Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Gave rental Termenation to landlord, filed a rent with holding, uninhabtbl | Case#**-*289
LIHUE,
HI -
96766 1478
I have written a letter reguarding the condition of this apt such as carpet smelling like a deceased human or animal, dog urine, they informed me they cleaned the carpet 3 times, and was enzymed protected. Screen doors were just fixed yesterday, and door was fixed yesterday to allow airflow to apt. Lease is supposed to be ending Feb 28,2012 after being signed Sept 1 2011. My children and myself have been coughing upon living in this unit. I have endurred EMF problems associated with the such as, nightly headaches, legs and feet cramps, and horrible nightmares on nightly basis, as does my husband , It perhaps is related to the humming of the electrical box for the whole complex is located on the other side of my bedroom wall...I have had drain issues when I moved in and it took over 2 mos for that to be fixed. I also have mice and roach infestations. My dishwasher has not still been replaced. On an occasion I have had maggots crawling up through my bathroom drain coming from the sewers which had to pumped out by the apt complex then there was no problem..They clean the pool with only chemicals and my children have never suffered more earaches in their lives but as soon as they stop using the pool and go to the beach they no longer get earaches..I have been harrassed for my daughter riding her bike on an empty sidewalk while I was watching her. After dealing with this agency with a rental prior to this one and having issues such as non-disclosure the unit was in foreclosure, and having my property stolen by management upon vacating It had continued and we choose to take a job transfer and give plenty of notice we were vacating, as she also verbally said she would allow me to leave if I was unhappy...I am exercising that right I'm sorry it took me so long.
Bad Management | Case#**-*576
washington,
Pennsylvania -
15301
When we first came here the office staff was wonderful. Over the last couple years, office personal changed, and have been ignoring renters complaints for years, When calling in problems for the maintence men, the receptionist has failed time and time again to relay our request/problems. We have gone several times with out water for over a day without warning. The water company also advised them thier water pipes were illegally put together and made them repair it in the correct manner. In our complex we know for a fact that there are 5 or more people staying in a one bedroom apartment wich is a healt violation. Also there are signs on all enterance doors that doors need to be completely shut for our safety, there are several people in this complex that dont speak english or read english well. These tenants continue to leave the door to our complex every single night to let people in that dont live here . This has been an on going problem and when advising the office they have never once made an attempt to speak with these people about compromising our safety. We have had to call the police for homeless people sneaking in due to the doors being open several times. Our mail has been stolen twice (we did make a police report). Not to mention anytime you try to talk to the mangement we get disrespected and talked down to. This treatment is unacceptable. Not to mention cars park illegal where there are bright yellow lines clearly saying no parking, blocking in cars of other tenants. Again when telling staff they refuse to do anything .
Mold Growing,ac Not Working,no Hot Water.feces By My Door | Case#**-*618
Corpus Christi,
Texas -
78408
I have repeatedly ask to have my ac fixed,its been a month and nothing has been done. I have filed work orders more than once! I am a disabled person, sick. The mold needs to be cleaned. It is bit my job to clean my walls when y\'all have neglected my complaints about water leaking.nothing was done until 2 weeks later. I have no hot water. I have reported my issues to my doctor!There is feces coming from the pipes and coming to my door,we should not be living like this.This is very unsanitary
Wrongful eviction and failure to return deposit | Case#**-*939
Oro Valley,
Arizona -
85737
I was wrongfully evicted for a issue that was not covered under the lease agreement. I was then served with an eviction notice after the court hearing for the eviction had already passed. Once I vacated the rental i was not refunded any of the initial deposit. On top of this complaint they frequently violated the lease agreement by not giving proper notice when they were going to enter the rental. Failed to fix issues with the house e.g. broken windows, pest infestations.
Water Leaks In Ceiling In Two Spots. No Kitchen Sink. No Proper Fire Exits | Case#**-*240 Water is leaking in the ceiling. Mold is growing in the ceilings and walls. No kitchen sink due to water leaks destroying more of the property. The upstairs lady keeps her pit bull on a shared fire exit so I don't feel save using it. They also say the same lady is the caretaker but I'm sure it's just cause its not legal rentable.
Bed Bugs | Case#**-*345 When we moved in we were never told there were bed bugs here before n that the neighbor also had them, this was our first time living in the country so within 2 weeks my kids had bites on them i was just thinking they were mosquito bites because it was summer n never thinking bed bugs . then a few weeks past my son had to go to er bites from head to toe thinking maybe laundry soap. then i woke up one day n sa w a bug crawling on the woodwork to find out it was a bed bug. called landlord she text back not her problem. had health department out tried stuff they told me still here. called landlord sorry text landlord n she said again not her problem. we have new . we have the furniture store telling us my neighbor was infested with them nwhen they went to take there furniture back for her not paying. i have text messages with her saying she had rugs replaced in our apt n there should be no bed bugs left . well they live in woodwork n cracks first she said they were never here now she texts n says she removed carpet n there gone now. furniture ruined because of this n sleeping downstairs on air mattress n living with our cloths in bags.
