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
Deposit Problems | Case#**-*623
Sparks,
Nevada -
89431
Gave 30 day written notice to vacate property. Property was vacated on 2 October 2015. Have not received any deposit refund.
Deposit Problems, Breach Of Agreement, Health Code Violations | Case#**-*807
ALHAMBRA,
CA -
91803 4036
We were asked to leave on 8/16 and moved out of the unit by 8/28 (end of the month). The landlord and her mother harassed us into leaving by constant complaints, and by regularly turning off the A/C that we had already paid for. We were told to move out on 8/16 (witnessed by another tenant). Now, the landlord is refusing to return our deposit on the pretense that we did not give 30 days notice. She is also blaming us for defects in the room that were already there before we moved in, even though the room is now in much better condition than when we received it because we regularly cleaned it.
We had an ongoing conflict over our right to use the A/C during the heat wave in the summer. She falsely advertised that use of utilities, including central AC, was included in the price of the room. But in practice, she turned off the A/C every day we tried to use it (often on days when the house was over 90 degrees inside, and it was over 100 degrees outside). And she said she would not allow it to be turned on unless we paid an extra amount ($100 / month). This all went on at the same time that she was charging her electric car constantly, including in the most expensive hours for electricity. Note: when a tenant first moves in this landlord sends a notice that you should not use electricity during the hours 4-9pm because it is more expensive.
Health violations: no window screens, poor ventilation and bad oxygen.
Constant insect infestations, especially spiders, due to the lack of screens for windows, poor construction of doors, and lack of maintenance of the lawn.
During the pandemic, she had around 10 workers convert her garage into a 1 bedroom and kitchen. She told them to walk through our room multiple times (no one had masks).
In fact, she did not wear a mask at any point near us during the pandemic.
She shut off utilities, turned off the electricity and water without any notice on several occasions.
During the winter, she completely shut off the central heater so that it was impossible to use (typically 60 degrees indoors).
Unsanitary conditions (accumulation of trash on the lawn for over a month in the summer during the pandemic).
Mold hazard for most of the year (only eliminated in part by one of the workers who came in the summer to convert her garage into an apartment).
She also asked to make me legal guardian to her daughter so that she could leave her daughter alone at home when she moved to the Bay. I declined this inappropriate request.
Air Conditioner Replacement, Leaking Sewage, Rodents | Case#**-*067
OVERLAND PARK,
KS -
66221 7602
Mr. Mason refuses to take my phone calls or reply to text messages. I have been without air conditioning for over 2 weeks, I had Bob Hamilton come inspect the unit at my expense. Mr. Mason attempted to repair the unit itself and wired it incorrectly frying the unit.
The house continues to have mice in the basement and kitchen. Mr. Masons solution is to have me put out more traps at my expense. It needs a professional exterminator.
The back yard has a sewage smell and black liquid oozing out of the ground over the septic tank. I made Mr. Mason aware of this 12 months ago.
I have text Mr. Mason a list of 21 repairs needed in the house and he has not acknowledged receiving the list.
Repair issue/neglect | Case#**-*573
Harrisburg,
Arkansas -
72432
I have had several problems at Maplewood Manor. The manager Kandace Due allows non residents to do their laundry here and there are witnesses to that (Shirley in apt 12). Harassment and cruel assumptions from maintenance manager directed to me personally. Carpets look filthy even after supposedly being professionally cleaned. The cabinets were not cleaned after I showed them to the manager. There were nails all throughout the carpets when I moved in. Glow in the dark stars were left in the bathroom. Door frame in master bedroom broke and according to the corporate manager Monica Winders it wasn't important to have it fixed since we are moving out on the 31st of March, 2013. Loud music and vehicles coming from the managers apt all hours of the night. Kandace allows other tenants to have children's toys and other things outside their apt but told me that she preferred I took my sons outside toys to the playground so everyone could use them. Lastly, the elderly are not looked after in this community. My neighbor Ms Francis in apt 7 I believe, has had to ask my husband to fix things for her in her apt because the maintenance manager wouldn't.
