Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Bed Bug Infestation | Case#**-*187 Tenant Hilsenton C. Alcee lived in Austin,Texas for 4 years before moving to Central Park II properties. Tenant never experienced any Bed Bug infestation in prior properties (Keystone Apartments - Apt 138 for two years, Parkside at Lake Creek - Apt 319 for 1 year, and The Villages of Sage Creek - Apt 834). Within 4 months of staying at Central Park II, tenant is experiencing bed bug infestations.
Right after finding bed bugs, Tenant reported the findings to the Property Manager/Landlord. Property Manager notified the tenant that the property will contact World Wide Pest Control for an inspection. Property Manager quoted a pricing of $300 dollars before the day of inspection. Property manager also denied any bed bug infestations prior to the tenants lease term. Worldwide Pest Control inspected the apartment a day later, and quoted a $300 price for "Treatment." Central Park II is forcing the tenant to pay the cost for the treatment even though tenant is not at fault.
Following strictly online reviews, Worldwide Pest Control Inc. is considered as one of the worst pest control companies in Austin. Property manager did not provide any options for better treatments or more experience pest control companies. Worldwide Pest Control has common partnerships with lower economic apartments throughout Austin.
Also, Worldwide Pest Control was asked to inspect one adjacent neighbor rather than neighbors on both sides and below tenant for pre-infestation. Worldwide Pest Control made no effort to contact or communicate with tenant on best practices to control the problem. Bed Bugs are meant to be treated in a controlled environment and not as a small pest (I.E. Ants). They are, in fact, a parasite. Tenant is frustratingly concerned with transferring them to coworkers, friends and family members. However, is left to stay within the situation without an exit. The Bed Bug infestation has impeded their life, work, and ability to sleep comfortably. The dwelling is inhabitable.
Further notes: Maintenance has Air Condition and Fire Alarm check once a month. They access the apartment unit in order to do so. They could have transported the bed bugs. The apartments are "Pre-furnished."
Also, torn apart and discarded sofas and beds can be found outside of the dumpster area on a weekly basis.
Less likely the cause, but Pigeons also roost outside of the window (where dead bugs can be found) and are known to carry a plethora of things.
Thank you for your help.
Bed Bugs/Breach of Agreement | Case#**-*199
San Antonio,
Texas -
78215
I moved into the Cadillac Lofts 3/2/12. First bites from bed bugs began 3/15/12. I did not know what was biting me, so I had my step dad who is an exterminator investigate. We found nothing but he sprayed my apartment anyway. I discovered a bed bug 3/20/12 while pulling my bed apart after another attack. My step dad came over and verified it was a bed bug. He treated again. I notified the office the next day, 3/21/12. They called their exterminator who investigated 3/22/12 but did not treat. The issue of who was going to pay arose. I was told they would take care of it. Bites continued thru March. First treatment finally occurred April 3, 2012!!! My understanding from the exterminator's prep sheet was they would do a series of treatments. They did not. They returned 4/17/12 and reported no activity and did not treat. I repeatedly told the manager to treat the apartments next to me. They did not. I had no incidents of bites thru April. May 2, 2012 I was attacked by bed bugs again on my face and arm. I notified the office. The tenant on one side moved out around 5/12/12. I insisted their pest control come out again and treat my apartment and the now vacant apartment. Pest control showed up 4/16/12 but I was not notified and my dogs were in my apt so they left without treating. Bites continued. They finally treated my apt and the apt next door 4/23/12. I insisted they come back in 2 weeks to treat again as is recommended on the EPA website. When management called to schedule they were told the warranty on treatment expired. 6/13/12 my boyfriend woke up around 4:30am feeling a bug crawling on him. It was a bed bug and we turned the light on to find one crawling away from the bed on the floor, one he just smashed and one on the wall (3 live bugs). I climbed a ladder to kill the one on the wall and noticed a spot on the wall which was there before I moved any of my belongings into the apt. It was in fact, an old dusty bed bug, proof to me the bed bugs were already in my apt before I moved in. It was too high up on the wall to see previously. I notified the office of the incident. They were going to see if upper management would pay for retreating. Later, I was told that I was liable. They did not have bed bugs before I moved in AND I am liable for ALL costs to treat my apartment and the apts on either side of me. I have not slept in my apt since the morning of 6/13/12. And I will not sleep there until my apartment is clear of all bed bugs.
