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 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
health hazzard | Case#**-*643
cynthiana,
Kentucky -
41031
while i was living there the roof leaked causing mold in carpet which i tore up mold in floor which i replaced floor rotted electrical bare under trailor roaches landlord kicked us out after we told him he said he would tear it down instead after kicking out hes trying to rent this disaster again and trying to fix up badly still not safe enough plumbing make shift i re painted and put new flooring in tried to fix myself but problems are to far gone hot water tank leaked neighbor say someone came to them asking about rent that they were there to look at it so he is trying to rent out again it is unsafe and a health/death risk i got my deposit and left but this cant happen to another family it looks way better now that i tore into it but underneith problems are critical mold in walls and ceiling about water tank structure seems weak had a water main break open electrical socket under the house hanging live the roaches where so bad at first and the animal fecies i later found in carpet that i threw out ceiling light in bedroom hanging from wires floor rotted hot water tank fell out of the trailor i put new floor under it still leaks but i got it back in the tub almost went through i braced that also the mice and pest i had to try to get rid of he called a bug man once but wouldn't after that it was so bad i stayed sick the whole time i lived there now he is trying to rent again please stop this from happening again very concerned this im sure isn't all of it im not an inspector but i kno enough where it needs serious work or tear down.
UNSAFE LIVING ENVIRONMENTS FOR OVER 20 PLUS RESIDENTS | Case#**-*036
salt lake,
Utah -
84109
MULTIPLE ELECTRIC PROBLEM, WATER COMING THROUGH THE CEILINGS...BLACK MOLD, NO GROUND WIRE...SO WHEN YOU TURN THE HOSE ON YOU GET SHOCKED, I PERSONALLY HAVE TO TURN MY STOVE ON AND OFF WITH THE FUSE BOX, BECAUSE IT WON'T TURN OFF ON ITS OWN....A REAL FIRE HAZARD FOR ALL. NO PARKING, MULTIPLE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12 RUNNING THROUGH THE PARKING LOTS UNATTENDED....METH DEALERS LIVING UPSTAIRS, NON OF THE AC UNITS WORK AND HALF THE SCREENS ARE OFF...THE LAWN IS A JOKE, HE WON'T EVEN PROVIDE A MOWER FOR ONE OF US TO DEAL WITH IT. THE LEASE SAYS NO PETS...BUT EVERYONE HAS THEM...THE LEASE ALSO SAYS NO KIDS OUTSIDE UNDER THE AGE OF 12 UNATTENDED....BUT THEY ARE OUT THERE ALL THE TIME MAKING MESSES.....THE COVERED PARKING AND THE UPRISES TO GO UP THE STAIRS ARE ALL BROKEN....LIKE IT COULD COLLAPSE ON MY CAR AT ANY TIME....HE HAS BEEN ASKED NUMEROUSLY TO FIX THIS STUFF BY BOTH TENANTS AND THE STATE AND HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING......HE OWNS THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR WITH AN ASBESTOS HEATING UNIT AND IT FLOODS YEARLY LEAVING BLACK MOLD ALL THROUGH THE BASEMENT....AND YET NO ONE DOES ANYTHING....LIKE ITS OK TO LIVE IN A DUMP.
Bedbugs,will Not Spray For Them. And Blames It On Us | Case#**-*851
Saint Albans,
West Virginia -
25177
We have lived here for over two years,and around July of 2014,we started to notice little bugs in my granddaughters crib and she had welts and little bite marks. At first we didn\\\\\\\'t realize they were bed bugs. Then we started seeing them in our bed on our couches. They were even on stuffed animals. We informed our landlord Frank peroct/who became upset with us and told us it was our responsibility to get rid of them and that it was our fault we had them. We bought bed bug spray and sprayed and cleaned everything. That didn\\\\\\\'t work so we informed him again. Again he got angry with us and told us it wasn\\\\\\\'t his responsibility to spray for them. Frank passed away this past march. At that time we informed his brother Am on and his stepson Joe of the bedbugs,and they both said the same thing. It was our responsibility to get rid of them,and we brought them in. Since then Joe has informed us that we have to move. We can\\\\\\\'t move into another place when everything we own is infested with bedbugs. He also has told everyone he talks to that comes on the property that we have bed bugs. And I get harassed by Joe almost every time he is here,asking when we are leaving and hes getting an eviction notice on us. Please help us. We also have pictures and videos of the bedbugs.
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The Duct Work For The Hot Water Heater Was Emitting Carbon Mon.for 7 Yrs. | Case#**-*051
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania -
19135
The landlord does not do work up to code. He is always slow and most times does not maintain or fix what needs to be done ! We just had a gas leak. The gas co. came out and fixed a few leaks. When they were here they fond out the hot water heaters were vented wrong and spewing carbon monoxide. This was going on for seven yrs.!!!
