Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
repair issue | Case#**-*415
Deerfield Beach,
Florida -
33441
I have lived at this property for 3 years and never had any major issues. I have tried to get in touch with the management company regarding a crank that is broken on one of the windows. ($16 part from Home Depot) They refused to fix stating its not in "the budget."
Now we are having a plumbing issue and they have not come to fix it. The pipes are overflowing in the front yard and smell like sewage. My bathrooms are filling with poop and pee from the backed up pipes. I have a 4 year old son who can't take a bath because they do not want to fix this problem. I have renewed the lease for 6 months prior to these problems. Do i have the right to break the lease?
Maintenance Issues Including Falsification Of Documents | Case#**-*812
LOS ANGELES,
CA -
90012 3071
It was discovered that maintenance items including cooking aspects as well as electrical and phone wiring were signed off as \"completed\" when no work had been done at all. One of the cooking issues included no ability to set a temperature on the oven rendering it useless since May of 2019. Further to these problems, a habitability issue of a leaking toilet was not fixed for over 3 weeks. Management of Skyline Terrace continuously never responded to emails for assistance. They showed complete lack of professionalism in their emails. Multiple photos and emails have been taken show casing their inability.
In attempting to receive a civil outcome with the buildings manager, we asked to speak to their manager. This manager wouldn\'t engage in any active dialogue. We looked at ways to produce a civil outcome but not such outcome was ever actively engaged by GHP and Skyline Terrace.
Due to these continued issues we decided to vacate the property. We were informed that we would not have to pay the 11 days of rent in September and a further 250 dollars credit for August with the affirmation that the maintenance issues would be resolved. No such resolution has occurred and as such we are seeking compensation for August.
Breach Of Agreement | Case#**-*201
CHICAGO,
IL -
60622 1609
I requested to try to sublease because of trouble finding a roommate. I have ALL in text bruce light trying to force me to sign a document stating i will pay 1400 to a rental agency. He then went online made accounts in my name using my cell phone number and cats name as a password. I have proof of all this in a text.
No Heat, Cockroach Infestation, Leaking Plumbing | Case#**-*835
Las Vegas,
Nevada -
89123
Two years of asking Mr Chen to fix problems no effort to fix or exterminate. Cockroaches inside stove and refrigerator producing disgusting smell, kitchen sink leaks providing water source for cockroaches. No heat.
bed bug infestation | Case#**-*524
WESTMONT,
IL -
60559 3313
Need bed bug problem taken care of. I'm suffering from at least 15 bites on my body.
Breach Of Contract/repair Issues | Case#**-*660
STOCKTON,
CA -
95205 3930
Upon obtaining keys and entering unit to find uninhabitable landlord immediately has evaded contact to resolve issues of repair.
Breach of Agreement, Home in forclosure prior to signing contract. | Case#**-*659
GREENWOOD,
IN -
46142 9129
Jena Pittman-Whiecotten was notified through Johnson County, Indiana Clerk of Supirior Court that JPMorgan Chase Bank was taking the rental property at 234 Pennswood, Greenwood, IN to Sheriff's Sale in May, 2012. Jena through Home Quest Reality rented the property to four adults listed above by signing a two year contract, knowing the house was in foreclosure. This was never told to us, we only found this out when a Sheriff had delivered the Notice of Sheriff's Sale to the home on Pennswood. One week prior to receiving this notice I sent Jena an email asking if she had paid the Homeowners Association Fee because that was also in the contract that she would pay that. The HOA came to our house telling us that she was two months behind with her fees. Jena denied that she was behind, then corrected her statement that HOA was not her worry. After numerous attempts to contact Jena Pittman for four days, Raymond Sims (renter on contract) and Janet Thomson (renter on contract) went to the only know address and requested a personal phone number to contact her. After given the cell phone number listed above, I called and had to leave a message asking, when she was going to tell us the house was in foreclosure. She called me back and said she had no intentions of keeping the house nor working things out unless I wanted to pay her $20,000.00.
