New ownership, management and fees

By anonymous

I have been in my apartment since December 2007. Last summer, the pool had a part that broke and it was closed down. Also, the exercise facility was closed.

This year, in March, without any warning to residents, the complex was sold to a new company. I only knew this when I tried to pay my rent online and the site had been removed, We got notice on the 1st of the month (when rent is due) that their was new ownership.

In April, I was told I had to sign a new lease as mine was expired. I was given an increase in rent by $40.00 a month. At this time, I was also told all the "wonderful" changes coming; a new pool, a new exercise facility, lower charges for the shared utilities (water, gas, trash, sewage). I signed the new lease on the word of the office staff that there were going to be improvements made and my rent would remain very similar with the reduction in utilities. 

In May, I had new charges on my bill. I was being billed for an administrative fee ($3.50) and common electric. They are charging ME to cover their overhead?!? I went to the office immediately and was asked very rudely if I had gotten the notice on my door of the new charges. My response was "of course I didn’t get a notice, I wouldn’t be here asking about it if I did.

Since May, many residents have left the complex. They have moved several residents out of one building so they can make it a dorm for the local college. My extra charges continue to increase. I have had an increase in my rental charges every single month due to fewer people sharing the common utilities (including my new fee of common electric). I pay my own electric bill for my own apartment, I don’t think it is right to have to pay for the complex’s overhead, too.

I did contact the Fair Housing Authority in May, and I was just told "they shouldn’t do that, go talk to management". I wasn’t given any direction on where to go, what to do when they refused to remove these charges. I need help!

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