Previously I gave a 2-3 star review due to issues with the apartment, some of which was addressed…read morehence I upped it to 4 stars whilst I was living here.
Now that I moved out, the experience is terrible once more.
One of my previous complaint in the past review was that there was an issue inherent to the unit I was living in (the toilet was loose and leaking moisture underneath, causing the vinyl floor to discolor), and I made it known to maintenance, but was accused by management that I was the one who caused the damage and therefore liable to pay for the damage - after the review then back and forth, they sent a maintenance person out to inspect and it was finally concluded that it was not my fault and that there was indeed a moisture leak beneath the toilet. After that was addressed, I revised my review to 4 stars.
I lived here for 2 years, then moved out partly due to the above average annual rent increase on my 1 BR unit (13%!).
About 3 weeks later, they sent me a bill for "damaged countertop" and "damaged carpet", withheld my security deposits and ask for $1,063.89 (my security deposits already included) to fix those alleged damages.
I emailed their corporate & asked for the inspection report and was promptly sent one. It was a pretty barebone, simple 8 page report that consists of only pictures along with a short description.
All 3 photos literally said: "Matted carpet from tenant wear"
In their own inspection team's words, this is from wear and not any actual damages.
I made that known in the email, and their response was just refusal to acknowledge.
First of all: there is ZERO mention of a stain on the carpet in the inspection report, only that it is "matted from tenant wear", nor is there any single visual evidence of any stain. See my attached photos taken from their inspection report. (fyi, these are thick and plush carpets, the 'dark areas' are not stains, they are exactly like that in any unit and can be smooth over to the other side for a consistent appearance). I have never spilled anything on these carpets, not even water in the 2 years I lived here.
Secondly: it says, quite clearly, 'tenant wear' in their own inspection team's photos note.
Thirdly: Carpet matting in high-traffic areas and worn traffic patterns are textbook examples of normal wear and tear, not damage
So they bill me $527.18 to replace those with brand new carpets. Essentially making me pay for THEIR maintenance cost.
The second issue: countertop stains.
I don't know what material they use for their countertop, I think it is laminate (they refuse to elaborate), but it is very easy for colors to diffuse into - at least the one in my unit (not every unit is the same, some are older, some are newer than others). For example, if I place even a bag of Walmart with stuff in it on the countertop for 30 minutes to an hour, the blue and yellow colors typical of Walmart plastic bags will literally imprint onto the countertops and it will be quite difficult to get rid of unless acted almost immediately.
In some cases I could even see almost the whole word Walmart printing onto the countertop's surface. However if you don't catch them quickly and it sits, it gets difficult and almost impossible to clean off by hand.
That happened with one of the usual kitchen item, a Reynolds Kitchens Quick Cut Plastic Wrap from Walmart. I placed it on the countertop for pretty much in the same spot for the entire 2 years I lived there, and sure enough, the bottom blue color of the box imprinted itself on the countertop, which they billed me for (see photo).
I have literally never seen any countertops do this before. The choice of material they choose for their countertops that is very susceptible to color chemical diffusion is not a consequence of my choosing, therefore, I consider this normal wear & tear.
+$1,042.85!
I tried to politely communicate this to them, and whoever was on the other side gave me quite a bit of sass and attitude:
"Thank you for the response and opinion on our countertops."
Then refused to communicate with me further as their opinions are "final", subtly threatened me to pay or be sent for "further collections".
I am also pretty sure an entire replacement of the countertop for these 2 small stains, just to then bill me for it, is entirely overkill.
There are several recent reviews on Google & here with similar experience after they moved out. Stay away from this place.