Breach Of Agreement | Case#**-*367
Leesvile,
South Carolina -
29070
I moved into the home owner by Ramona Long at 214b Biarritz ct. In batesburg leesville. Up until recently she refused to sign me a lease so that I could get assistance through dss. Instead she received them herself. I have made all the repairs myself and paid for nearly all of it. I have fallen behind on rent and some of the utilities and am currently working 2 jobs at the same time. My landlord has had my power and water shut off. She buys my 11 year old son and 12 year old daughter nicotine products. I have asked her to stop, she refused. I have video evidence of her openly discussing and following through with her promise to buy my son cigarettes. She even tells my son to make sure he hides them good because I\\\'m going to search him. She states \\\" I don\\\'t want to hear her mouth.\\\". She has went to the post office and held my mail. Opened my mail and lied to me saying the neighbor had gotten it. She comes over whenever she pleases. I am in fear to leave my children so that I can work because she will come over and harrass them or buy my son cigarettes.
Refusal To Treat Bed Bugs | Case#**-*056
Iowa Park,
Texas -
76367
Verbal and written complaint of potential bed bugs was given June 18th. In process of prepping apartment for exterminator to come out this Monday and was informed I had to write a check for the costs. I was also iformed that another tenant across from me previously had bed bugs as well as another unit and bed bug infested furniture was also thrown away in the apartments dumpster. I\\\'m taking every precaution necessary and feel I am not responsible for this matter and am worried it is going to lead to an infestation if not taken care. The cost are not affordable and nothing is being done. I have 2 kids living here as well and have heard nothing except the exterminator was told I have to pay them and the apartments are not responsible.
Racial Profiling / Harrasment | Case#**-*132
Lawrenceville,
Georgia -
30043
The managers of Altera Appartments has been diplaying racial profiling against several individuals that visits the complex. This action has been going on for several months. They also over charge disable elders on the rent.
Termite Infestation And Unfair Lease Practices | Case#**-*837
LONG BEACH,
CA -
90802 3330
Landlord Mai knew about a termite infestation in the building prior to my move in. The termites swarmed in the warm summer months (2015), coming through electrical outlets and through cracks in the wall (they were coming in through the walls, not from outside). They were in my bed and all over the place in the master bedroom. Gross!! There were multiple occurrences of termites coming into the condo to which the landlord said she would send a pest company to spot treat. However, by the time the pest control co could come, the problem subsided. The problem really requires the building to be tented. After speaking with other tenants, other units were having the same problem. Termites were an item in the condo board meeting minutes posted by the mailboxes. It has obviously been an ongoing problem. When the rains started, water streamed through the switch plate in the master bathroom and a big clump of termite droppings came with it. The water from the switch plate was never resolved either (prior to my move out). The bigger issue is that the condo owners need to tent the building, but they are too cheap to do so. Therefore, the tenants in the rental units have to suffer. Because of this issue (along with neighborhood safety issues), I broke my lease and moved out several months early. Verbally several months prior, Mai had said \"I won\'t hold you hostage to the lease. I want you to be happy.\" But when it came down to it, she refused to let me pay (100%) to have an outside prop. mgmt. co market her condo for her. She is demanding that I pay the remainder of the lease in a lump sum and I have to surrender the keys, etc. I work for a commercial property management company and they said she stacked the lease against me knowing I was going through a divorce and being vulnerable. I will pay what is due according to the lease, but I don\'t want other renters to go through what I did. Mai is a slum lord, very greedy and she shows absolutely no compassion. Perhaps she can put the $6,000 she\'s ripping me off to apply it toward the building getting tented for termites. More likely, she\'ll collect double rent (I have to pay through May 2016) and go on spot treating for termites.
