I've been renting from Old World Properties since January 2011. Initially, I was very impressed with the service I got from the manager, Mr. Downing, but my impression has since changed.
I was charged a $75 late fee because my July rent payment got stuck at the post office over the Independence Day holiday and OLP didn't get it until the 7th...and even though the envelope was postmarked in time, I was still charged.
4 days later, the old plaster wall in my dining room began to sag and crumble because of excessive moisture that week (plus being very old)...and when I called to report the issue and request a repair, I was told to put the issue in writing, submit photos and MAIL the request to them. A week later, I was contacted to arrange a meeting with a contract repairman. The repairman seemed like a stand up guy at the meeting, but when he came back with a helper a few days later, they left a mess outside...moved all my plants around, left grout blobs on my patio furniture, etc... I immediately called Mr. Downing to complain.
A week later, after cleaning up the mess myself and not hearing from OLP, nor having seen any more work done...I called back to see what was up. (This is now about 3 weeks after the wall began to crumble). Two days later, I got a call from a new repairman...a replacement. He set up a meeting with me that Friday...but never showed up. :( ....but the following Friday, he did...unannounced. Thankfully I was home at the time to catch him. I asked him if maybe I had gotten the date wrong, but no, he admitted to forgetting/blowing off our planned meeting and just now getting to me. I should have taken that as a red flag.
By now, it's August 1...since I was unhappy with how the wall repair was being handled AND being charged a late fee for rent...I sent in my regular payment along with a letter detailing my discontent and arguing why I was not paying the fee. Old World Properties responded by charging me yet another $75 fee for "not keeping my account balance at zero". So...I got charged a fee for not paying a fee??
Back to wall repair... The new guy finally begins work, but the job ends up taking the entire month to complete because he would schedule days to come, but then call 10 mins before to cancel...or sometimes, I got no call at all, and after waiting an hour, I would end up calling him to see what was up that day. This became a nuisance to me and I called OLP yet again to complain about this entire ordeal. 2 months to replace drywall?!? Mr. Downing contacted the repairman and forced him to get the job done within days of my call...and insisted it be done at a time that was terribly INCONVEINIENT for me. I protested that ...at this rate, what's a few more days wait? (I did not feel comfortable leaving contract workmen in my home unsupervised)....but NO, it had to be done ASAP. I gave in and let it happen because I wanted my wall fixed and for this all to be over. The workmen left my floors a mess and I had to vacuum and mop twice after they finally finished the job.
As for those late fees?...even after a written appeal, which, surprise, surprise, I lost...I still had to pay $150 to end the squabble. I now drive my rent payment to Mr. Downing's house each month to ensure it gets there on time.
Lastly, the shower faucet went bad last week, but instead of contacting OLP for another lengthy repair, my father drove down from Charlottesville to replace it, at my expense...just to avoid the hassle of dealing with OLP.
I love my house and would like to buy it, if ever the owner would consider the offer....but until then, I will keep my interactions with OLP to a minimum. read more