California Realty Group Inc.

I am rejecting this response because:
[redacted]’s response to this matter is nothing but
half-truths, deflections, and false statements.
 
I am still waiting for a detailed accounting of the $250
charge for the front lawn (a conveniently round number). There were no bare
spots on the lawn, so re-seeding would not be necessary. Any alleged “dry
spots” on the lawn were due to the faulty sprinklers that they refused to
repair. As for the “planter,” we removed the weeds as requested. Interesting
how that area outside the front door was never a priority for anyone (including
the owners, who were apparently driving by regularly to keep tabs on the front
yard) until we moved out, and it then became a convenient way to deduct money
out of our security deposit.
 
I am also still waiting for an explanation as to why the
entire blind in the loft was replaced when it worked fine when we moved out. In
addition, I am still waiting for an explanation as to Mr. [redacted]’s lie about
needing to replace A/C filters every 3-4 months, when our lease clearly states
that filters are to be changed every 6 months. We changed all three in
February, so we should not have been charged for this. He is simply avoiding
those issues on which he cannot justify his actions.
 
In addition, I find it deeply troubling to learn that the
owners of the house drove by regularly to keep tabs on us. Regarding their
concern for the front lawn, their assertion that we stopped caring for it once
we learned our lease would not be renewed is absurd. That defies logic; we
became even more concerned about taking care of things for fear that we would
be cheated out of our security deposit (which is exactly what happened). This
is why we made continued requests to get the sprinkler system repaired, but
that request was continually ignored and/or refused.
 
As for the owners’ response regarding our lease renewals and
rent, that is irrelevant to the issue at hand. I resent the implication that we
should somehow be grateful that they allowed us to live in their house. We had
a contractual obligation to pay our rent on time (we did), and to care for the
property (we did); nothing else. However, we did not have a contractual
obligation to help them get their children enrolled in school, and this burden
should have never been placed on us. For the record, we never requested a lease
extension. Each time, they requested it, and each time, we were told by CA
Realty that “the owners really want you to stay.” As for the rent, it’s not our
fault that they chose not to raise it.
 
Regarding the other repairs, I’m happy to know that Mr.
[redacted] has some records, but he either does not have a full accounting of
requests or is refusing to provide documentation of our requests for repairs
that were denied and/or ignored. Proving that necessary repairs were made (such
as the A/C in 2015, after we had to threaten legal action to get this basic
repair made) does not mitigate their lack of professionalism in how they
handled the matter. At one point, they tried to claim that the owners could not
afford to fix the A/C. If a landlord cannot afford to make basic repairs to a
property, they should not be renting it out. Also, Mr. [redacted] is lying when he
said that we refused a same-day repair for the light fixture in the family room
last spring. My husband scheduled a time with their office, and no one showed
up. When he called CA Realty to ask why no one showed up, he was told that no
appointment had been made. He then contacted the repairman directly to schedule
a time. Dropping the ball on simple matters like this, and then lying about it
later, is part of the standard operating procedure for this company.
 
Mr. [redacted] is also not being truthful regarding our rent
payment for January 2015. It was their malfunctioning online payment system
that caused the problem. [redacted] told me on June 19th that CA
Realty was forced to stop using it. In addition, the company incurred thousands
of dollars in fines (see here: http://www2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/displayonlinedocument.asp?filing=H04762SD)
and several of their agents had their real estate licenses suspended (see here:
http://www2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/pplinfo.asp?License_id=01938281
and here: http://www2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/pplinfo.asp?License_id=01012684).
These regulations and penalties came through the California Bureau of Real
Estate. Violating a state “law” versus a state “regulation” through the agency
that maintains oversight is a distinction without a difference.
 
The bottom line is this—we firmly believe that CA Realty has
been dishonest, unprofessional, and grossly unfair in how they handled our
move-out and the refund of our security deposit. They have failed to take any
responsibility for their shoddy business practices and negligent property
management. In addition, Mr. [redacted]’s claim that we caused damage to this
property is patently untrue. We are owed a full refund of our security deposit.