Getting Screwed by Property Management

Lizzy4459 · 12-28-2007, 10:17 AM

I'm new to the area. I need help on what to do about a problem with a property management company. I'm going to leave names and company information out so I don't upset anyone.

We moved here about 4 months ago. The very first day we moved in the washer broke. The dryer vent cover was broken and birds were living inside. Then the tub leaked through the floor boards and downstairs all over my furinutre. Now the problem is a leak in the master bedroom that has been leaking for years and we're the only tenants to report the problem. This happened over 10 weeks ago. The property manager just got the roofers here last week. We need mold clean up and carpet cleaning as well. By the time this gets taken care of we could be looking well into February.

We are sleeping on a futon matress in the spare bedroom and I forgot to mention I'm 5 months pregnant.

The property management company has sent dozens of repair people to half fix the job before finally sending in roofers, who in turn bumped into a half fixed outdoor water valve which sprayed in over 66 gallons of water into my entire downstairs. The property management company didn't send anyone to clean this up. My husband lost 4 hours of work to help me clean up the mess that took us over 3 hours to clean together.

They property management company has changed our manager without telling us leaving me with NO ONE to contact during emergencies. All they have done is credit our rent half the amount for one month. They return my emails with sarcastic comments amount me being impatient. I think I've been plenty patient to deal with this for this long.

I need help. What sort of lawyer in this area do we contact? Is this a matter for the housing authority? Can I ask to get out of my lease? I just don't know the laws down here in SOMD.

Any advice....

12-28-2007, 10:22 AM

I would name names, just to save others from this mess, but that is me.

Welcome, and I hope you get results.

smcop · 12-28-2007, 10:23 AM

Brian Dugan, Dugan Mckissic and Wood.

FemmePrincess · 12-28-2007, 10:24 AM

Welcome!! Sorry I can't help you, just wanted to say Hello!

CandaceMM · 12-28-2007, 10:27 AM

Threaten to contact the Health Department ....
And then contact the Health Department for your area ...
That should fix the problem.

12-28-2007, 10:28 AM

Welcome

*BadGirl* ^(Premo) · 12-28-2007, 10:29 AM

Any communication you have with the property management company should be done with registered letters. This way, you have proof that you've contacted them and that they've received the letters. Also, state what kind of response you want. For instance, for the water damage, say that you want "water extraction to be thoroughly completed by Friday, Dec 28th by a qualified and licensed water remediation company, and that you want your furniture steam cleaned as well, with the Property Management company getting the bill for the services".

Clearly, if these people are not providing you with a safe place in which to live, they are in violation of your lease. You might need to remind them of this. However, if they were professional about this, they wouldn't need to be reminded of it.

If you feel strongly about this, you are always free to file paperwork in District Court to sue them for costs associated with their inferior rental property. The filing free is minimal (maybe $35 or so?), and you can even include that fee in your "losses" so you can re-claim that amount, too.

godsbutterfly · 12-28-2007, 10:36 AM

Everybody advising you to take legal action is absolutely right and I would definitely take pictures along with documenting everything. The law is on your side with this and I wouldn't wait another minute. Certain kinds of mold can affect your health. They are in violation of the City Building Code (or County - not sure how it works here) as well as the Health Codes and Lease as others have mentioned. Good luck. And Welcome to the Forum.

vraiblonde · 12-28-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadGirl

Any communication you have with the property management company should be done with registered letters. This way, you have proof that you've contacted them and that they've received the letters. Also, state what kind of response you want. For instance, for the water damage, say that you want "water extraction to be thoroughly completed by Friday, Dec 28th by a qualified and licensed water remediation company, and that you want your furniture steam cleaned as well, with the Property Management company getting the bill for the services".

Clearly, if these people are not providing you with a safe place in which to live, they are in violation of your lease. You might need to remind them of this. However, if they were professional about this, they wouldn't need to be reminded of it.

If you feel strongly about this, you are always free to file paperwork in District Court to sue them for costs associated with their inferior rental property. The filing free is minimal (maybe $35 or so?), and you can even include that fee in your "losses" so you can re-claim that amount, too.

The winner!

