Poor Management, False Advertisement and Dishonest Representation of agent Shelbee Szeto's role as unpaid volunteer.
Summary: Advertised squared footage is 200 sq ft larger than our actual unit size (750 vs 540). Agent Shelbee Szeto who signed as agent/ resident manager for Orvick on every signatory page of lease claimed she was unaware of her own signatures. Given Szeto's extensive involvement with negotiating of rent, leasing, advertising, showing of Orvick Management's multiple properties and move-in inspection, we're incredulous of Orvick/ Szeto's representation of Szeto as an unpaid volunteer. Szeto maintains that because she's received no compensation in monies, benefits/ perks from Orvick and has no financial relationship with Orvick, her services should not be reviewed. Ms. Szeto's public LinkedIn profile lists she's self-employed: "Manage[s] 7 properties, 70 apartment units, for 1 client account." We filed complaints with regulators for an investigation. Also, old washer broke down frequently, flooded our apartment twice while management refused to sufficiently repair/ replace to updated washer.
Condensed Statement Filed with Regulators
On behalf of Orvick Management Group managed by David Orvick, Shelbee Szeto advertised an apartment at 140 Arch Street #B, Redwood City CA 94062 as 750 square feet in 11/2017. Szeto's contact is provided under Blue Agate Real Estate on Craigslist. We signed a 12-month lease for said unit on 11/20/17. Upon moving in, we discovered we could not fit our furniture but donated/ rid multiple furniture, attempting to make the unit work in good faith because we relied on the advertised square footage and were led to believe Orvick/ Szeto were acting in good faith. In 9/18 we measured our unit with a laser to be only 540 square feet. On 9/17/18, we complained to Szeto that our unit was over 200 square feet less than advertised to which Szeto acknowledged our unit might be a smaller approximation but reassured us the upstairs unit for which she filed her taxes was measured "very accurately." Szeto showed us two other units by the same owner at 120 Arch Street and 124 Arch, Redwood City. The 120 Arch Street unit was advertised on Craigslist at 450 square feet but we measured only 320 sq ft with a laser. The 124 Arch Street unit was stated as 700 square feet but we measure only 640 sq ft. Orvick/ Szeto have systematically advertised units for rent as significantly larger than actual size.
After giving notice 30-day notice to vacate, on 9/27/18, we offered to help advertise our unit. Orvick indicated we'd owe $500 in ad fees to move out by 10/27/18, if they could re-rent it and their "goal is to have a new move in date of 11/1-3." We stated if Orvick/ Szeto could guarantee they'd advertise our unit by 9/29/18, we would agree to move out by 10/27/18. Until our united is re-rented, we're responsible for the lease. On 9/28/18, we expressed concern to Szeto that she raised the price of Unit D from $3095 to $3195 on that date. We stated advertising our unit $495 above our rent was above the market rate and wouldn't re-rent by early November, which was Orvick's stated goal. Szeto replied "I have added "and B" to the location. With all due respect, please let us do our jobs, especially when we are trying to accommodate your favor. Our rent rates are our discretion."
On 10/4/18, Szeto called to complain about my prior week's review. She stated lasers measurers were imprecise and I shouldn't have associated her with Orvick because her role was an unpaid volunteer. She stated she did not receive any compensation in monies, perks or benefits from Orvick, nor was related to Orvick/ the owner. Szeto is listed as the agent/ resident manager on all signatory pages of our lease. Szeto confirmed by text she was unaware of her own signatures. David Orvick confirmed Szeto's unpaid voluntary status and stated his firm had no financial relationship with Szeto. The contact for Szeto on Craigslist is as Blue Agate Real Estate. Given Szeto's extensive involvement with leasing Orvick's multiple properties, we're incredulous of Orvick/ Szeto's representation of Szeto as an unpaid volunteer. Unpaid volunteers are shielded by law from certain liabilities and Orvick/ Szeto dishonestly claimed volunteer status for Szeto. The landlord has a duty to mitigate losses when a tenant breaks a lease. If Szeto were an unpaid volunteer, and Orvick Management is relying on her to advertise, negotiate rent, lease, show our unit for re-rent, and provide move-in inspection, then as a professional management firm, Orvick is not doing its duty. If our advertisement were performed by an unpaid volunteer, we are contending the $500 ad fee Orvick is charging. If Szeto were an unpaid volunteer with no financial relationship to Orvick, as Mr. Orvick stated in writing, Orvick should not have entrusted her to obtain our credit reports, SSNs, pay stubs and other sensitive information in the application process. read more
