Virginia tenants have rights, solving security deposit problems is your right...
Every day, tenants like you, turn to the RPA to quickly get deposits refunded & unfair charges dropped.Filing a Complaint with the RPA is the fastest and most effective way to get your deposit refunded and unfair deductions dropped. - even attorneys rely on the RPA to help solve dispute problems for their clients. As a tenant you have rights to fight for your every penny of your deposit. Yes, the RPA fight to get your deposit back.
What Virginia Security Deposit Problems Can the RPA solve?
Did you know... the RPA accepts all deposit complaints, but these are the most common complaints resolved by our organization:
Security Deposit Refunds
Getting your security deposit back promptly.
Charges to Security Deposit
Unfair, False, Unreasonable, or other types of deductions
TIP: On the complaint form you can request that your landlord reimburse you for the $35 complaint filing fee. (that's the only required fee to file a complaint)
Rent Problems Are Frustrating; but you're not alone: Thousands of tenants rely on RPA to solve problems
Bedbugs infestation | Case#**-*799
BELLEVUE,
WA -
98005 3758
I have repeatedly addressed the infestation of bugs in the house and you keep telling me that you don't wanna kill them
but FYI they have caused a skin rush to me.
not inspected | Case#**-*346
sharon hill,
Pennsylvania -
19079
I moved in to this property on Oct 1 2012. The week before I moved in the realtor advised us that the inspection had not passed and that they will be inspecting the property the day before we moved in. a couple of days before we moved in the realtor told us that the inspectors are coming on oct 1st , so we can not move in till after 12:30. when we saw the apartment we asked the realtor are all the things that we saw wrong going to be replaced, he said yes, the place will be beautiful.
We came to the apartment at 130pm on oct 1st to find that nothing had been done. it was filthy , tile missing on bathroom floor. everything from the windows to the entire house was filthy. Landscapping was not done, so movers had grass up to thier chins which ws difficult to move large furniture. bathroom sink was clogged the same day. A plumber was called and showed me the sink. it had two large cracks on each side. so he had to replace it. when calling the realtor all he said was send the 5 day repair form to us, that is all we can do.
day 3 it was poaring out and my ceiling was leaking, someone came to see it 2pm in the afternoon 24 hrs later to tell me that i prob spilled water on the couch.
today oct 5th i called to see if the property was inspected and the borrough of sharon hill said no it has not been and it should not be rented at all.
Enforce My Rights So That I Have The Right To Standard Living | Case#**-*310 I live on the 2nd floor neighbor downstairs from Day 1 of move in has continually harrased me by banging on her ceiling at normal dwelling hours complaining of noise when I am either walking, cleaning, cooking, showering etc. She constantly calls management with false allegations against me and as a result management then sends me letters telling me I am in violation of Paragraph Six in my lease "tenants shall not do or permit anything that will interfere with the rights, comforts or convenience of other renants. Tenant shall no play or allow the playing of musical instrucments, or permit the operation of radios, televisions, tape recorders, stereos, or the like, between the hours of 10:00 pm and the following 8:00 am at a volume which can be heard outside the apartment. This is a false allegation I have not violated my lease by any means. I have reported to management with a letter in my defense when a prior letter was sent. I have had to call the Suffolk County Police department against the below tenant bc of the harrassment of banging on my ceiling. Yet she still makes false allegations and managment jsut sent me a letter staing Final Notice. I need my rights to be exercised.
Mold infestation and only deceived by painting over it twice, deceiving. | Case#**-*288
new castle,
Delaware -
19720
From the Katrina hurricane in August 23, 2005, the infrastructures of the apartments of Willow Chase apt. were severely affected and the manager/owners took minor actions to deceive the tenants of the molds that developed, by painting over it twice, and my elderly mother, Young hee Min have had sever respiratory infection and the molding in the air is causes my mother to cough severely and at nights, waking the family up. Mother's immune system has declined from taking medications, just thinking that it was allergies, but as the days are getting warmer, the air in the apartment is non livable. Third party contractors were called in to look over it, but nothing but painting over the wet, damp areas were applied to cover it up. With the settlement, we will move out, since no repairments are occurring and it's been 9 years. A settlement of $1.1 million dollars can be avoided, if no judicial enforcements are implemented, since two females in the state of Delaware were awarded $1.2 million.
Landlord Does Not Take Care Of Important Repairs On Rental Home. | Case#**-*428
Folsom,
California -
95630
Landlord Xu refuses to repair HVAC system over 25 yrs old, Makes suggestions to buy new motherboard and replace it ourselves.
Leaks in the ceiling from roof damage causing mold and wet rot. Recent storm damage repair cost on roof is $4,200. Xu asks us to pay it or she will raise the rent.
Request us the renters to pay for high cost repairs due to her negligence and she may not have any homeowners insurance.?
