Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Harassment | Case#**-*526
SANTA ROSA,
CA -
95403 1222
Every few months I get a frivolous notice of having to fix or clean something up. This manager creeps around all hours of the night . One night my brother had received a notice to tow for parking in my guest parking space. The latest is a 1st notice 2/14/2018 for my house skirting which was sold to me as is he can sell me this faulty skirting on the house then turn around years later about how it looks with a notice. By the way the neighbor next door also has the same violation yet he has no notice on his door. This same manager also comes onto my property without notice and clearly makes comments about the sabotage on my property. I was having an issue with my heater and he made sure to make a comment about my water heater and I have had low water pressure in my house since his comment. This is clearly an uncomfortable situation. I don\'t feel safe and I feel targeted. I pay my rent on time yet I am being targeted for no reason
Tick Problem | Case#**-*546
Wentzville ,
Missouri -
63385
I was told I need to pay to treat outside the building I live in . It backs up to a very wooded area and the whole complex needs treated outside. We keep finding ticks on the apartment and we at first came up with 30 -40 approx in one day ..afrer they were powerspraying the walkways and bldg. I believe it\'s associated somehow . I can\'t afford to treat the outside and shouldn\'t have to .
Bed Bugs | Case#**-*792
Houston,
Texas -
77036
i have had a bed bug infestation for well over six months and the landlord claims that they have been treating the units every monday (completely not true)and i have had to replace three beds, two couches, and a dresser and the complex refuses to accept responsibility for the infestation or a reasonable solution to the problem. I can not live this way, I can't sleep and it's starting in affect my health. Please help!!!
Rent Deposit Problems | Case#**-*829
Olivette,
Missouri -
63132
For the last 4 months, I am getting late payment notice from landlord. But every time I proved that I paid rent before due date. I am paying through my bank using bill payment.
This month, Landlord missed the check from my bank and demanding double lat fee today. I spoke with the bank request to issue a new check.
I get really frustrated with this apartment management and need to find any legal way to fix this.
Stolen Security Deposit | Case#**-*331
Monroeville,
Pennsylvania -
15146
My husband and I first contacted Deana Madden at the beginning of June to look at an available apartment at Oak Manor Place in Penn Hills that was posted on zillow.com. We saw the place and loved it and were very excited to move in. Deana told us that she needed an application fee of $50.00 AND the security deposit of $550.00. We were positive we were moving in, so we went for it. Right before we were preparing to move in my father had a terrible stroke, and my mom needed help. We decided to stay with her for awhile and help her out with my dad- there wasn\\\'t really much to think about. Deana would not give us the $550.00 back, despite the extreme circumstances. We live paycheck to paycheck, which was one of the reasons we were excited to find an apartment complex like Oak Manor place. Situations were extreme, and we really needed our security deposit back. We did absolutely NO damage to the apartment, we never moved in. We backed out before our move-in day. I filed a complaint with the BBB, and Lobos management vaguely responded telling me to contact them with NO contact information. The only number email address I even had at the time was Deana\\\'s, and she would not answer me. After researching this company it turns out they do this to people often. We will never live in an apartment complex owned by this company, and the only resolution we will be satisfied with is our money back. This is no way to treat customers or potential customers.
Retailation-discrimination False Eviction-harassment | Case#**-*808 My complaint is about Brinkley Properties, Attention: Carl Wooley, 201 S Heincke Rd, Miamisburg, OH 45342 & PO Box 292619, Kettering, Ohio 45429. The phone listing for this company is (937) 866-2131. The apartment manager, Laura, wrote a lease in April that was in my name and my son, Jeff Preyor, his girlfriend Amanda Pelfrey and their three kids were going to live there as tenants. The address is 911 S Alex Rd, apt G& H, West Carrollton, Ohio 45449. I believe this apartment manager unfairly harassed, scrutinized, illegally entered an apartment, and finally retaliated by evicting my family because my son is black, his girlfriend is white and their children are biracial.
Unrightfully Kept Most of my Security Deposit | Case#**-*839
West Pittston,
Pennsylvania -
18643
I believe there should be a deduction for a few minor inexpensive repairs but to only refund us $100 of the $525 deposit is criminal and insulting. Several items on the poorly prepared itemized deductions list are outright false. Also the few items I do agree with, I believe and can prove out, are inflated. I worked for several contracting jobs through college and know this area well...
I will amend my whole complaint once the complaint is filed because it well exceeds the 2500 character limit.
Electric Outlets Don\'t Work Fireplace Almost Set House On Fire | Case#**-*289
Marietta,
Georgia -
30067
My husband Charles and physically moved into The gallery on December 2, 2017. We signed the lease on November 17th because we were constantly lied to about the move in date and desperately need the apartment. We were supposed to have a renovate apartment. The cabinets were rusty and old, some electrical outlets don\'t work, the garbage disposal is leaking, apartment has roaches and other bugs, the closet door fell off because its, so rusty and old, the fireplace almost set the apartment on fire because the smoke is staying in the apartment instead of going out. Multiple complaints have been filed but go ignored. the staff are incompetent, lazy and rude! The living conditions are horrible!
Harassment | Case#**-*141 I moved into this apartment on July 01, 2013. It is apparent now that the landlord is suffering from some mental disorder. Ever since I moved into this apartment the landlord is constantly telling me what I should and should not do in my apartment. For example; the landlord is constantly in and out of my apartment telling me that I should place rugs in certain area's of the wood floor, that I should buy "glides" for the furniture so as to not scratch the floors, I cannot make any holes in the walls to hang pictures, landlord refuses to install an exhaust fan in the kitchen so when I cook I have to open the windows even when the weather gets very cold, landlord is complaining to me about my smoking, (not stipulated in the lease that no smoking is allowed), landlord was nasty to the Verizon Fios installation person about making holes in the walls, landlord owns at least 7 cats and the house smells terribly of animal urine, landlord complains that I use too much water, landlord complains that I MUST lock the door every time I go in or out, just recently the landlord is accusing me of tampering with my thermostat even though it is in a locked box and I cannot access thermostat, there are fire and electrical code violations in my apartment that the landlord is aware of but has not corrected the violations, landlord has a 95 year old father that she argues with almost every night at 3: 00 in the morning screaming at him and waking me up, landlord refuses to repair the gas cooking stove in the apartment, (some burners do not work and this poses the danger of a gas explosion), at times landlord is waiting for me outside of the house to come home just to start an argument with me, landlord did not provide a refrigerator when I moved in and I went and purchased a new refrigerator, (the landlord paid 50% of the cost), my boyfriend repaired defective plumbing in the kitchen sink which the landlord did not pay for. I intend to file a lawsuit against the landlord for the moving expenses that I incurred when I moved into the apartment and for the expenses that I will incur to move out of the apartment. Landlord is not providing peace and quiet nor a safe enviornment to live. Landlord did not advise me of any of her rules and regulations prior to moving into this apartment and landlord should be held responsible for her actions. NOTE: I AM FROM BRAZIL AND DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH WELL. MY BOYFRIEND WROTE THIS COMPLAINT FOR ME AND HE IS A WITNESS TO THE ABOVE INCIDENTS.
Bug Infestation | Case#**-*279
TULSA,
OK -
74146 5339
We\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'ve lived in the apartment about one year and since the first day we\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'ve seen bug of all kinds crawling through the apartment and after we go bed bugs the place became in livable to where we have moved out and yet still had to pay for a month that we are not living in the complex. When management was alerted they sent out there guy to fix spray and heat treat but everything they have done has made the bugs twice as active and twice as many.
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.
