Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Bed Bugs | Case#**-*063 Over the weekend we noticed that our apartment has been infested with bed bugs. Jimmie Patterson has been bitten by the bugs as well. We contacted the office Manager for the apartment complex and were told that they would not do anything to help us, because that is not there problem.
Deposit and Admin Fee required before App even processed, misleading info | Case#**-*566
Frisco,
Texas -
75034
I applied for an apartment and was asked to bring in a deposit an admin fee, being lead to believe that the application was accepted. When they took the payments of $405, requesting the admin and app fee of $205 ($55 app fee, $150 admin) be on one money order, and the deposit of $200 on the other, there seemed to be a clear understanding that there would be no issues getting the apartment. That afternoon I received a call informing me that we had not been approved and had to wait for a manager. After speaking with them, we came to find money was owed to prior apartments that I was unaware of. Considering that they already had a deposit and admin fee from me, I tried working out a way for us to get moved into the apartment and take care of what was necessary.. Once I finally budgeted enough to cover all past due charges and be ready to move in, an additional $550+ deposit was requested AFTER I was told I would just need to pay off the late fees and I had mentioned that I could pay them but it would be rough. No mention of an additional deposit or anything else came about prior to this. When I decided to stop pursuing with the complex, I expected the admin fee would require a refund but the deposit should still be uncashed. I was told that all money was deposited already and it would take 3-4 weeks for it to possibly be refunded, said almost in a way that there was a chance it may not happen at all. I have not signed any lease papers, and I feel I was mislead with the way they handled this. When I asked during the time I gave them the money if there was a chance that there could be any snags, any reason at all to hold out with the deposit until they knew for sure, they assured me it was fine. I now am forced to find a new apartment in under a week and do so with a $400 hit to our bank account. When I asked why they would deposit it before even running the applications and approving/denying us, they said it's "just what they do".
Noise Complaint Harassment | Case#**-*022
KISSIMMEE,
FL -
34744 8496
The manager stated that the management company only complies to the opinion of tenants due to suggestive comfort levels versus following county and state ordinance levels. The tenant below has complained about the simple standards of living from my apartment stating there to be excessive jumping or running occurring in my unit when this never occurs. The complaints are suggestive that we tip toe around the apartment to avoid breaching the contract. The complaint is controversial on the grounds of opinions versus facts of if the occurrences are factual with compliance to county or state ordinances and regulations.
Retaliatory Eviction, Harassment , Refusal To Make Good On Their Settlement | Case#**-*220
REDONDO BEACH,
CA -
90277 2717
My story is very long, but after 8 years of living in Ocean Club Apartments, and always paying my rent on time, I was to love into a remodeled unit, I put down my deposit, was approved on a new lease, and packed up and ready to go. The night before my move at 6pm, I was contacted by \"Jennifer from legal\" who informed me they were rescinding my lease and want me out of the building, mind you, I had been in and out of the leasing office all day, plans had been in the works for 2 weeks, movers scheduled etc.
They then tried to bully me into signing our of the current lease I had to which I refused, then they said they would not accept my rent anymore and put a 3 day notice to vacate on my door. This notice was riddled with lies and more lies that I could easily prove. I hired lawyers obviously, then they didn\'t serve me correctly but claimed they did (I was out of town)
After a long 3 months of feeling under siege, I finally told my attorneys to try and settle, we came to an agreement, ultimately I am to receive all my ent waived, no judgement, nothing on my credit and they are to pay me $4,250 (very measly for all the emotional distress I have had to endure on top of being treated like an animal after having such a long tenancy.
I have since moved as of 2 weeks ago and Lyon Living has now found me and CALLED my new landlord and slandered me. (One more agreement they have broken - this now makes 3 breached contracts) They are now refusing to live up to their end of the deal AGAIN. I know I am not the only one this company has done this to and I want to get these people checked. They consistently break laws.
Bedbugs And Black Mold | Case#**-*976 I have come to the management at the beginning of my lease. I showed them the dead bodies of the roaches and bedbugs i found upon first inspection of the apartment. I returned on multiple occasions, notifying them of the growing roach problem. Around the first two weeks of moving in, I and my roommate began itching and finding bumps on our legs, arms and feet. I felt it was a flea issue and i again let the management know of the pest problem. They assured me of the pest problem being taken care of. i have no documented proof they ever came to rid the apartment of an infestation. I do however have bodies of the bedbugs i have killed and pictures of black mold in one of the bedrooms. I am highly Sensitive to mold, so this scares me, for my health. My roommate bought a new mattress for her room at the beginning of our stay. we had to throw the mattress out in the middle of the night. i also had to throw away my mattress. We have never experienced bedbugs before, and we are being eaten alive. We are good tenants who pay the rent on time and don't cause problems among our neighbors. we just want a clean and pest free living area.