Repair Issues | Case#**-*848
APPLE RIVER,
IL -
61001
While I lived there I was told that he would fix any and all issues that we brought to his attention. No repairs were ever made to the house. The porch and porch roof were never replace like he stated when my children and I moved in. There was such a large hole in the porch roof that a raccoon gained entry into the living quarters of the home on a couple of occasions. There were wasps in the home and my son is allergic. The ceiling fans didn\'t work properly, there was no or bad insulation in the house, the attic window was missing all winter until I replaced it, the heat vent in the 3rd bedroom didn\'t work therefore we couldn\'t use it. We brought all of these issues to his attention and nothing ever came of it. The window frame in the upstairs was coming away from the wall as was the door frame in the main bedroom. Then the roof started leaking and that is when we discovered the mold in the main bedroom in the crawl space ceiling. My children and I moved out on August 4th because we couldn\'t deal with the issues anymore. He has said that I owe a certain amount of \"back rent\" but has never showed me where or how I owe that much. He never gave me receipts for rent payments since 2013 or 2014.
Sewage In House Not Being Cleaned Up | Case#**-*175
Tomball ,
Texas -
77375
The home I’m renting has flooded with raw sewage. It has now soaked into the 2 kids rooms carpet, and the wood flooring in the master. My kids and I have all been forced into the living room. The landlord is not answering when I ask about a clean-up crew. (The wood and carpet and Sheetrock are beyond repair) He does find the time to send me a text about that he new lease (raised rent and additional deposit) he want. Please help! The health department said they do not go inside homes. Who do I call, how what can I do??? My kids are 1,6, and 16
Noise Complaint From 1 Neighbor | Case#**-*442
Dunwoody,
Georgia -
30338
We have received a few notices via phone, email informing us that our neighbor directly below us 1 floor has filed complaints to the Two Blocks Leasing Office about \"excessive noise\" and \"extreme noise\".
I have lived here with my wife and 1 cat, going on 3 yrs; I am 55 yrs old and my wife is 60. We do not have loud parties, we do not play music or TV loudly. We are cognizant of the thin floors as the tenant above us (who was a petite female, guessing 100 lbs) sounded as if she weighed 300 lbs as she walked through her apartment.
The first complaint we weren\'t sure what the cause could be after thinking about it. Then about 6 mo ago, we received a call from the Two Blocks Leasing Office, the employee spoke to my wife, saying this tenant below us was complaining about \"stomping\" and other loud noises during the hours of 1a - 4a. My shift is 330a - 12p so I get up at 130a Mon - Fri but I\'m am considerate and walk lightly as I can as I get ready for work. Then we thought it could be the cat; he gets frisky at night, running, jumping off the cat tree, chasing toys etc. So we started putting him in the spare bedroom or on the porch when my wife goes to bed at approx 11p. I keep him there and my wife lets him out when she gets up at approx 5a.
On Thu 6/8, I received an email with an attachment which was a \"Notice of lease violation\" from the manager, Mersiha Zeric. In the document, it states if the complaints don\'t stop, this \"...will resolve in termination of your lease at your expense.\" So I called the office and asked the employee, why they are just taking that person\'s word and not substantiating this complaint or even discussing it with both parties. In addition, I was in the office, picking up a package, about 2 wks ago, and I asked the manager then if any more complaints were made...she said she wasn\'t aware of any.
On Fri 6/9, I went to apt #2209 to see if I could discuss this matter but nobody answered; I also went there today...nobody answered. I left a note explaining our side of this and included my primary phone# and asked the tenant to call anytime when there was noise occurring. I haven\'t heard from the tenant, no voicemail.
We are good tenants, keep our apt clean and pay rent on time. I want to avoid a legal dispute if at all possible but I will seek legal advice from an attorney if necessary.
Uninhabitable Apartment, Landlord Retaliation, Threatening To Evict | Case#**-*321
FULLERTON,
CA -
92831 3119
I live in UCA. My apartment management is harassing me. I moved here in August 2019 with a 1 year lease. I have made several noise complaints to the management over the past 4 months about the noise coming from apartment upstairs. There are extremely loud stomping, running, jumping, hammering, banging noises coming from there. The management said there is an autistic kid there and that they cannot do anything, and the kid is within the law to make those noises, and that I should bear this noise. I told them to either move the family somewhere else, or move me. They said there is no apartment available, and I should just live with it. The noise has made my apartment uninhabitable. I told them to release me of my lease, and they asked me to pay 2 months rent penalty of breaking lease early. I told them it is not my fault the kid upstairs is making noise, and my apartment is uninhabitable because of that. I even called the police 3 times. The police heard the noise and asked me to call again if there is noise, and said they will arrest the upstairs family.
The management has since begun to harass me. They lied that the police did not hear any noise from upstairs neighbors. I gave up and continued to bear and suffer the noise. Several weeks passed. Suddenly, out of the blue, on Dec 31, 2019, the management posted a 3 day notice to perform covenant or quit, outside my door. It stated that I am making loud noises. I don\'t know what loud noise I am making. They never warned me even once before this notice. Which is very contrary to what they did when I complained about loud noise from upstairs. For the latter, they said they will call the family and tell them to lower the noise. They claimed to have called them many many times, when I complained. But for me, they never issued any prior warning. Not a single call, email, certified letter, nothing. When I called them to ask, they began lying even more. They said they had posted a notice previous week outside my door. I never received any such notice. I am completely honest about this. They also said they received a complaint from the apt\'s security patrol who heard loud noises of \"domestic dispute\" coming from my apt on Dec 30 night. This is false, I live alone, and had no one else at my apt. I called the security patrol, and they said they did not hear any noise come from my apt. They did not even know of my apt, and made no complaint against me to the management. I called management and they are lying again.
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.
