Extreme Negligence and an Absolutely Horrible Experience…read more
If I could give AREM Property Management zero stars, I would.
My experience with AREM was not simply a case of poor customer service or a maintenance request taking too long. I spent approximately eight months living in an apartment with serious mold and water-related problems that were not adequately addressed, while having nowhere else to go and no financial means to simply move out.
My father and I were essentially stuck living in those conditions because we had no alternative.
There were repeated problems with water intrusion and attempts at remediation, yet the underlying issues continued. At one point, the bathroom ceiling leaked again despite previous attempts to address the problem. I documented the conditions, communicated with management, and repeatedly tried to get the situation taken seriously.
Instead of being able to simply leave an unsafe living environment, I had to continue paying rent and living there because I could not afford to relocate. Imagine knowing there are serious problems with the place you're living in, wanting desperately to get out, and realizing you literally have nowhere else to go.
That is what this situation became.
I spent significant amounts of my own money on testing, documentation, temporary solutions, and trying to establish evidence of what was happening. I spent countless hours communicating with management and trying to get the situation resolved.
Eventually, I had to seek outside legal assistance just to get help dealing with the situation and obtaining a release from my lease without penalty.
And even after everything that happened, I was left dealing with the financial consequences of having paid rent for approximately eight months while living in conditions I believe should never have been allowed to continue.
This wasn't a minor maintenance issue.
This wasn't a situation where I simply didn't like the way management handled a repair.
My father and I were left living in poor conditions for months because we had no practical means of escaping the situation.
A property management company has a fundamental responsibility to maintain safe, habitable housing and to respond appropriately when serious water and mold problems are reported. In my experience, AREM failed to meet that responsibility.
I have documentation supporting my experience, including photographs, videos, communications, testing records, remediation documentation, and financial records.
The most upsetting part is that this could have been handled differently. Problems can happen in any building. What matters is how management responds when those problems become serious.
In my experience, AREM's response left my father and me dealing with the consequences for months.
I would strongly advise prospective tenants to thoroughly research AREM and specifically ask how they handle serious mold, water intrusion, habitability issues, tenant displacement or inability to relocate, and reimbursement for rent paid during periods when a property cannot reasonably be considered habitable.
One star is generous.