Derby Issues In Our Apt D2 | Case#**-*685
Poughkeepsie,
New York -
12603
I am writing this complaint in regard to the bed bug issue that was brought to your attention. In addition: The extermination fees that their charging me $ 1, 400 should be covered entirely for the 4 units your charging me, due to we never had any issues until the moving of the other unit in our building moved out. Additionally: exterminator costs is the responsibility of the owner and to provide a safe & habitable environment for its tenants. Consequently: The owner / complex here at Village Crest apartments made no attempts to accommodate me Nina M Holt & my Son Brian M La Forge who tenant who reides in my unit D2. We weren\\\'t offered an another unit ti moved to until this bed bug issue was resolved with an exterminator which is stipulated in our lease is an option that could be offered but wasn\\\'t mentioned to us at all. Subsequenrly; me and my Son has been bitten several times throughout our body, this situation had created severe stress , anxieties, panic attacks my son is dealing with, itching , insomnia, financial issues, and a unsafe environment exposed to the bed bugs venomous fluids. Furthermore: we dont have the financial means to relocate & since we signed our second lease end of Feb. 2019 were stuck in a contract. Due to this unsafe situation we should have the right to break our lease if we want too. Futhermore; their is written material how bedbugs live in the walls, cracks, trim, travels through plumbing piping, lives behind electrical outlets, and travels from one dwelling/ unit to another. Furthermore; I contacted the Owner at the Whute Plains number which the realestate representative answers and said she ll leave a message however; I never received a response since Friday. Also; I talked briefly to another tenent in their Hopewell Gardens complex and a tenent their had bed bug issues too., appears to be an enormous issues with bed bugs at their complexes and their hiding it. Futhermore; they have a bed form included in our lease which is not normal in a lease unless their is issues. I\\\'ve addressed different people such as an exterminator and he said something doesn\\\'t sound right. I lived at another apartment Years ago ever issue. I have contacted a lawyer about this terrible issue. I expect to be compensated for this traumatizing experience that noone she have to go through. Words can never possibly tell anyone how much distress has been brought to our lives. I hope justice reveals.
Provided Wrong Information And Get Us Signed The Lease | Case#**-*788
BOSTON,
MA -
02215 4825
We are group of 3 girls. Our Broker Meng Su, shared a video of this house and we all liked it but we never saw the unit in person. They just shared a video with us. After constantly telling the broker that we would like to go and see the apartment. The broker told us that due to covid the tenants are not allowing anyone into the unit. She made sure that everything is legit and there\'s nothing to worry about. Trusting her, we signed the lease. The lease starts on Sept. 1, 2020. After they got the full payment, including $500 broker fee, they shared the number of the current tenants. We talked to them and and they told us everything. We went over to see the apartment and we found out that the video shared with us is totally deceptive. The condition of the house is filthy, miserable. The most important thing that was missing in the video was that the way to only bathroom in the house is from the room. The bathroom is not in a common space but inside a room which we should have known before signing the lease. This is a concern for us and we would have not signed the lease.
Now, when we talked to the broker, they just don\'t want to do anything. they are like, we will return the money back and does not want to help in any regard.
We gave them several options, that find us a new apartment but according to them the owner does not want to do anything.
Deposit Problems | Case#**-*149
Alva,
Oklahoma -
73717
There was mold through out the trailer, mice in the ceilings, rot on the windows , doors, and under the sinks. There was on more than one occasion that we could\\\"nt even get out of the door because the door was so swollen, that we had to call someone to come let us out. me and my daughter lived there for more than 10 years , and he hardly ever did repairs. and I have on different occasion wrote him letters to give him more than enough time to get the work done. Which would take him forever to do.. My daughter and I have had problems with asthma, bronchitis. And we still have major health problems. I have moved out and still having BAD HEALTH......
problems.
Deposit Return | Case#**-*223 6/14/2013 Landlord Gerald Zimmerman gave me a sheet stating that the house I was renting in the upstairs apartment at 210 n 9th street had Lead Based Paint stating "lead from paint, paint chips, and dust can pose health hazards." Paint was chipping in different areas of my apartment including my bedroom. The paint was cracking by the head of my bed. 1month before I moved out, I caulked it. He wouldn't respond to my complaints quickly and efficiently enough. More than a few times he'd tell me he was in South Dakota so he'd get to it when he came back. He went into my apartment when I wasn't home and my security camera caught him in there without 24 hour notice or proper notice at all and left me apartment door unlocked. He took an orange extension cord, which was his, with him. We had the orange extension cord running from my bedroom to the living room because an outlet didn't work properly which he'd said he'd fix. We had the extension cord over 4 months and he never fixed it. He said he was going to have someone come put storm windows sometime before the Fall 2013 and never came so I had to put plastic over my windows because my heat costs were high. The tape peeled the paint off of some of the panes when we took them off in March 2014. I always paid him rent. I cleaned the apartment before we moved, forgot to clean the oven, went back in and cleaned it April 30th. Landlord said place looked fine, we pointed the chipped paint which we thought was the only thing he'd charge us for. The place was old. Said he wouldn't give us our deposit til someone moved in. We saw him almost a month after, said no one had rented yet. June 11th, called and he didn't answer. June 12th, called and he didn't answer til afternoon. Was very rude to me and my husband. Told me I left the bedroom a mess. Asked him if I was getting any of my deposit back. He said he had a list of things that were wrong with the apartment so I'm figuring he isn't going to give me anything back. He was getting to heated. We left our phone number with him. I just didn't want toxic paint chips in the bed I slept in. He didn't do things in a timely manner. So I agreed to paying for the new repair and paint I tried fixing from natural cracks from time and wear that were appearing. I also apologized multiple times to him. I want some of my money back that I worked hard for to get. The only "damage" I did was caulk the bedroom walls. The rest was natural wear and cheap old paint falling off.
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.
