Management Associates Inc

Review: Management Associates charged us with a late fee for our rent being in default even though we paid our rent on time. Before Septemeber 1st, I wrote a rent check in the amount of $900.00 to Management Associates for September rent. The check was hand delivered to Management Associates. According to my bank records the check was deposited by Management Associates on September 3rd and posted on September 4, 2014. The check was obviously delivered before September 3rd of 2014 since it was deposited into their account that day. On September 5th, 2014 Management Associates issued my fiance and myself a notice of default, informing us of a delinquent payment for rent. We were charged for late rent even though we paid our rent before September 1st. In our contract we have three grace days to pay the rent.

This is not our first problem with Management Associates and and late rental charges. Management Associates has not been able to effectively handle any complaints they have received. When we first signed rental agreements we were verbally briefed on late policies and told that the only way to avoid late fees was to have the check hand delivered or direct deposited before the the third of the month. The woman told me that even if it was pending deposit from my account before the third or if it was post marked before the third it would be considered late. However, in May of 2014, my fiance and I were both working out of town and realized that we would not be able to get our rent check in by the third because Management Associates was closed for the weekend. When we dropped off our late check with late fee the following Monday they had told us that if it was post marked before the third we would have avoided the late fee. At the time I felt that I was lied to on purpose in order for the business to obtain more late fees. If we were not lied to before we started renting we would have been able to easily send out our check and have it post marked before the due date. I tried talking to a woman over the phone to resolve the issues and requested a drop box for rent be posted for somewhere or a manager speak to me. Nothing was ever resolved or done. In response to the first incident I wrote a poor review on Google for the company. The Google rating for the company still remains a 1.6 out of 5 star.

These two incidents have caused myself and my fiance extreme amounts of stress. They employees of Management Associates do not have any interpersonal skills and have been ineffective in handling complaints. They are rude and remain unimaginative for solutions to problems they cause. If it wasn't for [redacted], the current home owner, we would stop renting from them completely.Desired Settlement: I would like a written formal apology from Management Associates for putting my fiance and I through numerous amounts of unnecessary stress in the short amount of time that we have rented from them.

Unfortunately, rental properties in Bozeman, Montana are nearly impossible to come by. This allows property owners and management companies to basically get away with anything. I am but one of many, many tenants and former tenants who have had negative experiences with Management Associates. They were only borderline bad a few years ago but now, under new management, they have devolved to the rank of slumlord.
Twice in one year they raised the rent at an 8-plex. After being asked why, they said they would be installing new windows, doors and siding. That was wonderful as nothing had been done in the many years we've lived there. Although their communication skills are lacking, we did get new windows. Their crew of "installers" (people picked up from the local [redacted]) left a huge mess behind and we had to call several times to get it cleaned up. Then the siding started.
After pulling off much, but not all of the old, rotten siding, they left. That's it. No good-bye, no see ya later. We've been living in a building with no exterior protection from the elements, just insulation between studs and plywood. For over a month. With an infestation of earwigs. Nails strewn throughout the yard. Awful. They came back once, tore off some more (but not all) of the old siding and put Tyvek in place over a portion of the building. They detached porch railings and left them in place with no warning so that several people have almost fallen through. We have no idea when or if this construction hell will end.

I was supposed to move in 10/14/15 and was asked to wait until 10/19/15. I arranged trash pickup, moving reservations, renters insurance, time off work, in order to accomodate this company. 8 years worth of grime on refrigerator...sawdust on the floors...gobs of hair...spiderwebs...I was told by Management Associates that in fact "you rented a dump" and that I just needed to note everything on the checklist. I guess that magic piece of paper was going to clean the apartment instantly without me having to change my plans. I see from others consumers that the security cleaning deposits are never returned because of their incredibly high standards used when someone leaves. Not a craigslist scam... Just a company that is exploiting a tight housing market and those who can afford to lose money...but not enough to afford legal assistance. I feel that I should have legal representation on retainer... I guess if you are in this situation of having to rent from this company... Then consider yourself an unpaid employee that pays to be their servant... God bless capitalism...a kinder gentler form of divine right.

Review: Management Associates broke the lease/contract we have. My deposit of $750 is currently not being fully returned even though I have done everything required according to the lease as of 9/4/13.The first initial check-out inspection I had a friend there as a witness. Him and I put in over 20 hours of just cleaning (not moving). During the inspection we were told the place was not clean enough. They cited dust on doors, inside washer gaskets and other minor, petty issues. We had 24 hours to reclean which we did with 4 extra hours of cleaning. We left the place much cleaner than when we moved in. We have sufficient video documentation showing how clean we left the apartment.I asked to be there for the final inspection and they did not allow this. They inspected without my presence therefore are able to say whatever they want without my signing off.The company also did not give me adequate notification of heavy construction they are doing outside the apartments. This caused considerable noise and air pollution, the reason I moved out. I would have moved out earlier if I would have known in advance if construction was going to be going on all day. It was loud during our "Quiet Hours" listed in the contract. I submitted complaints 3 times and the noise during "quiet hours" continued.Overall, this company has been very unhelpful, unfair and rude. I have filled my part of the lease, they have failed to fill theirs.Desired Settlement: I demand 100% of my deposit back which is $750 to which I am entitled to.I would also like to be compensated for the 2 months I lived their during construction which I had to 'deal' with the excessive noise and exhaust. I was not given adequate notice and therefore would have moved out 2 months prior.I appreciate your assistance to this matter.thank you,[redacted]