Deposit Problems | Case#**-*781
SEATTLE,
WA -
98125 4057
One month into trying to move into Balfour Place apartments, my studio apartment was still not move-in ready. I had put down a $300.00 deposit to hold the unit . I was told by the property manage that my deposit would only be taken out from my checking account the day of the move. As stated above, after a month, the studio apartment was still not move-in ready. I found another apartment and informed Balfour place. They said that was fine but they were going to take my $300 deposit.
Refund Of Deposit Problem | Case#**-*657 I moved out of new river residences shortly after lease was expired in July 2013. I moved out by September 30th, 2013. I Gave proper notice (30 plus days), had proper walk through with Sloane Massey(owners daughter/asst manager of property I believe) who said the apartment was in perfect condition!! I notified Skip in person of walk through when handing him the keys & he accepted Sloanes verbal walk-through. I was told that I'd receive my deposit back within 30-60 days. After several calls & Emails to Skip (manager) & Bill Massey (Owner) I still have not received the deposit refund. Nor has Mr. Massey returned any of my calls. After 15 calls & 4 emails I finally spoke with Skip in person. Who told me to re-email him & he'd forward to Mr. Massey. I emailed him while standing in his office. He later emailed me back on January 17th, 2014 stating he'd forwarded my emails to Mr. Massey. I still haven't heard from either Skip or Mr. Massey about my refund of $500.
Conflict | Case#**-*091
Greenville,
South Carolina -
29617
In January of 2013, My daughter had a sleep over and I ex boyfriend came over after he left the club. At that time I didn\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t allow any smoking in the my apartment therefore he wanted to smoke so he went outside. My living room had a door to access the patio as well as my daughters room, but my living room set was so big that you couldn\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t get though the living rooms door so he had to go though my daughters door to get on the patio. That\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s when two of the girls stated that he touched them inappropriate. I heard one of the girls get up and go the bathroom and that\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s when my ex-boyfriend came back in my room and get in my bed. About ten minutes later the one of the girls was headed to the front door and I asked her why are you going home in the middle of the night and she replied I just want to go home. I didn\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t think of it because that was her first time spending the night at my apartment. To make a long story short, the police was called and he was arrested. Ever since that Kalace has had people to cut my tires on my car, she has failed every inspection that I had. She has caused me to lose my section eight twice. On top of this I had open heart surgery and I have lupus and I have many of flare ups due to the stress that she has caused me. I have wrote letters and called her boss but appeared that noting is done about the situated. My lupus has become so bad that I can\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t no longer work and I feel like its all her fault and she should pay for it. Kalace has had several residents including the maintenance man watching my apartment. She also takes time on the weekends to ride by my apartment as well. When the police was called they wouldn\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t tell me anything therefore I was clueless about the situation. but when I found out the truth I wrote the courts and express that I want to be there for the girls and help put my ex-boyfriend in jail where he belongs.
2ND EXCESSIVE NOISE COMPLAINT | Case#**-*458
BAKERSFIELD,
CA -
93309 5223
ON 6/10/2017 AT 8:49 PM THE HOA WAS NOTIFIED BY SEVERAL TEXT MESSAGES FROM OTHER TENANTS AT THE 3600 SAMPSON CT PROPERTY. THEY WERE SAYING THAT YOU HAD A LIVE BAND AND ALSO HAD EVEN HAD A PORTA POTTY BROUGHT IN FOR THIS EVENT. BY 11:30 PM THE POLICE WERE CALLED OUT ON A NOISE COMPLAINT. NOT SURE WHAT THE RESULTS TO THIS WERE. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY GIVEN A VERBAL WARNING TO YOU OF THE EXCESSIVE NOISE COMPLAINTS THAT OTHER TENANTS HAVE GIVEN TO THE HOA. I WAS PROMISED BY MARIA DIAZ THAT IT WOULDN\\\'T BE A PROBLEM AGAIN. THE HOA HAS SAID THAT WE COULD BE FINED FOR THE NOISE COMPLAINTS AND IF WE ARE, YOU WILL BE REASONABLE FOR ALL FINES WITH INTEREST THAT ARE GIVEN TO US ALONG WITH A 30 DAY NOTICE TO VACATE THE PROPERTY AND YOUR LEASE WILL BE TERMINATED.
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.
