Be Cautious!: Unfair Charges and Poor Lease Practices
I'm sharing my experience with Rain Residential to warn others about the issues I faced during and after my tenancy. While the property itself was great, the company's management practices were frustrating and unfair.
1. Violation of Lease Terms: My lease stated that if I rented month-to-month, the rent would increase by $50 per month. However, starting in May 2023, they raised my rent by $100 per month without my written consent. They claim to have emailed me about the increase, but I never saw the email, and I certainly never agreed to the change. Despite clear lease terms, they overcharged me for over 18 months and refused to rectify the situation.
2. Deposit Refund Issues: After moving out, my deposit refund was delayed by two weeks beyond the legally required timeframe. On top of that, they deducted $300 for a "deep cleaning fee", even though I had thoroughly cleaned the home before leaving.
3. Unreasonable Charges: They also charged me $100 for lightbulbs being out and curtain removal, which I find completely unreasonable. No lightbulbs needed replacing when I moved out. The curtains I left behind were actually in place when I moved in, so I shouldn't have been charged for their removal. I left them as to not be charged with theft of their own property.
4. Dismissive and Uncooperative
Management: When I tried to address these issues, I was ignored and dismissed repeatedly. To make matters worse, they revoked my online access to my lease documents and full payment ledger, preventing me from obtaining the records I need to resolve these discrepancies. At this point, I'm considering pursuing the matter in small claims court because all attempts to resolve this amicably have been ignored.
Overall, my experience with Rain Residential highlights a lack of professionalism, transparency, and fairness. They failed to adhere to lease agreements, charged questionable fees, and delayed my deposit refund.
If you choose to rent with them, I recommend documenting everything meticulously and being prepared to challenge any unjust charges. Transparency and accountability should be a standard, but unfortunately, that was not my experience with this company.
I hope this review helps others avoid similar frustrations. read more