Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Numerous health and safety conditions | Case#**-*224
Gainesville,
Florida -
32653
Rents unsafe mobile homes, with mold, broken windows, unsafe entrances,unsafe roads for children,roads in such disrepair they cause damage to vehicles in park coming and going. Wont make repairs to mobile homes, and more.
Bed Bugs in my Apartment from Neighboring Apartment | Case#**-*107
NAPERVILLE,
IL -
60563
I found bedbugs in my apartment last week. I have been being bitten every night for over a month and have seen a doctor and have been on multiple medications because I did not know what was causing the outbreak of red bumps and rashes until I found the bedbugs. I immediately reported the bugs to my apartment and found out the unit adjourning mine has had severe bed bug infestation for over a month and that the bed bugs can travel through the walls. I was never notified of my neighbor's bed bug problem. The apartment is planning to send a pest control team out next week to lay chemical powder in my apartment. Prior to this visit, I must manually inspect and bag everything in my apartment and everything in my apartment must remain in sealed bags for a minimum of 3 weeks and potentially much longer depending on how the treatment goes. In addition, I continue to be bitten by bugs every night and with this treatment plan this will continue for at least another 1-2 weeks. I have tried sleeping in different parts of my unit (living room, etc.) but I still get bitten every night. Furthermore, I won't have anyplace to live once everything is bagged in my apartment and I must continue to get bitten every night. When I expressed concerns to the apartment all they told me was that they would continue to send out the pest control until the bed bugs stopped appearing in my apartment.
Poor Property Management Work Performance & Abuse Toward Tenant | Case#**-*875
LOS ANGELES,
CA -
90028 7732
I have been living at Leland way since August of 2021. It has been a shit show since then. Packages being stolen, my mailbox being tampered with, & my mail being stolen, & issues with electricity, & severe plumbing issues not only in my unit but in the building. It\'s been one thing after another. The second time I requested emergency maintenance I was told it would take 3 days for maintenance to come and fix my toilet problem. Then they had the nerve to say I would be billed for it and it\'s my fault & issue. I have now requested emergency maintenance for the 3rd time. This property management company, Concord has no regard for their tenants or creating/ maintaining a safe, healthy, and peaceful living environment for their tenants.
Office Have Not Resolved Loud Music And Dog Howling Complaints | Case#**-*454
Cypress ,
Texas -
77433
We have sent links to videos to the management of this apartment complex of the loud music and dog howling from the unit below us in 4210 and they just respond that the noise is not loud enough to hear. The courtesy officer has stated that there is a legal decibal allowable in Harris County and that this is now a civil matter and does nothing to address the noise when we call so then we have to call the Harris a County Sheriff line to get things resolved usually more than once in the same evening. The management acts like my complaints are not legitimate even when presented with evidence.
Security Deposit unlawfully withheld | Case#**-*594
Kihei,
Hawaii -
96753
I have tried to resolve this issue as amiably as possible but the Lanlord refuses to follow State law, illegally witholding a portion of my security deposit. I have looked up the Hawaii state laws in the Tenant/Lanlord handbook and it states that with a Fixed Term Lease (6 months-1 year contract), no 28 day notice is needed. My lease with her even states that "Unless otherwise agreed upon with written consent, the lease ends on March 2nd 2010, signed by both myself and the property manager.
Rights To Use A Treadmill | Case#**-*852
Ames,
Iowa -
50014
The neighbors below me complained about me running on the treadmill. I don\'t run for more than an hour a day and it is no earlier than 8am or 9pm. I have the right to use a treadmill because they do not provide us with gym memberships. 8am is not an odd hour and it works best with my schedule because I have class at Iowa State University at 10am and I work till 7pm Monday thru Friday. My health and fitness is a part of my life and that should not be taken away from me and I feel my rights are being violated. These are undergraduate apartments so I don\'t feel a couple not in school with a baby should even be living in these apartments. Their baby cries and is disturbing at odd hours at night and that really is probably the reason they are disturbed in the first place, not because of me running on the treadmill at 8:30 in the morning. Exercising in the morning helps start my day and when I do run in the morning it is no more than a half hour. I don\'t think my running on the treadmill is a violation and even that loud. I don\'t think it comes anywhere near to a loud decimal and it might just be that the apartments are old and outdated and have poor structure and thin walls. I have a right to be on the treadmill as it is not a violation of the lease. No where in the lease does it say you can\'t have one. I don\'t feel I have done anything wrong or done anything to disturb the peace. I have the right to live a healthy life and exercise and that shouldn\'t be taken from me because of some couple who chose to raise a baby in undergraduate apartments. With parties going on at these apartments that is not the right environment for a baby so really someone should report them to DHS. I have worked hard to lose weight and it is now something I am very passionate about and these people are trying to take that away from me and it\'s not right. It sounds so naive that someone would complain about someone trying to better themselves and life a healthy lifestyle. Living in apartments with other tenants we all will deal with noise, smells, parking issues, and other concerns that people should just be aware of when living in apartments. I\'ve lived at these apartments for 4 years and I\'ve never had a complaint filled about me and I\'ve dealt with several noisy neighbors. The sounds just get elevated in these apartments because they are old. I think it is reasonable to let me use my treadmill 8am-9pm because it is not a violation of the lease and is within city limits time frame