Harassment and false accusation and unlawful practice of eviction. | Case#**-*396
Dallas,
Texas -
75233
Our landlord has made the claim and ordered an eviction. She claim that smoke is coming from our town-home that has set off our and our neighbors smoke detectors. The eviction sites abuse of illegal substance and neighbor disturbance, however no illegal substance is used in our town-home. Our smoke detector has never gone off. There is a vacated town-home across from our unit that constantly goes off causing the disturbance that should be handled by maintenance. We have consulted with the neighbors whom claim no issues with cigarette smoke. This is a false claim and issue is completely fabricated. She has also previous made outrageously false accusation. Previously she claim that we had to much traffic and that the cars coming from our town-home where "too nice", implied we where trafficking illegal substance and claimed to have surveillance footage which is all false. This caused us not to have any visitors for the sake of avoiding any problems or threat of eviction.
Harassment / Fraud | Case#**-*330
Atlanta ,
Georgia -
30328
I am being harassed via phone and in person by landlord. Branch manager has threatened my safety. Landlord is using falsified documents to extend lease. Branch manager refuses to disclose information concerning move out. Lease was taken out of my apartment by branch manager. I do not have her name as she refuses to disclose her name and management company
Breach Of Agreement | Case#**-*870
Long Island City,
New York -
11101
As we had notified our building management, we required a 24-hour notice before they enter our unit to show the unit to potential future tenants. We have this agreement written via email between us and the management. It is also mentioned in our lease that the management or the owners are not allowed to enter our unit without a proper notice or our permission unless it\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s an emergency. We found out today by one of the brokers that he and potential future renters were in our unit while we were not home. We have tried to contact management and no response, they basically told us hat we can go ahead and call 911! There is possibly some money missing from our unit and we think that it was the people who came into our unit while we were not there.
Thank you,
Sonia and Ehsan
Maintenance Issue | Case#**-*996
Houston ,
Texas -
77077
I reported a/c issues via service request at 2:00p due to the apartment reaching 93 degrees and deemed as uninhabitable. 12 hours later, and after three emergency after hour calls to representatives and still no resolution, I am forced to sleep in my vehicle to avoid heat exhaustion due to unbearable conditions in my apartment. It’s is now 2:38am and I still have not had my emergency issue addressed.
Repair Issues And Deposit Problems | Case#**-*083
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania -
19120
My ceiling been out since 6/2015 and fell out again 3/2016 I asked the Landlord to fix the ceiling and his response in 6/2015 was [Pay your your rent] I paid the plumber and deducted the money from the rent in 7/2015 and now we are back at square one.....1/2016 MY Electrical sockets in my kitchen don\\\'t work and we have to run a electric cord to use our appliances.....5/24/2016 My hot water tank burst and we called the landlord and his response was [so what, what you want me to do?]
ELECTRICAL ISSUES | Case#**-*445
Decatur ,
Georgia -
30032
I am a resident that recently fail down the steps at Oaktree Villas Apts 3465 Kensington rd. Decatur, Ga. 30032. At the building of 3550 clubhouse cir. E Decatur, Ga. 30032. While on way to work Sunday night at 745pm. While I countless have reported that there are no lights at 3550 outside and breeze way... also no lights in the kitchen of 3550 apt E decatur ga 30032. This now becoming a legal issue because no one is taking safety regulations seriously. My lights are flickering and TV flicks on and off, while no has fixed this issue no party as bothered to move me to a safer unit. HOUSING AUTHORITY AND CHANNEL 2 WILL HELP this action go on notice. I have called emergency maintenance and Fred has refused numerous times to check it out because he lives in Douglassville, yet no no one fixes the issues reported not even the following morning. I will call a professional electrician and rent will be deducted as well as cancellation of leases at no expense to resident... if this issue is not resolved in less than a week.
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.
