RPA Tenant Rights Blog » Rent Humor

Apartment from Hell

Mary — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 12:08:11 +0000

I was not allowed to see the unit that I was to move into before hand and was told that it looked just like all the units that they showed me. Based on that information I signed a lease in August to move in on the 9th of October. I packed a few things to move in on the 9th, and rented a truck to move the big things on the 10th. When I got to the office and said I was ready to move in – no one knew who I was or that I was to move in on that day. The office manager did manage to get the keys and took me over to the unit. When we walked in to the unit it was a mess and not at all what I expected. It was like walking back in time – the kitchen was the worst – no cabinet space – like the models I had seen. The manager said that she would make sure the place was ready to move in the next day. I did not know what to do – I had already set things in motion to move – I had no where else to go. So I just said ok. The next day when I had the moving people start moving things in the finish on the wood floors was not dry so it stuck to your feet when you walked in and the furniture scraped the finish off as you place it down on the floor. The microwave door would not shut and the light stayed on – they was no phone jack in the upstairs – all doors would not close because there was so much paint build up on the doors. Again I had no where else to go and could not hold up the moving people so I just moved in. Over the next month they resolved the problems with the mircowave and the doors – the floor is rough but I can deal with it. But since then I have had a whole list of problems – everyday it is something new. The furnace went out New years eve and I have been living without heat since then – the lights went out downstairs last night – they did get someone to fix that – then this morning my husband – having a hard time sleeping because of the cold – get up and found that we had no electricity upstairs. I am so tried of this – we do not feel safe in the apt any longer. I need to know if I can get the property management company to pay for us to move to another place. Also they have not to date given us a copy of the lease that we signed in August. Please I need help! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Can my parents kick me out and file for an eviction?

Tenant — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 12:41:41 +0000

I was browsing through some forums when I saw a rather peculiar post. It was about this man who is living with his parents even though he is employed and is beyond legal age. They have an oral agreement that he would have to pay rent every month and he would also need to do some household chores. I think the agreement was only created by the parents so as to convince their son to leave and find his own place to stay. On the other hand, it can also be a test to ready him in case he wants to rent soon. In any case, it is really weird to think about parents asking their child for rent.

Problem is, the son and his parents got into a disagreement and the son is asking everyone if it’s possible for his parents to kick him out and also file for an eviction. The answer is, yes, his parents could file for an eviction.

In the case of oral agreements, the state tenancy laws will still apply. Your landlord still has to provide you with a habitable place to live and you still have to pay your rent on time. If your landlord fails to do its part, you can file for a complaint against him. If you fail to pay your rent, your landlord can give you a 3-day notice and then proceed to filing an eviction case. And yes, it is a matter if you’re landlords are your parents. Legally, your parents are no longer bound by law to support you and provide you a roof to stay once you’ve reached 18.

There are advantages to having your parents as your landlord, though:

You rent could be very cheap.
You can be with your family on Thanksgiving and on any other holidays.
You have your parents around.
Repairs can be easily handled because you just have to talk to your father about them.
You may not need to pay a security deposit, depending on your agreement with your parents.
It can be easier to negotiate with them in case you will be late on your rent.

However, there are a few disadvantages to having your parents as your landlords:

Bringing a girlfriend or boyfriend may seem awkward.
It may be difficult to file a complaint against your landlord because they’re your parents.

While cases of complaints filed against. Landlords are rare, they still exist. I would person recommend though that you file the complaint with a mediator company instead of filing in through the city health department or the local housing authority. At least, if you file the complaint with the mediator company, the complaint will only be released as public record if it is unresolved. But if you file a complaint with your city, it will already go on their records.

Here’s the link for RPA’s complaint center: http://www.rentalprotectionagency.com/complaint_center.php

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landlord wants to sell appliances

Superman600 — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:57:15 +0000

I currently rent a home that i signed a one year lease for in nov of 07. In Feb of 08 my landlord contacted me and said that he would be letting the house go to forclosure. I paid all rent payments on time as well as one months security deposit. He told me if the house went to auction he would let me live rent free as long as i could, but i would not get my security deposit back. The house went to auction in April of 08 and now he is contacting stating the following. This is an email i recieved

Hi. Hope you are doing well. I hope that you are back to work and things have returned to normal for you. You are in the house without a rent payment until at least October, so that should help your finances. I have not checked dates to see if anything has changed on that end to lengthen the amount of time that you are able to stay. If things are as I expect, You should be able to, if you wish, purchase the property from the bank for around $110-$125 once the process is complete, which is more along the price range that you and Kelly can afford comfortably. I have obviously been through a lot over these last few months and I am sorry that it has affected you both negatively and positively. I have relocated and am now out of state hoping to get a fresh start. Until the time that the foreclosure process is complete, I am the registered owner of the property. I have been approached by someone who wants to buy the appliances (including the washer and dryer). I am in need of the money, however rather than just selling them, you obviously need them. I will offer them to you (washer,dryer, refrigerator, stove and dishwasher) for $250 each. They are less than 2 years old and I paid more than double that. Please let me know if you are interested or if you want to make a counter offer. I hope you are well otherwise. Good luck in your future endeavors and with your family.

