Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Bed bugs | Case#**-*578
Memphis,
Tennessee -
38111
I've been very patient with ms Nancy and ms Katina by giving them the benifit of the doubt. Now I find my self fustrated and more upset then before. I have an ongoing bed bug and flie problem in my apt.(Prescott place). They tell me that my apt was treated four times but when i askEd for receipts they say they can't show that information. I havnt been in my apt a full month as far as beening comfortable. I've been there close to four months because I was afraid of messing up my credit so I continued paying rent but only because they said it would take four treatment once a week to terminate the bugs. Can someone please help I have a newborn baby and he deserves a better environment.
Bed Bug Extermination Costs | Case#**-*127
Voorhees,
New Jersey -
08043
I would like the Village Apartment Complex to stop harrassing with bills for an extermination that they are responsible for. I received numerous phone calls and threats of ridiculous late fees if not paid by a certain date. My rights clearly state that when it comes to bed bug treatment, the responsibilty is solely on the landlord unless my behavior causes a reinfestation. This has ruined my time spent at the Village Apartment and I will certainly be moving out when my lease is up in March.
Breech Of Termination ,repair Issue | Case#**-*393
Decatur,
Georgia -
30035
The manager Nina at Chapel Run Apts. are trying to injustly terminate my lease because my dishwasher needed to be fix and she did an un notified inspection and I was in the middle of doing my end of the year cleaning(i have witnesses)on Dec..28th and she took pictures of my home while i was in the mist of my end of the yr cleanig. I agreed to an inspecton on January 5. I received a notice for that. When the inspection came she said everythig was fine. She did not take pictures of my home that day. Sunday jan.7 I had a party for my son\'s birthday The next morning Mon. jan. 8 her Assistant came to my home unannounced with the pest control. He told her my home hasnt been cleaned sincethey did the inspection.In fact that was not true we woke up latethat Monday when her assistant came. My children were just eating breakfast and had their toys anblankets laying around. but my home wasnt dirty. later that day on Jan. 8th i recieved a letter sayingthat as of Dec.28th my lease isbeing terminated. she took my rent money on Jan3 when she had the intentions on evicting me when she did her unannounced inspectionon Dec. 28th. and say I have til Jan.31 to move.
Deposit Problems | Case#**-*615
new orleans,
Louisiana -
70115
Please find below the demand letter, I sent the landord . I had no response from him. He ignores me. I sent this letter to these addresses: 615 Jefferson Avenue(the address I lived at issue); 613 Jefferson Avenue (landlord last address); Landlord's Wife place of work; Landlord's place of work and emails
****** See Below *******
Nicholas Kohnke and Jenny Carr Kohnke
613 Jefferson Avenue
New Orleans, La 70115
Mr. and Mrs. Kohnke,
I am writing with regard to the security deposit I made for my lease of apartment at 615 Jefferson Avenue, New Orleans, La, 70115. As you are aware, I vacated on October 1st, 2012 pursuant to and in accordance with lease and paid my rent in full through the end of my occupancy. No walk-in was conducted, however I requested a walk-through of the apartment with you before moving out, and you left me waiting without any response. I also cleaned the apartment before vacating, and left it in the same condition it was when I moved in.
Unfortunately, I have tried to contact you without any sucess. As of today, I have not yet received the refund of my security deposit in the amount of $1.150,00 for the rental property and $300 for the pet deposit, a total deposit of $1.450,00.
You, as the landlord, is required to return to me, as the tenant, within 30 days of my vacating the premises the following: i) my full security deposit (La. Rev. Stat. Ann. 9:3252) or ii) a written description and itemization of deductions and the balance of the deposit (La. Rev. Stat. Ann. 9:3251). I tried to contact you to inquiry about it but you never returned my calls or txt messages. Because you failed to send either, you have forfeited your right to withhold any portion of my security deposit and a court may give costs and attorneys fees to the winner in a lawsuit about a security deposit (La. Rev. Stat. Ann. 9:3251).
Please send a certified check or money order for my security deposit to me at the address provided to you already. Since I am entitled to the return of my entire security deposit, please be advised that if I do not receive a full refund of $1.450,00 with five(5) days, I will consider the retention of the deposit to be in “bad faith” under the LA. Civil Code.
If you do not refund my security deposit in five(5) days from receiving this demand letter, I will take legal action against you for willfully and wrongfully keeping my security deposit. I will have the right to claim the greater of actual damages or a $200 statutory penalty, court costs
Landlord will not return deposit and will not provide proof | Case#**-*948
Reno,
Nevada -
89502
Here is the most recent letter sent to the landlord. They have not responded.
___________________
September 23, 2010
Mr. Archer,
According to the receipts that you sent me, what I owe is itemized below. I have sat down with a lawyer that I went to law school with who states now that you submitted receipts that are FAR less than what you are attempting to take from me you are in the wrong and need to refund what is due to me. He is confident the courts will see it that way as well.
When a resident leaves you are to check that resident out immediately. According to the receipts you gave me the repairs were completed on 8/14/10, almost a full month after I vacated the property. I contacted you numerous times asking for an update on my deposit return and heard nothing but vague responses stating that you had 30 days to return my money. The neighborhood is known as being not being a safe area; in fact there was a shooting in the last few days at the park down the street. The next door neighbors have many children that I constantly had to stop from kicking soccer balls in the direction of the house, climbing in the back yard and playing in the front yard. There were always soccer balls in the yard from those neighbors. I have witnesses to prove my above statements. When I vacated the house the siding was not damaged which I also have witnesses and documentation of. It is most likely and reasonably understood that with a vacant house those soccer balls that the children are always playing with caused the siding damage AFTER I left. I will not pay for that.