Bed Bugs | Case#**-*210 In April I notified the leasing office that I noticed a odd looking bug in the apartment crawling on the wall occassionally. After the exterminator came, they confirmed that it was bed bugs. The leasing office obviously says that I brought them there so I was told I had to sign a contract to pay for treatment ($500). I was set up on a 4 month payment plan (still have not paid it in full yet). I prepped the apartment and washed an dried all clothes, towels, etc as instructed (which was pretty costly) and decided not live in the apartment while all 4 treatments were done - I even waited an additional few weeks after because I have a 19 month old and didnt want him to smell all the chemicals. Once treatment was done I decided to purchase new pillows and bedding for two rooms (which again was pretty costly). Now that I have been back to the apartment, today I noticed a clear bug with a dark lower body that looks like a bed bug (obviously not an adult) and reported it to the leasing office. Brittnay shared that I may be responsible for another treatment and I just dont feel like that is acceptable when I've done everything I was suppose to on my part. In reading about treatment, I am under the assumption that the bugs could have hatched from eggs that were not treated. Is it possible that the chemicals did not kill the eggs and the apartment should have been "heated" instead? Could the walls be infested since that is where I continue to see the eggs and also, once treatment was done, that is where all of these dark rust spots were found in my bedroom as opposed to the mattress, bedding and boxspring?
Slumlord want rent but as not repair anything | Case#**-*614
Waterloo,
Iowa -
50703
The landlord has not been here to repair anything. He didn't get rid of bedbugs while the last tenants was here. The ceiling in the huh bedroom is cracking. The floors are very weak. The foundation got the house leaning also the bathroom sink is need fixing and there mold and plants growing. I took pictures of all the problems to provide and prove the bad conditions of the house.
Repair Issues Privacy Has Been Violated Numerous Of Times Retaliation | Case#**-*539
New Augusta ,
Mississippi -
39462
Basically I’ve been retaliated on for 2 years by Sunbelt Management Company. I’ve reported them to USDA and things got worse for me and my family. My confidential information was given to tenants and spread around every were. I have been harassed bullied mocked from management and because tenants no my information. I’ve sent in over 40 emails as complaints to USDA my concerns information has been breeched. I have 2 years work of documents I’ve kept because every other month they have been trying to evict me.
Smoking Marijuana Also Letting There Pitbull Walk With No Leash. | Case#**-*325
CHICAGO,
IL -
60619 5455
Mr Jackson the landlord of the unit will not stop Marquette and family from smoking marijuana in the building where there is Elderly people that are on oxygen tank and asthmatic people as well. Marquette and family allow there pitbull to walk freely with out a leash they also never pick up after there dog and the landlord never fix this problem.
Deposit Dispute 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 Me Get My Deposit Back?
As a tenant you have the right to get every penny of your deposit back. When you file a complaint through the Rental Protection Agency this starts a formal dispute resolution process in which the RPA will do everything in our power to see that your landlord promptly resolves your complaint. Landlords know that if they fail to cooperate with the RPA it can result in a negative public record that can make it hard for them to fill vacancies in the future.
Why is there a Filing Fee of $35
The $35 filing fee is the only required fee to process a complaint. The fee is required to help offset the cost of representing your complaint. The RPA complaint center is designed as a low cost legal solution for tenants and in most cases is more affordable than other legal options. Many tenants will compare the cost of filing a complaint to the cost of not filing a complaint. If you file a complaint and the problem is resolved will the solution be worth the cost of filing the complaint?
TIP: Don't forget, on the complaint form you can request that your landlord reimburse you for filing fee.
Most tenants file a complaint with the RPA to solve the problem such as getting a deposit refunded, or to get an unfair charge or deduction removed. However, some tenants file a complaint to report the landlord publicly as a warning to other tenants. When a complaint is filed against a landlord it will show up on their public record which is indexed by all major search engines. Filing a complaint is one way for tenants to stand up against bad landlords to warn future tenants about deposit problems they've had.
Does the RPA Guarantee to Solve My Deposit Refund Complaint?
We do guarantee to do everything in our power to solve each complaint that is filed. However, there are some situations where bad landlords fail to cooperate. The RPA can't force a landlord to comply if they refuse; but we can impact their public record which can make it difficult for them to find new tenants. We guarantee to represent the complaint and to create a public record against landlords that fail to resolve complaints.
Will My Name Show up Publicly?
No. After the complaint is closed and made public; your information (tenant name) is removed. During the complaint process your complaint can only be accessed through your case number and pin number. Both the landlord and tenant are assigned a pin number that is unique. The RPA protects tenant's privacy by blocking your name from the public record database. However, the record does show the landlord name.
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.
All 50 States have regulations that protect security deposits. In most cases the landlord is required to provide a refund within 30 days and must provide proof cost associated with charges or deductions against your deposit. Many states require the landlord to furnish copies of receipts for work completed. If you have a deposit refund dispute or feel your landlord is being unfair with your security deposit; you have rights. Filing a complaint is one of those rights.
