Legal question

[wsteveg]

I moved out of a 400 unit high turnover apartment next to the college. Private condos but managed by a management co.

Got a bill for 430.... After them keeping my security deposit. Looks like a car dealer bill- shop supplies 59 dollars. Undercoat 399
700 "replace carpet" (They put in wood.) Is that allowed?

I reminded via email them of a flood from the unit above that sat soaking for the 2 weeks it took to find and fix.
That the carpet (and paint) should have been charged to the unit above. That they actually owed me money with that added back in.
They charged a guy across the hall the same after 4 years (normal wear and tear?)
What really got me mad was $32 to change the locks on the mail box (I gave back the key)
I know they didn't do it. I shared the box with my neighbor and he told me his old key works

What can I do to stop this fraud. Times 400 32 adds up.

Thanks

 

[measureman]

small claims court.

 

[demarpaint]

small claims court.

+1

 

[wsteveg]

small claims court.

My question is not to get the 32 dollars. I'm wondering how to stop the practice. Is it a crime? Fraud....Theft
Should I call legal aid?

 

[wkcars]

Check the contract aka the lease agreement. Also check local and state laws. If you think there's some kind of fraud going on probably contact the housing authority or attorney general they usually have an office that handles these kinds of issues.

 

[Wolf359]

My question is not to get the 32 dollars. I'm wondering how to stop the practice. Is it a crime? Fraud....Theft
Should I call legal aid?

You can't. All you can do is sue to get your money back. I suppose you could leave negative reviews everywhere but most people don't actually check those so I doubt it will help much.

 

[cheech279]

If you're located in a large city, it may have an office for landlord-tenant disputes. Also it's worth googling landlord-tenant laws in NC. For me, I'd visit the morons in the rental office, tell them exactly what you posted here, and tell them you're not paying the $432 (explain the lock situation) and that you'll seek local remedy to get the return of your security deposit if they don't return it. This is bad faith if not actual fraud on the part of the management company, but they are entitled to cleaning fees. etc. after a tenant vacates.

 

[mk378]

When I was in college the standard way to deal with those "High turnover apartment" crooks is don't pay the last month's rent then leave. In that type of place the renter never gets the deposit back, ever. If you didn't trash the place they would eventually call it even.

Also in my state landlords couldn't charge for a repaint or new carpet if the paint or carpet in question was more than 3 years old.

 

[wsteveg]

If you're located in a large city, it may have an office for landlord-tenant disputes. Also it's worth googling landlord-tenant laws in NC. For me, I'd visit the morons in the rental office, tell them exactly what you posted here, and tell them you're not paying the $432 (explain the lock situation) and that you'll seek local remedy to get the return of your security deposit if they don't return it. This is bad faith if not actual fraud on the part of the management company, but they are entitled to cleaning fees. etc. after a tenant vacates.

visit the morons in the rental office, tell them exactly what you posted here, and tell them you're not paying the $432

There’s absolutely no way I’m gonna give them a nickel.

 

[wsteveg]

When I was in college the standard way to deal with those "High turnover apartment" crooks is don't pay the last month's rent then leave. In that type of place the renter never gets the deposit back, ever. If you didn't trash the place they would eventually call it even.

Also in my state landlords couldn't charge for a repaint or new carpet if the paint or carpet in question was more than 3 years old.

Charge me to replace the carpet?
And then put in a wood laminate ?
Im not sure about that.. I did budget for them keeping my whole security deposit.

 

[mclasser]

So they already ate your security deposit and are now shaking you down for an extra $430? Tell them to pound sand and don't pay it.

 

[doitmyself]

Your North Carolina Attorney General's office can assist with disputes (Consumer Protection Division). If nobody complains, nothing will ever change.

https://ncdoj.gov/protecting-consumers/home-repair-and-products/renting-a-home/

 

[wsteveg]

Thanks to all!

 

[Spartanfool]

I moved out of a 400 unit high turnover apartment next to the college. s

College towns often have non-profit "Renter Resource Centers" that focus on students (and others!) getting screwed by landlords. They are staffed by pro-bono lawyers, paralegals, and volunteers. I know, I worked for one while in college.

 

[JimPghPA]

I am NOT an attorney, but I think class action law-suits are for situations when some entity infringes in a similar manner on multiple individuals. And in general the individual who was infringed on and initiates the suit (chief litigant) receives many times more than the amount that they lost, and the other individuals who were infringed on receive something ( IF THE SUIT IS WON). There are attorneys who specialize in class action law-suits, and that is the kind of attorney you need, if you can find one that thinks your case is worth there time. The fact that there are 400 units and that they have a regular turn-over may make make this big enough, but really it is not that big of a case and some attorneys may not think it is worth their time.

 

[Hall]

700 "replace carpet" (They put in wood.) Is that allowed?

Did you take pictures of the carpet after you removed your stuff showing it was in "okay" condition ? If not, it's your words against theirs. They can say it was "damaged" and needed replaced. If they replaced it due to regular wear and tear, I don't think any city/state/etc allows that. As far as them replacing it with wood, that's irrelevant.

What really got me mad was $32 to change the locks on the mail box (I gave back the key)

If you returned the key, do NOT pay that fee. Then again, check your lease. They may have this covered in there. One thing they are going to say in regards to this charge is "how do we know you didn't make a copy?". If they use that, I suppose they better charge you for the apartment door key as well...

 

[mk378]

If you run into someone's car, they don't get to go out and buy a much newer one and sue you for the entire price. They can charge for their loss from damaging the carpet but not for upgrading.

How would they know if the ex-tenant or their crazy girlfriend or mother or whoever doesn't have a duplicate key? Most places would have a policy to re-key the locks anytime someone moves out. The landlord would be failing to take ordinary precautions for the new tenant's safety if someone could easily enter the apartment with an old duplicate key.
That cost doesn't result from the tenant neglecting to do something, so they can't charge him for it.

 

[Hall]

If you run into someone's car, they don't get to go out and buy a much newer one and sue you for the entire price. They can charge for their loss from damaging the carpet but not for upgrading.

$700 for carpet and installation isn't an unrealistic cost. They could have taken the $700 and put in their own add'l money for laminate wood flooring.

 

[Hall]

I reminded via email them of a flood from the unit above that sat soaking for the 2 weeks it took to find and fix.
That the carpet (and paint) should have been charged to the unit above. That they actually owed me money with that added back in.

What did they say ?

 

[wsteveg]

What did they say ?

I wrote them on Wed night and have not received a reply.
At that time I did not know that they replaced my carpet with laminate
I also didn’t know then that they were billing me for changing the mailbox lock and keys that they never changed until I spoke with my neighbor.