written out an 11 page timeline of time at Mt. Washington Pointe, but to summarize: moved in on 3-28-2013. Within the first month, Kelsey is the only one in the apartment waking up with bites, not itchy. Exterminator inspects for signs of bed bugs, says there are no signs of bed bugs in Kelsey's furniture, dismisses bites as spider bites. By May, Kelsey's boyfriend has been bitten. By June, Kelsey's little brother has been bitten. Both have SEVERE allergic reactions. Boyfriend's bites are itchy and grow to be approx. 6 inches in diameter EACH. Brother's bites cause him to break out in hives, scratches so hard, welts open and bleed. (Photos available.) Exterminator's next (monthly) inspection - looks in Kelsey's furniture, again says the problem is not bed bugs. Five days before exterminator's NEXT inspection, Kelsey and Michele see him parked outside of THEIR building, appearing to prepare for a treatment considering he is not due back for five days, although Sarah Stagge later claims Kelsey is the only one in building with complaints. 6-18-13 Kelsey requests to Sarah to have apt. treated. A week later, Kelsey finds bed bug shell on sheet in living room. The next day Kelsey finds a dead bed bug on dryer in laundry room (first floor) before she even does her laundry. Kelsey lives on 3rd floor. Sarah has no reply to this, except that she had Cincinnati Coin Laundry inspect the equipment. Kelsey believes others in the building did their laundry and that's how bed bug got there. A few days later, Kelsey and brother find shells, eggs, and live bugs in recliner that is next to a wall and catch them. Sarah does not "get ahold of" exterminator until 7-1-13. Treatment scheduled 7-8-13. Kelsey sleeps in car and Michele sleeps in bathtub between 7-2-13 & 7-7-13. Treatment performed 7-8-13. Today is 7-22-13, STILL SEEING BED BUGS. ADULTS THAT SHOULD HAVE DIED W/TREATMENT. Although Sarah said there was never a prob w/bed bugs in apt., there have been 3 OTHER cases besides ours in 2 other buildings. Other tenants willing to file complaint. Never had bed bugs before!!
Landlord fails to honor terms of lease nor response to email/ phone calls | Case#**-*121
Elkins Park,
Pennsylvania -
19027
I signed a lease at the above address 7/22/2011. Contingent on signing the lease was the availability of a washer and dryer, so my landlord wrote that it would be available within one month (which would be 8/22/2011). I wrote a few e-mail and voicemails/ actually spoke o Patty twice for an update because there still was no working washer and dryer, giving her a week or more to respond. The last communication I had with her September 23, 2011, she stated, " If you aren't happy, move the fuck out.", when I asked for reimbursement for the extra cost of going to the laundromat ( keep in mind she was paying for our downstairs neighbors for a service that picks up their laundry, washes, drys and folds it- they told me it was about $65-/ week). On September 11 or 12, 2011, prior to this statement to "move the fuck out", she said, "you know what I will give you all your money back, and you can just move out" when I pointed out my maintenance requests from when I moved in and the lack of a washer and dryer issue were not addressed. I have been nothing be professional and courteous, I am not sure why she is reacting the way she is.
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.