Bedbug treatment bill | Case#**-*227
Grapevine,
Texas -
76051
I lived in one of Colonial Trust properties called Colonial Village at 2300 Grayson Dr, Grapevine, TX 76051 at apartment 511 phase 2 (address is 2100 Grayson Dr Apt 511) for 2 years (from 01/19/2009 to 01/18/2011) and I had no problems and in 11/2010 I gave them notice for moving out. At the end of 12/2010 I found bedbugs on the roof above the bed, and I notified the office to treat it and the office associate told me that she has to schedule for treatment, and when the pesticide man came to treat, my wife was at home and he told her where do you have the roaches?, my wife told him that we do not have roaches, but only bedbugs, and we had to call the office again and the office associate said she has to reschedule us again for bedbugs treatment. And no body showed for treatment until we left on 01/18/2011. Now they're sending me a bill for the treatment $1.169.10. I believe they did not like to do the treatment for me during my lease contract even though I had reported the problem on 12/2010 because they knew that I am moving out, also they refused to do any maintenance for my aprtement after I reported the bedbug, claiming that they do not want their employees to get infected. I have been in this apartment for 2 years and had no complain about any insect, bedbug appeared only 3 weeks before my move out date, and they claimed that I am the reason for the bedbug although I have not spent even one night outside of my apartment during my 2 years of rent. Also why they had not done the treatment during my contract?, so i would not have to through all my furniture. After talking to the corporate and the management I could not get any resolution. before I moved out I did treatment for the bug. I have not every brought any used furnitue to my home and we've not been outside of US for more than 6 years and again this problem only appeared on the last weeks of my lease. Please I need your help ao I do not have to pay for the treatment. Please keep me updated by phone at 817-896-9976 or email at joaziz@hotmail.com. I do not have any pics, the bugs were mainly in thr corned roof of the bedrooms. Thanks Hany Aziz
The Property We Are Renting Is Unsafe And Unlivable | Case#**-*942
COLBERT,
WA -
99005 9134
We paid $5,000 in good faith to move into the Roether\\\'s residence. After moving in we soon found out that their property vibrates. It started in the bedrooms and then eventually through out the entire property. It shakes and shivers 24-7 nonstop. If we run anything in the house such as dishwasher, the furnace or wash clothes, the vibrations intensify. Whenever it rains, snows or the sprinkler system has been on, the vibrations increase as well. We have done everything possible as tenants trying to figure out why the Roether\\\'s property vibrates. We can\\\'t sleep, relax, or do any of the normal tasks that people do in their own home without the stress of the vibrations becoming worse. We\\\'re exhausted and are health has depleted. The Roether\\\'s have done nothing to help us or offer any explanation to why their property does this. With all the research we\\\'ve done ourselves, we\\\'ve found out that this property was built on swampland and water doesn\\\'t absorb into the ground properly causing it to stay under the house. We believe there is a sink hole being created. This has been an absolute nightmare. The Roether\\\'s house did not miraculously start vibrating when me and husband moved in. This is a huge problem and they need to take responsibility. We feel betrayed by the Roether\\\'s. This has taken such a huge toll on our marriage and every day life. We did not voluntarily move into a house that vibrates. We would like to be reimbursed so we can move with no problems. This house should have never been rented out to anyone. It\\\'s unsafe and unlivable.
Repair Issues | Case#**-*451
Florence,
South Carolina -
29501
I have written landlord via email on multiple occasions with several complaints. I have four small children living in this home with me and this place is infested with water bugs (has been infested the entire time we\'ve lived here), the windows in the home won\'t open, and the window that does open in the kitchen doesn\'t lock closed making it easy to break in, the ceiling in the kitchen has been leaking for as long as we have lived here, the kitchen faucet sprays water from sprayer only, raccoons are in the walls, black mold is on the bathroom ceiling, and much many problems that we put on our move-in inspection list that has not been fixed in the 11 months that we\'ve lived here.
Bedbugs/failure To Maintain Premises | Case#**-*946
TALLAHASSEE,
FL -
32308 5396
We have let our landlord/management company for over a month that we had bed bugs/ants. They had their regular pest control guy come 3 times already and it\\\\\\\'s only gotten worse. Finally a month later and constant calling/correspondence they have termix come and they just give us a quote of mitigation costs and that we are to blame though nobody has ever had bed bugs and they have been in this complex before. They will not do anything to help us and will not terminate the lease, abate rent, treat us with respect, or human decency after this traumatic experience. We are still living in this filth and they expect us to pay rent, pay costs, and pay for other units as well. Meanwhile we have given them ample notice and cooperation. All we have received is contempt, ridicule, and overall disrespect and all we have been is victims to their complex and it\\\\\\\'s pests. They will not do anything or take blame though they have breached the contract, our trust/respect, the bank, and our rights. This is in violation of Florida statute, city and county ordinance, and most importantly our tenants rights. Please help bring justice, clarity, and mediation to this situation. Thanks for any assistance you can provide.
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