After two days of crying and feeling completely beat up, we have been searching for a home and are trying to find a place to live.
issues in general | Case#**-*977
New Braunfels,
Texas -
78130
We have lived here for about 9 months or so.We pay rent always on time and mind our own business. We have multiple problems with the mobile home. With our ac and heater. Yall had taken over a month to fix our ac and months to fix our heater during the worse time out of the year. We have a leak that created mold that the maintenance has known about. Also we never got a copy of our lease we were told we would get one but never did and when we ask for it yall refused kenny gave us a huge problem. And told us its against our lease to fumigate.We are infested and its disgusting. We already fumigated our selfs and fixed one leak, how sad!It Looked terrible when we moved in everything was fixed (half-ass) and dirty. Im not picky but if you dont taker care your residents legally it makes me upset. Im sure im not the only resident that feels this way.I will not tolerate being walked over
Bed Bug Infestation | Case#**-*239
Las Vegas,
Nevada -
89129
I noticed the bed bugs in March, though I did not know what they were. I woke up with several bites on my arm on 5/30/13 and looked up bed bugs to confirm what they looked like. I then researched the causes and possible ways to exterminate them on my own. I sprinkled diotomaceous earth around my bed, covered both the mattress and box springs with bed bug protectors, washed and dried all my clothes in hot water (shrinking many of my shirts in the process), and placed them into large plastic bags. I then vacuumed and emptied the filter into the dumpster. After all this, I called Orkin who, after a minor inspection, confirmed my bed bug infestation. The agent also assured me that bed bugs can come from anywhere and that there's no way to definitively determine how they got into the apartment. They informed me that treatment for bed bugs will cost $450, which I can't afford and don't feel I should have to pay. I rarely have guests here, and haven't had any except in September and for a week during Spring Break at the end of March. Both guests slept on the couch in the living room. The maintenance man has been in here on a few occasions, and could just as easily have tracked the bugs into my home. After informing the apartment of the problem via their online maintenance request page, they finally sent their own pest control agent in, who told me he was only an inspector and that the landlords would be the ones to tell my about pricing, scheduling, etc. The Assistant manager, Rasheeda, called me at 5pm on June 7, 2013 and told me that I would have to pay $500 dollars myself to have the bugs exterminated! Honestly, it's cheaper for me to move than to pay this exorbitant fee. Also, the lease states that they will regularly spray for pests and makes no exceptions when it comes to bed bugs.
Breach Of Contract | Case#**-*131 My lease ends in November of 2013, but I acquired a new job, so this in turn required me to relocate to be closer to my job. I notified the apartment staff of my situation with a verbal notice in April 2013, and with a written notice in May of 2013. I told them I would be moving out by July. They originally said they could help me find someone to sublet the apartment, but then later on said they wouldn't help me and that I had to do it on my own. So I tried finding someone to sublet the apartment since I was moving out in July. The first gentleman I found was going to move in, but the paperwork process by the apartments took too long so he unfortunately had to find somewhere else to live. After that I advertised on craigslist for someone to sublet the apartment, but later on I was told by the apartment manager that I couldn't advertise for the apartment, so I took the advertisement off of craigslist.
Another gentleman by the name of Ross was going to move into the apartment in July right after I was going to move out. The apartments knew of this days before I was moving out. On the day I was moving, the office manager called me and told me I couldn't move out. She told me I had to stay there and live with Ross. When I informed Ross of what the manager said, he decided to find somewhere else to live. It doesn't state anywhere in the contract that I have to stay living in the apartment if I have found someone else to take over the lease for me.
I still moved out of the apartment in July like I had planned to do in the first place. The apartments have sent me a letter since then, threatening to sue me for the months of August, September, October and November. This has indicated to me that they may not try and find someone to move into my apartment. Due to the fact that the apartments never tried to find someone to take over the lease for me, even though Michigan requires the Landlord to try and find someone, and they made a false statement to me about not being able to move out when I found someone to take over the lease, I do not believe I should be required to pay them anymore rent than for the month of August. This is a very generous offer on my part since the apartments have failed to comply with state law, and breached the contract.
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.