Threats Of Bodily Harm And Or Disappearance Repeatedly Over 6 Months | Case#**-*529
Lake George ,
New York -
12845
I am dealing with a landlord that has been unreasonable. I was waiting for an appointment. He denied allowing me getting a one shot deal to pay rent. He has threatened me 7 times he has sent a man to my house after the initial eviction court to tell me he can make me disuperior I have emailed everyone and talked to everyone I can no one can help me. I think he knows this. He also told me the judge is his best friend. And he basically owns this town. And there isn\\\'t anything I can do. He smuggling and deliberately drives by the house and sends other people by the house to just make me feel uncomfortable. But that man coming to my house by the name of Joe and a black Dodge pickup truck at 3:15 in the afternoon on a Friday, the day after our court. To tell me that Robert is connected and that the Lake is very big and very deep. It was his family that denied my unemployment in which I turned around and proved that they lied. And sen since it took so long child support gout most of that unemployment. I am back to work and I told him now that I am full-time as of last week. I would be paying.
I have kept in constant contact with him. It was his family that denied the unemployment. So he knew what was going on? But he still continued to threaten me. I have MS.
So I don\\\'t drive. It\\\'s hard for me to walk around a lot. So I am dependent upon what I have in my Town for resources and the winter time is tough, so unemployment is all you have if you\\\'re stuck here. I am trying to go back to school as well as another option to help.
But he has been unreasonable. He has not been willing to help out to work. A deal with me, he has done nothing. He won\\\'t even accept my text messages unblocked. He also won\\\'t give me his bank information to deposit any money. So I haven\\\'t been able to deposit any money into his account. Because he won\\\'t answer me with the said he would provide, so I couldn\\\'t. Do what we agreed upon. I did write him a letter asking him to stop about 3 months ago. And it did not, it actually got worse.
Security Deposit Not Returned | Case#**-*668
Old Town,
Maine -
04468
We moved out of the apartment on 9/30/2011. I spoke with Jon Parker on 11/8/2011 and he said that he had "lost our forwarding address." He said that he would mail out the deposit the next day and to call back and leave the forwarding address on his voicemail, which I did. As of 11/19/2011 I have not yet received my security deposit back. I have called several times and left numerous messages and have heard nothing.
Since Jon had not communicated with us any reason for not returning the deposit within 30 days of vacating the apartment, Jon has given up his right to keep any part of the deposit for any reason, under Maine state law. My wife had corresponded with Jon via email in the past while we were tenants, and he has both of our phone numbers, so not having a point of contact is not a valid excuse.
Repair Issues | Case#**-*011
Austin,
Texas -
78729
I\\\\\\\'m one very pissed off tenant. I constantly go to the office to inform the staff of all things wrong and that need repair and nothing gets handled till whenever they are ready to handle it. I\\\\\\\'ve had mold in my sink for the past 2 months and even had to call the manager to come into my home which she never looked at anything I was telling her, just wrote it down but had the nerve to inspect the door. I had an incident to where someone in my past shot at my apartment. I\\\\\\\'m paying for the door they didn\\\\\\\'t fix right and when I informed them about it, they want to charge me for a new door and a paint job they should have done the first time. There is no reason why I should have to pay for something that should have been done right the first time. I\\\\\\\'m about to hit 3 months into my pregnancy and there is no reason why I should have mold in my damn sink! Yes I have paid rent late but could you blame me if you don\\\\\\\'t get the necessary attention for a house you are paying on! My fridge has a horrible odor, it is rusting at the bottom and leaking water constantly and still nothing has been done. I have less than 4 months of my lease. I could actually break it anytime I want with this protection order against my ex but i see it as no point. This is beyond horrible management and for them to harrass someone over money that they can\\\\\\\'t seem to help get anything fixed, IM BEYOND FUCKING PISSED! The management and staff are beyond horrible and need to be looked at. They don\\\\\\\'t seem to care about anyone\\\\\\\'s well being in these living conditions but expect money when it\\\\\\\'s due.
Deposit paid, work completed, fleas roaches | Case#**-*204
Acworth,
Georgia -
30101
Infested property.Verbal aggreement to clean and move in two weeks pror to July first. Withdrew based on infestation after paid attempts to rid the peast control.
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.