Sorry about your troubles, Lizzy - hopefully you'll get it all straightened out soon.

tiltedangel · 12-28-2007, 10:44 AM

there should be a landlord tenant association for this area..i used to work in va in property management and there was landlord tenant there

12-28-2007, 10:17 AM	#1
Lizzy4459 Registered User Member Since: Dec 2007 Posts: 94	Issues with Property Management I'm new to the area. I need help on what to do about a problem with a property management company. I'm going to leave names and company information out so I don't upset anyone. We moved here about 4 months ago. The very first day we moved in the washer broke. The dryer vent cover was broken and birds were living inside. Then the tub leaked through the floor boards and downstairs all over my furinutre. Now the problem is a leak in the master bedroom that has been leaking for years and we're the only tenants to report the problem. This happened over 10 weeks ago. The property manager just got the roofers here last week. We need mold clean up and carpet cleaning as well. By the time this gets taken care of we could be looking well into February. We are sleeping on a futon matress in the spare bedroom and I forgot to mention I'm 5 months pregnant. The property management company has sent dozens of repair people to half fix the job before finally sending in roofers, who in turn bumped into a half fixed outdoor water valve which sprayed in over 66 gallons of water into my entire downstairs. The property management company didn't send anyone to clean this up. My husband lost 4 hours of work to help me clean up the mess that took us over 3 hours to clean together. They property management company has changed our manager without telling us leaving me with NO ONE to contact during emergencies. All they have done is credit our rent half the amount for one month. They return my emails with sarcastic comments amount me being impatient. I think I've been plenty patient to deal with this for this long. I need help. What sort of lawyer in this area do we contact? Is this a matter for the housing authority? Can I ask to get out of my lease? I just don't know the laws down here in SOMD. Any advice.... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook Last edited by Lizzy4459; 12-28-2007 at 11:50 AM.
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12-28-2007, 10:22 AM	#2
Toreadoralpha Guest Posts: n/a	I would name names, just to save others from this mess, but that is me. Welcome, and I hope you get results. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook
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12-28-2007, 10:23 AM	#3
smcop Registered User Member Since: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,139	Brian Dugan, Dugan Mckissic and Wood. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook
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12-28-2007, 10:24 AM	#4
FemmePrincess Registered User Member Since: Oct 2007 Posts: 211	Welcome!! Sorry I can't help you, just wanted to say Hello! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook
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12-28-2007, 10:27 AM	#5
CandaceMM Boo! Member Since: Jun 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 530	Threaten to contact the Health Department .... And then contact the Health Department for your area ... That should fix the problem. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook
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12-28-2007, 10:28 AM	#6
RadioPatrol Guest Posts: n/a	Welcome Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook
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12-28-2007, 10:29 AM	#7
BadGirl ^(Premo) I am so very blessed Member Since: Feb 2004 Location: Happyville Posts: 13,045	Any communication you have with the property management company should be done with registered letters. This way, you have proof that you've contacted them and that they've received the letters. Also, state what kind of response you want. For instance, for the water damage, say that you want "water extraction to be thoroughly completed by Friday, Dec 28th by a qualified and licensed water remediation company, and that you want your furniture steam cleaned as well, with the Property Management company getting the bill for the services". Clearly, if these people are not providing you with a safe place in which to live, they are in violation of your lease. You might need to remind them of this. However, if they were professional about this, they wouldn't need to be reminded of it. If you feel strongly about this, you are always free to file paperwork in District Court to sue them for costs associated with their inferior rental property. The filing free is minimal (maybe $35 or so?), and you can even include that fee in your "losses" so you can re-claim that amount, too. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook __________________ . I like to be right. Everyone's entitled to my opinion. If you don't have anything nice to say to someone, then you need to STFU.
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12-28-2007, 10:36 AM	#8
godsbutterfly Free to Fly Member Since: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,413	Everybody advising you to take legal action is absolutely right and I would definitely take pictures along with documenting everything. The law is on your side with this and I wouldn't wait another minute. Certain kinds of mold can affect your health. They are in violation of the City Building Code (or County - not sure how it works here) as well as the Health Codes and Lease as others have mentioned. Good luck. And Welcome to the Forum. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook __________________ Life is fragile...handle it with prayer.
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12-28-2007, 10:44 AM	#10
tiltedangel Registered User Member Since: Sep 2007 Location: maryland..(but not from here) Posts: 513	there should be a landlord tenant association for this area..i used to work in va in property management and there was landlord tenant there Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook
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