One door that was damaged was earthquake damage and that is documented in an e-mail to you. I will pay for the other door as stated previously. The blinds were the â??cheapestâ?ť quality and I alerted you when one broke the week I moved in. You never replaced that for the time I lived there. I should have emailed you about the other one when it broke so I will take responsibility for one blind. The screen door was old and very warn and falling apart upon move in which I documented in handwriting on the back of my original lease, I have witnesses and pictures to prove the worn out screen upon move in as well. I will not pay to replace an already old and torn screen door and you failed to provide documentation to show that screen was new when I moved in.
The rest of the charges on your original list of reasons to keep my money sent to me in August were not proven and you did not provide receipt
shutoff,lockout | Case#**-*679
tempe ,
Arizona -
85283
they towe cars away for no reason,
Evicted from my property | Case#**-*734
Houston,
Texas -
77008
To whom it my concern:
I José Maldonado is directed to this dependence to his worthy charge, to request your help for avoid the eviction of the properties: 502 E. 29th. Street and 423 E. 29th. Street, Houston, TX. 77008 that Mister Juan Lopez has carried out, through his lawyers, in which reports me that I should carry out in a period of three days from the 12/20/2011. For lack of payment which is not true.
As antecedent I report them that in November from 2010 Mister Juan López and I carry out a covenant of the purchase of the property of the 502 E. 29th. Street. In which I compromised to pay the sum of $1450 dlls. Monthly, of which $450 were of rent and $1000, 00 as interests of the purchase of the property. Until I paid him the part that corresponded me of the purchase of the property
In June of 2011 we made another covenant with the property located in the 423 E. 29th. Street in which I should pay him the sum of $1550 Dlls. monthly, of which $ 550, 00 dlls. Were of rent and $1000, 00 of interests of the payment of the sale of the property I made with him. In such agreement if the property was sold the profits will be distributed 50% for each one
In the past month due to the economic situation I have not been able to pay the part of the interests, but the rent was pay every month and with this excuse his trying to evicted me of the two properties. By my part, in recent months I have being renting the property of the 502 E. 29th. Street. For thus be able to solve the payments to Mr., López.
In recent date Mr. López began to have conversations with the people that live the property to threaten them. Likewise by the date December 22, 2011., Mr. Lopez has canceled the services of Water and Energy in the property, so that way the people will left the property and thus to be able to evicted me.
For further information I can be contact at the address 524 E. 29th. Street Houston TX. 77008 and phone Number 281-685-7636 and the email jlmaldonado410@hotmail.com.
I will thank you all the help that can provide me to avoid the eviction that is carried against me.
Regards
Jose Maldonado
Withholding Deposit | Case#**-*481
Marietta,
Georgia -
30061
I made plans to move to Marietta, Ga to the listed apartment complex. I paid my deposit but my move in date was set on 1/27. I informed Jamaal I would no longer be moving into the unit because of a restraining order that I placed on my husband 14 days before my actual move in date. When I told Jamaal I did not receive any contact from him or his property manager. His words were:”I find it weird 14 days before you were supposed to move in now you’re saying you are not.” I informed Jamaal my spouse had total control of my emails/texts/contacts and knew where I would be relocating to so for my safety, I would no longer be moving to that location. Every time I tried to touch base with him or ask for his managers number I would not get a response. I even sent him information on Georgia’s law providing victims of abuse can be removed from a lease with no penalty. I still have not received my deposit because I was informed by Jamaal someone would have to move in first. I sent him via email and text a deposit demand letter saying my deposit needs to be received by 2/26 or I will pursue legal action. It is 2/29 and I still haven’t received my deposit and requested mail sent to the unit I was supposed to be moving into. The documents are tax forms which I still haven’t received. I sent over requested court documents to Jamaal and haven’t heard anything from him or his manager.
mold,leaking sink and dishwasher water going under the kitchen and having an oder | Case#**-*098
Tulsa,
Oklahoma -
74136
maintenance would go to our door put a note saying they sprayed and not stepping inside (my wife was home and seen this with her own eyes). Every time I or my wife goes to the office we get either a run around or â??we will check itâ?ť, and a week later no one comes to check or they never repair it right. My sink was apparently repaired this week and now itâ??s leaking even worse and as my dishwasher leaking also pouring water all down to the down stairs building, thereâ??s sign of mold appearing. My wife is pregnant 7months and I canâ??t have this with my soon to be child.
Refusing To Return Security Deposit, Will Not Respond To Messages | Case#**-*825
SAN DIEGO,
CA -
92101 1929
The property manager (Alex) was given notice that the tenants (Riley and Erik) were going to be moving out and will be ending their month to month lease. The official move out date was 11/30/2021. However Erik and I were moved out before then and returned the keys via USPS 11/26/2021. Alex said on 12/14/2021 the security deposit was mail however nothing has been received in two weeks. Both Erik and I have tired to reach out to about our security deposit but you have not responded to any of our messages.
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.
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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.