Can he do this or what

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Plumbing and Drain Cleaning Tips!

propowerrooter — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:02:49 +0000

When you look into the many benefits that are associated with having your drains cleaned on a regular basis, the first advantage you will be able to see, is found with limiting potential blockages. Pipe or sewer blockages can be devastating to a home owners environment, as a result of a home owner’s inability to use the basic necessities like being able to use their bathroom or kitchen. Most of the blockages are results from various buildups such as cooking fat, food grease, slime build up and items that should not have been disposed of through sinks or toilet drains. Having a plumbing sewer and drain company locally in town that you can count on for an emergency situation or regular manintenance who specializes in drain cleaning and can remove any type of blockage or buildup in your plumbing and sewer system and that wont charge you some high outrageous fee like most of the plumbing companies in the Colorado springs area can be a great benefit to a springs home owner.

When ever your experiencing a serious type of drain problem that might require tree root removal. Most of the time it is in your main sewer line, homes have drain pipes that are built under the foundation of the home, it is common for roots to find small crevices or holes in the pipes to look for a water source and then significantly expand within your pipes. For many plumbers, the removal of these tree roots are very difficult when not having the proper tools and equipment or especially lacking the experience in dealing with these type of problems. By having the advantage of a good company that specializes in cleaning sewer and drains, you will be able to have the access to a knowledgeable team of experts that deal with these kind of problems day in and day out, which can easily identify and remove any tree root or build up in your drain pipes and sewers.

Most of the homes in the Colorado springs area are older homes that have ceramic pipes or problems resulting from bellies on the pipes found within their main sewer systems. Many homes have drain pipes that have been in existence for 10 or more years, allowing them to be susceptible to a wide variety of different sources of damage. By taking the time to have your pipes properly inspected, you will be able to not only remove potential items that may be blocking your drains, but also identify different areas of damage. While many plumbing companies would love to charge you thousands of dollars to dig these pipes up in order to repair them, there are more specialized services which allow you to utilize advanced technology that can repair pipes from the inside and eliminate the threat of home or landscaping damage.

Give the experts Pro Power Rooter Service a call for any of your drain cleaning needs. They are always ready to respond to drain problems, for any residential or commercial property owner with a plumbing emergency looking for a drain clog solution.

Call 719 331-4071

or visit http://propowerrooterservice.com

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Plumbing and Drain Clean Tips!

propowerrooter — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 02:40:03 +0000

Lots of Colorado Springs homeowners like taking advantage of a variety of different opportunities that will help them with maintaining the quality and efficiency of their home. Many home owners invest in lawn and garden tools and services, in order to maintain the outside appearance of their house. Other homeowners try utilizing various cleaning services to help maintain the interior of their home, so that it always looks attractive and comfortable to live in. When looking into the opportunities that exist with drain cleaning, there are many benefits that an individual can take advantage of from this important investment, prior to any problems that may have been created, resulting in the condition of your homes plumbing and drain clean system.

When you look into the many benefits that are associated with having your drains cleaned on a regular basis, the first advantage you will be able to see, is found with limiting potential blockages. Pipe or sewer blockages can be devastating to a home owners environment, as a result of a home owner’s inability to use the basic necessities like being able to use their bathroom or kitchen. Most of the blockages are results from various buildups such as cooking fat, food grease, slime build up and items that should not have been disposed of through sinks or toilet drains. Having a plumbing sewer and drain company locally in town that you can count on for an emergency situation or regular routine maintenance who specializes in drain cleaning and can remove any type of blockage or buildup in your plumbing and sewer system and that wont charge you some high outrageous fee like most of the plumbing companies in the Colorado springs area can be a great benefit to a springs home owner.

Pro Power Rooter Service is the best choice for drain cleaning services in Colorado Springs to serve your needs. They are a locally owned and family operated business established in 1991, that knows the importance of quality customer care, and good business practices, so you’ll always be getting the best service possible with the lowest prices guaranteed!

They will clean out your Drain,

Not your Wallet!

Call 719 331-4071

or visit http://propowerrooterservice.com

Tenant revenge!!

HappyRenter — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:07:58 +0000

Revenge of the Renter!

