Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Emergency Storm Repairs | Case#**-*421
Matthews,
North Carolina -
28105
On December 8th we had several trees to uproot and fall due to the freezing rain and ice storm of that weekend. To date, even after submitting an emergency call at 7:45a on the 10th and filing an online emergency maintenance request no repairs or service calls have begun. We still have downed trees, broken fences in our yard and the neighbors yard.
We have even stated to them that we feel at risk of further damage up to injury or death due to the size and proximity of more trees. Little visible effort has taken place. This property management company has proven to be slow moving, careless and down right horrible as it took then, this year, 9 months to repair a plumbing and flooring isses - which is still not properly repaired.
Carpeting In My Bedroom | Case#**-*580
COLORADO SPGS,
CO -
80907 5053
I have a one bedroom apt and all the other one bedroom apartments have carpeting in the bedroom.
The manager has told me that they do not install carpeting while the tenant is living in the apartment.
She says that I took possession of the apartment knowing that there was no carpeting. What can I do?
Flood, Mold & Deposit Problems | Case#**-*018
NEWPORT COAST,
CA -
92657 1649
June 15th 2019 we moved into the home. Home always smelled musty and moldy. Sept 23 2019 we came home to standing water in the garage, entry, laundry room, master closet (a LARGE portion of the home). We called an ER plumber and paid to have the leak fixed that night. We notified the landlord ASAP. Plumber said we needed a remediation company out ASAP as it was going to be a \\\"big job\\\". Landlord did not respond back to us regarding the flood or plumber we hired. Oct 1st landlord finally responded and told us to take care of the remediation company. Remediation company who came out on Oct 10th. They wanted us to move out THAT NIGHT because they were concerned about mold. The inside of all the walls, insulation and drywall were soaking wet. We called the landlord to explain how extensive the damage was and that they advised us to move out ASAP. The landlord said \\\"start the repairs\\\" but did not address us moving out. Oct 11th I called the landlord\\\'s homeowner\\\'s ins and reported the issue. They had NOT heard from the homeowner (their client). Oct 15th the homeowner\\\'s ins company did an air quality test, would not release the results to me but said the house was \\\"habitable\\\". Regardless of mold, we could not live in a construction zone. I work from home and living in a construction zone isn\\\'t an option. Still, nothing was done. I started feeling sick and having respiratory issues. I was waking up with bloodshot eyes and started getting rashes all over my scalp and body. November 1st, over a month since the flood, we hired our own air quality test company. The report came back with elevated levels. I forwarded to my doctor who advised us to move out immediately. Our doctor ordered several mold specific labs; all came back with extremely high and dangerous levels. We evacuated the house and moved into a hotel Nov 8th. We never heard from the landlord regarding our health, being displaced from our home, our hotel costs, a plan to fix the home so we could move back, nothing. We never received our security deposit back. They just ignored us. I am STILL dealing with health issues from the toxic mold exposure and STILL going through detox to try and get everything out of my blood, urine, lungs, sinuses. I\\\'ve gone through over 12 weeks of antibiotics, brain scans, IVs every day. I\\\'m still dealing with this.
Deposit Problems | Case#**-*234
BIG SUR,
CA -
93920 9568
After the legal limit of 21 days, David Roberts has not sent any correspondence concerning the return of my deposit to my forwarding address. This situation is unique; this winter Big Sur ,California has been deemed a \\\"Disaster zone\\\" due to heavy rains and resulting erosion and landslides which have closed down the only road into and out of town, closing local businesses (and my employer) until further notice. The drive to access the property at 73275 is in the middle of one of the major landslides, Mud Creek. Due to constant landslide activity, the roads to access the drive are closed and the 1/4 mile driveway up to the house has been severely compromised, making it unsafe to pass.
On February 21st, 2017 CalTrans engineers alerted residents on the property to move their vehicles off, because they foresee the driveway collapsing, thus trapping our cars on the mountain with no access out. It was then that I had to decide if I would be stuck on the property, or trapped out of my home. It felt more safe for me to leave, so I packed a bag and left. The rains continued to fall, and despite my landlord\\\'s attempt to make a quick fix to the driveway, it continues to crack and drop day by day. After long consideration, I gave my notice to David Roberts on February 26th, 2017 and went to stay with my mother in Florida until David contacted me to say the driveway was safe to pass so I could collect my belongings. On March 30th, I reached out to David to see if the driveway was safe. He said it was passable, and I took his word. I rented a storage space, a moving truck, and hired movers to help me move out, spending nearly $1,000 to keep my word with David and move my things.
When the movers and I, in the truck, went up to 73275 Highway 1, the mover refused to go passed the crack along the driveway, in fear of his own, and all of our safety. As a result, my belongings are still at his property. I have requested that David safely hold my things until the driveway has been repaired and I can return to get them.
I understand the complexity of the situation, however David has not followed up with any correspondence referencing my deposit, and I feel he misrepresented the state of the driveway, resulting in my spending nearly $1000 on a move I couldn\\\'t complete.
Dispute With Management On Lease End Date | Case#**-*514
SANTA CLARA,
CA -
95051 7127
Our lease end date at Vista Del Lago is April 8, 2020.
Accordingly we signed a lease at another apartment with start date of April 4, 2020. We contacted Vista Del Lago to complete our rental verification form for the new apartment lease. This was on March 2, 2020. We clearly told them this was for our new apartment and we would move out from Vista Del Lago at the end of our lease April 8, 2020.
Now, we got a mail to fill a 30 day notice form and we will be responsible for rent until April 19, 2020. We tried to reason with the management but they are being unresponsive and forcing us to pay rent until April 19, 2020.
