Duval Westside Apartments

I have lived at this residence for 2 years. Right after signing my second year lease in 2019 Duvall transitioned in as the new owners / management of the complex. I decided at the end of 2019 my roommate and I would not be renewing our lease due to the difference in ownership as well as other reasons. Once given our 60 day notice to vacate at the end of the lease, our schedule move out date would be March 27, 2020. In the end of Feb my mother had 2 minor strokes so I then proceeded to purchase a storage unit to move my things in case I had to temporarily relocate. However, the obvious happened...COVID 19. I was then laid off from work only receiving pay for a certain time period. On March 13, 2020 I called the leasing office to inquire on if things got worse what would happen with our move. Terry in the office was helpful, the said " that is a very good question" and asked a manager, they stated that no-one had signed a lease for my unit and that it was technically still vacant. She let me know that it was possible to extend the lease. On Monday March 16, 2020 I got worried after seeing things such as school closing extension and " no eviction " statements from the governor. On Tuesday March 17, 2020 I was then release from work with limited pay so I then proceed to contact the leasing office again. I was inquiring on what should be done and what the rumor was about " no rent" and the statement of no evictions. I then spoke to I believe it was Robin. She let me know we could sign a month to month lease but at that time it would be our monthly rent rate plus $300 MTM rent fee. I then discussed this with my roommate and then tried to call back again at a later date. On Friday March 20,2020 I spoke to Robin again and she let me know that we could sign a 3 month lease as this was something new they put together due to the COVID 19 situation and that it was something that wasn't available previously. With not working and not knowing when we were going back to work, signing another lease term wasn't necessarily something we both could afford at the time. On Saturday March 20, 20020 I was able to get ahold of and speak to the Property Manager, Muriel and she let me know we could extend the lease for another month however we would just "pay our current rent rate, and if we needed more time after that we would go from there". She said she would change the date but I remember specially asking her to "wait until I talked to my roommate so I could relay the information before just locking in a new date or lease and having to pay the monthly rent " either way. Things got worse and on Monday March 22, 2020 the Maryland Governor set in place more extensive plans to stop the spread of the virus and starting shutting down other businesses etc. Both my roommate and I were still out of work, and still had no knowledge as to how long we were going to be out of work with or without pay. I called corporate for Sage Venture LLC who owned the ocmplex and asked if there was someone else to speak with and I was in contact with the HR manager as there wasn't anyone in their "front office' I let her know my concerns and she never go back to me. By Tuesday morning March 24, 2020 I had called the courts to see if they were open to discuss what happens if things progressed and "moving " wasn't "essential", they were closed until April 6, 2020 at the time. I then spoke to Muriel again that morning and when I received her call I was asking if there was any possible way there was a week or 2 extension that we could have even at a prorated amount, she said there wasn't and that the month was the option she stated previously. I asked her another question about removing my roommate from the lease in the event she was able to still move. Muriel then let me know that and I quote " I believe I already changed your move out date" . I was surprised because our last phone call I asked her to wait to change anything until I talked to my roommate whom is on the lease. So she said " yes I changed went in and changed your date to April 3, 2020 " which gave us an extra week. Now, we did NOT discuss money, nor was anything signed stating I would be charged for the extra week. I also did not expect to be charged due to the fact she being the Property Manager, that she said " I just went in and changed the date" I was assuming and may be wrong to assume but that since both Muriel and Robin told me as well as the one phone call I had with corporate that I would NOT be able to stay week to week at a prorated amount, that this was something they did and not other billing would be added. On Monday March 30, 2020 I spoke to Robin again to weigh options on staying longer due to not wanting to move during the most critical time of this pandemic at the current point we were at, she let me know again the 3month term was it so I filled her in on what my last conversation with Muriel was as there wasn't communication between the two. She then let me know the rate of a 1 bedroom because I asked in case I needed to stay, but she also informed me that there was a bill for the extra week Muriel extended. I was confused since nothing was in writing nor was I even verbally told " you would still be billed or charged for this extensions." I then asked to have Muriel contact me because Robin said she would be contacting Muriel after our conversation. I had initially reached out to muriel as I have her email but Robin is who responded via a phone call. That whole day went by and I heard from nobody. On Tuesday Morning March 31, 2020 I emailed Muriel again and called the office. I wanted to speak with her at this point due to my concerns of the bill I was just told about the day before for over $200. I didnt get a phone call until 4 pm that day. Muriel then told me that " we never discussed money " and " if I couldnt afford the rates then I need to turn in my keys " . She also said " im here until 5 pm " by this time it was 4:13 pm and I wasn't going to be finished moving and cleaning the unit before having to turn keys in not even an hour later. I had already stated my concerns with the move and financial situation I was in at the moment. The entire phone call wasn't too pleasant. I was upset and crying at the end of the call, there was time I cut her off and she did the same, as well as me being able to hear her physically set the phone down which at first I thought she just hung up on me. I then mentioned should've recording my conversations with her and the staff each time to which she said " oh we record all calls' so I asked for her to listen and let me listen as well. We got off the phone and I called corporate. I explained everything I just previously explained here to the lady and she apologized and took a message for the Regional property manager. However, she told me she doesn't believe calls are recorded. I still hadn't heard anything form the Regional Manager by April 1, 2020 and ended up turning in my keys to the leasing office at 4:59 pm that day. I then finally received a call less than 2 minutes from turning in my keys, it was the Regional Property Manager in the office with Muriel. He started the call off assuming I asked for an extension because " I was having trouble booking UHaul moving truck" and I let him know I had already made proper moving arrangements and needed extension due to COVID 19 and being out of work because of it and not being finically secure for another month or even 3 month term lease. I explained everything above to him and he wasn't helpful and customer service was actually disheartening. As a resident of 2 years to this community, he basally told me " they did you a favor" but when I explained they did me a disservice to not allowing me to know I would be charged and already being financially stressed was what I was upset about. I wasnt given the opportunity to know what was being done to me a week later. I then felt pressured to move out and forced out once Muriel said " if you cant afford it I suggest you turn in your keys today". I wasn't expecting to stay for free however, we all know this COVID 19 situation is something totally different, & when she changed the date without me knowing right away, and not explaining the following bill, I thought they did this as a case by case decision and gave an existing resident some help by the week extra. The Regional manager told me how the President is sending stimulus checks and oh a new unemployment law may have passed but little did he know I work in VA. Whatever MD decides I have to follow VA labor laws and that didn't apply to me. I felt in that moment less than and belittled as he assumed I knew things he know but I explained Property management wasn't my career and they should've been more clear or put it in writing I would have to pay a remaining balance.I even took multiple videos of the apartment because I couldnt trust that they wouldn't try to scam me again. He also told me that same day or the next morning I would receive a bill for the days but still haven't received anything or I would've sent it to a lawyer and the governors office. He stated any dates beyond the 1st of the month I would be charged which this was actually April 1, 2020 when I turned in my keys but then said the bill would be about 4 day so I dont trust anything being told to me. I still havent received a bill and it is now April 9, 2020. I feel as if I shouldn't be billed nor should the remaining balance should be waived and removed and the full deposit returned to me and my roommate Shenicka Obrien one the unit passed the walk thru.

The Apartment complex is not giving me my correct discount. When I moved in I was told I would get the percentage of my military discount. However the gentleman that I was working with lied about the pricing and the leasing office is not doing anything about it.