Finally I got my landlord to face the music! First of all, I’m a good renter. I pay on-time, I’m friendly, and very particular about cleanliness. So after moving out of my rental complex I expected to get my full $350 rent deposit back, but low and behold this big management company thought they could get away with keeping it.
WHAT THEY WERE CHARGING ME:

$75 General Cleaning
$50 Drip Pans (Oven)
$85 Carpet Cleaning
$200 Painting

TOTAL: $410 ($350 Deposit) (I owed $60)

What in the world! After spending hours and hours of cleaning my apartment, I was furious to find my complex charging me for stupid stuff. So instead of getting a refund, they were charging me! Can you believe that crap?!

I immediately contacted my apartment manager to see if a mistake was made. She told me that no mistake was made and that I needed to pay the $60 right away or it would be sent to collections. I was mad!!! Jerks! So I worte a letter disputing the charges, and of course no response. I kept calling, but no one would talk to me.

Now I’m a nice guy, but I won’t let some property management company walk all over me. Although, I was mad about not getting my money, I was more pissed about the whole principal of the thing. I decided to file a complaint with the RPA. The investigator assigned to my case was awesome!!! He immediately contacted the management office, then within a week of filing the complaint I had a refund check for $265. TAKE THAT BIG MANAGEMENT,

So what happened;

The RPA Agent was able to get all of the fees waived except for the “Drip Pan” fee of $50. But to be honest, I never thought to clean the drip pan, the oven was immaculate, but I didn’t even think about those drip pans.

IN THE END:

I got my money, and now management has a negative record on their history report. They should’ve worked with me in the first place. By the way; management agreed to waive all fees if I would have the RPA remove the complaint from their record… That’s right, I ate the $50 Drip Pan fee just so the record would stay on their file. That’s revenge! No-one messes with me!

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Moldy Carpet, Landlord won’t Replace

jaime — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:40:10 +0000

My friend just moved into an apartment that smells very mildewy and moldy carpet. There is also visible mold in all of the windowsills. The landlord had shampooed the carpets before my friend moved in, and there was no ventilation and OR is a wet state. I’m not sure if that is why the mold is there or not. But, my friend has asthma and is having a very hard time breathing when she is in the apartment. She contacted the landlord about it and the landlord said the only thing they can do for her is shampoo the carpets again. THIS WON’T HELP!! They won’t replace the carpet or let her out of her lease. It seems absurd that they can make her live there in those conditions. It seems a huge health concern. She has been to her asthma doctor and he has written a letter stating that she is in danger living in that apartment and needs to move. If anyone has any advice about how she can get out of the apartment right now without any serious repercussions, please help!!

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Cancel Renewal

Tenant — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:11:48 +0000

I moved into my complex almost a year ago. When a friend of mine decided she wanted to stay here, we went to the office and had them move us. They waived the transfer fee since I referrred someone and whe signed her lease for a longer period of time. I decided to renew. Once they movede me to the new apartment and had me fill out one of the damages sheets, I noted that there was a spot on the ceiling. I was told that it was just water damage from a leak they previously fixed. Late into May when it was raining, I noticed a leak. It was reported and I was told it would be fixed. Unfortunately that was not the case. I made a couple more verbal complaints, and they put in work orders. The leak has now apparently been fixed. We also noticed a couple of new leaks in the kitchen that were leaking into light fixtures. I have to wait to see if the leaks are actually fixed when it rains. Now if I hadn’t have renewed my lease, I wouldn’t have to stay here anymore. Now that I’ve experienced such a problem, I don’t really want to live here anymore. I’m wondering if there’s a way to cancel my renewal?

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can’t open the windows b/c screens don’t fit

Tenant — Thu, 26 May 2011 07:20:59 +0000

all of the windows in our new house have screens with large gaps. there is one screen that goes up or down but doesn’t seal in either direction. we can’t open the windows because we’re in a very wooded area full of bugs that we’re trying so hard to keep out.

we let the owners know and they said that they move up or down and weren’t concerned.

now the house is starting to get very stuffy and the air conditioning is recycling our old air over and over. i’m worried about the bad air for our two small children. we’re home just about all day for meals and naps.

aren’t they responsible?

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Unsigned Lease

Tenant — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:05:02 +0000

We signed a lease from June ’07 to June ’08 and when it came time to renew, our landlord just dropped a new lease off at our apartment. Well we’ve had some problems with them and wanted the new lease to have some changes made in it. Long story short, after they never returned my initial calls about the changes, I forgot about the unsigned lease. Just recently we decided to look for new places and I remembered they don’t have a signed copy of the lease. Can I just call them and say we’re moving out? They can’t charge us any broken-lease fees since there’s no signed copy of the lease, right? Any advise will do, we’re going to talk to them on Oct. 13th. Thanks!

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