We cannot afford to pay rent at two places for two weeks.
Repair Issues, Structural Issues, Blatant Disregard | Case#**-*766
TACOMA,
WA -
98418 2608
We have made multiple repair requests, none of which have been met, attempted to be met, or even acknowledged. Through email correspondence we have notified the landlords, on multiple occasions, of repairs that need to be made or of structural issues that we have encountered. The refrigerator that was supplied to us is very old (~20years), the seal is broken and it leaks water underneath. They did buy a new seal but told us to install it. The bathroom door barely latches and gets stuck in the jam so badly it takes my full weight to open it. The garage door was attempted to be broken into- had repairmen come look at it and state that it needed to be completely replaced for safety reasons. We had to repair the door ourselves, even though it was advised to be replaced. The roof of the garage is sagging and leaking with broken support beams- repairman have also quoted that the garage be completely torn down for safety reasons. Upon move in, there was trash and construction supplies stored in the garage that belonged to the landlord, which we had to move ourselves. The tub faucet does not close properly- so when running a shower over half the hot water is wasted. The water heater is very small and barely holds enough for a 5 minute shower. The ceiling sags in the kitchen so much that the front door only opens to a certain point. There are outlets that don\\\\\\\'t work and they will not address them. In emails with the landlords stating these issues, some are addressed/brushed off and others are completely ignored.
Bed bugs | Case#**-*767
Memphis,
Tennessee -
38118
Bedbugs infestation and landlord is blaming me the resident to be responsible for the pest control fee.Condition is considered unlivable and very uncomfortable.
Deposit | Case#**-*630
Denver,
Colorado -
80247
I was looking to move into Perserves at the city center in December, but i was told I was not approved. The lady told me i would get my deposit back in sixty days. I waited at my old address 17377 E Adriatic Pl for sixty days and the check never came i even kept the mail key for an extra week and still nothing. I called the Perserves at the city center to inform them I had moved. I have given them my new address on three different occasions and still nothing. When I call to see whats going on I get the run around. I was told to call Sharon who works in the corporate office but she never returned any of my calls. The fact it has almost been year is really upsetting that is why i am asking for my deposit and application fee.
Deposit | Case#**-*961
HAWTHORNE,
CA -
90250 2918
My minor son and I lived at Valencia Apartments in Hawthorne for 2 years. We always paid our rent on time and even paid rent throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The downstairs guy has been harassing me, my 2-year-old son, and life-threatening me for one year. He hits the wall and yells every night. He says to kill me and Asian women don\'t mess with black people. I reported this to the apartment manager many times and also called the police many times, but they didn’t help. I have all the videos and evidence. I even need to see a psychologist help me with the trauma that your company and the downstairs guy inflicted on me. I can\'t sleep at night and can\'t breathe when I am thinking about what happened to me till now. We decided to leave the apartment and sent in our official letter stating our date to leave would be October 15, 2021. We vacate on October 17, 2021. We tried to reach out to interim manager Roth Rosales; however, she wasn\'t around that day. I texted her that morning, saying we left the apartment and put the keys inside the room. On the day, I told Ruth I was leaving, and she said OK. I just need to give her the notice and I don’t need to pay anything else but give my deposit back. Half a year later, I received a call from direct credit control stating that I now own JK Residential Services money rather than having to return my deposit. We cannot get ahold of them; they will not respond to us and owe us money. I\'m on welfare. I will get bankrupt if JK Residential Services company keeps harassing me. Please help!
deposit problems, breach of lease agreement | Case#**-*279
West Allis,
Wisconsin -
53227
On June 1st, 2012, I gave my landlord proper 60 day written notice which included my new address, (with my rent for the month) that I intend to vacate (move out) of my apartment at the end of my lease which would expire on July 31st, 2012.
Through out the last month (July 2012) of living in my apartment, "2109 South 102nd Street (105)", I began to move all my belongings out. Once the apartment was completely empty, (July 17th), I began to CLEAN the apartment to the best that I could so that it would be "as close to, or if not as clean as it was" on the day I moved in back in August 2003. Just before the end of the month, a friend of mine and I went back to the NOW empty apartment and helped me clean even more, he took pictures of entire apartment with his cell phone camera to verify the condition of the apartment for proof just in case. The next week, I then called the landlord and made an appointment to meet with him for a final walk-through on Tuesday, July 31st, 2012 @ 4pm.
On Tuesday, July 31st, when I met with the landlord, (Eduardo L. Bustos) at the apartment to do a final walk-through and turn in my keys, Mr. Bustos FAILED to fill out the walk-through form with me as he inspected the apartment. He stated his Maintenance man would have to inspect the apartment to make a list of all/any damages that needed attention. Mr. Bustos then stated that his Maintenance man was busy and that he, (Mr. Bustos) would get back to me ASAP with a list of deductions for repairs and dollar amount to refurbish the apartment to be rented out again.
** NOTE: According to the lease, which we both signed, and WI state law, ATCP 134.06 (2) Security deposits, it states that the landlord has 21 days to refund my security deposit or mail me the list of deductions. Which Mr. Bustos FAILED to comply with.
On August 28th, 2012 I called Mr. Bustos and inquired where my security deposit was? Mr. Bustos claimed the apartment was NOT cleaned to his satisfaction. He also stated that he would mail out the list of deductions next week.
I received this letter on September 4, 2012, stating that I owe him $215.00 dollars. After doing some research, I found out that according to WI state law, ATCP 134.06(3)(c) that Mr. Bustos is WRONGFULLY charging me for damages to the apartment.
PLEASE NOTE: I kept all my records, including the lease, photos, and any other documents which I can send (fax/e-mail) as proof if needed.
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.
