R&E Associates, Inc.

I am writing to the Revdex.com regarding a local property management business, R&E Associates, which is located in the toen of [redacted], [redacted]. I was a tenant at one of their local properties and moved out recently due to harrassment and abusive treatment by other tenants in the development. I made the property manager, [redacted], well aware of this situation several times over the 2 years that I resided there, and instead of investigating these events, he chose to ignore my complaints and fell into the property gossip that was being lead by a group of section eight renters, that had nothing better to do than stand around outside smoking and loitering all day long. I informed him of their continuos loitering and harrassment, nothing was done to rectify my grievance. I have a list of specific situations, and I would be more than happy to speak with someone in person. I spoke with the president of this company and was also ignored by him.

Review: I own a condo in a complex that R&E manages for our association. Anyone considering hiring a management company for their complex should STAY AWAY from this company. I have asked repeatedly for a review of my account as I believe they have overcharged me. They have been quick to accuse me of breaking rules and then threaten to fine me unless I prove I have not broken a rule. For example I had an electric fireplace installed in my property that plugs into the wall and they accused me of having a gas fireplace that was not allowed. They advised me I would be fined daily until it was removed. I have complained about the upstairs neighbor for excessive noise leading to my tenants threatening to move out. Rather than assist with the noise they have threatened to fine me because the tenants who have moved out due to noise have done so in a timeframe that does not meet the minimum 6 month rental period. These people are a joke.Desired Settlement: I want my account reviewed and credits issued. I want the company to address the noise complaints upstairs that start early in the morning and go well into the night.

Business

Response:

This owner asked for a review of her account and one was performed immediately. It was determined that interest was charged on several charges in error. This was immediately corrected and an updated statement was sent to her. This owner has habitually fallen behind in their monthly condominium fee and each time is unresponsive to our direct correspondence to resolve. On several occasions we have been instructed by the Board of Directors of the association (from who we take our direction) to contact the associations attorney to assist in collecting the fees. This owner has also repeatedly violated the association rules relating to the rental of her unit. The Bylaws of the association clearly state that "No Unit may be leased for a term of less than one hundred twenty (120) days. A copy of each such lease or sublease shall be furnished to the Executive Board within ten (10) days after execution." This resident has violated both of these rules on several occasions and once again the Board of Directors instructed R & E to contact the association's attorney to resolve these matters. It is the legal fees related to all of the above items that this resident is disputing. It is a simple case of abiding by the association Documents that you agreed to when purchasing the unit.

In response to the statement that the owner was unjustly accused of having a gas fireplace, once again R & E was asked by the Board to send a letter of inquiry to the owner of the unit when there was a concern that a gas fireplace had been installed. It was no more than an inquiry.

The other issue mentioned is a noise issue. In 2011 the unit above hers was sold. The new owner did some renovations in their unit. Before work began notification was sent to this owner and her tenant that there would be some noise associated with this work and to please let us know if it got out of hand. The new owner also approached the tenant on several occasions to make sure that the noise was not excessive and was told that there was not a problem.

In conclusion, I would be happy to sit down with the complainant at any time to review their account. We have previously applied credits due to some small interest overcharges and do not believe that there are any other discrepancies. As far as the noise complaints, if we are informed of the noise complaints when they occur, and not several months later, we can contact the offending resident and work to resolve the issue.

As a property management company we take our direction from the Board of Directors of the condominium association. We don't make the rules and we don't get a vote. We merely carry out what the Board directs us to.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response submitted by the business and have determined that the response does not satisfy or resolve my issues and/or concerns in reference to complaint.

Despite my disagreements with R&E Associates over billing I have brought my account current in the past only to be given attitude that even though I'm current I've often not been current in the past. Their general attitude creates a lot of unnecessary ill will. There are too many friendlier companies who treat everyone with respect to deal with a company like this.

I have asked for a recent review of my account and was told to "pay up and then a review would be done". As for the fireplace I was informed by the property manager that she believed I had installed a gas fireplace and needed to prove to her that it was not gas. R&E is very much a guilty until proven innocent operation, hardly a friendly inquiry.

I believe I am being charged for penalties on documents that were provided within a certain period of time for my most recent tenant which I adhered to only to see penalty fees on the next statement for not providing those documents. I believe I am being charged for late fees on top of late fees and attorney fees rather than on just the condo dues. I believe the attorney fees they pass on are excessive and arbitrary.

I have repeatedly complained about noise coming from upstairs and have been told on numerous occasions conflicting rules for handling complaints. At different times they have said: 1. they will communicate with tenant, 2. I should communicate with tenant, 3. I should call the police, 4. there is nothing they are willing to do. R&E should have a consistent way to handle issues and ensure EVERYONE'S quiet enjoyment.

Business

Response:

In reviewing this owner’s account I see that since we took over management of this property in July of 2004 they have been current only one month. Over that period of time we have sent numerous statements. On five occasions a letter requesting a response within ten days to discuss their outstanding balance was sent. On all five occasions the letters were never responded to by the owner and thus we were instructed by the Board to turn the account over to the association’s attorney for collection. On three occasions payment plans were set up and not seen through by the owner. We have tried very hard to work with this owner over the last five and a half years with much difficulty. I say again that I am more than willing to sit down with this resident at any time and review their account to see if there are any discrepancies outstanding.

In the owners last response she claims that we are a “guilty until proven innocent operation” in regards to our handling of the inquiry into her installation of a fireplace. Here is the exact wording from the email that was sent regarding the fireplace: “Also, it is my understanding that you may have a gas fireplace installed in your unit but had been denied permission by the board previously. Is there one installed?” This is a simple question asking for a simple response.

This owner has repeatedly failed to provide proper documentation on renters in her unit. Often times we find out from other owners that there are tenants in the unit and then we have to send repeated requests to the owner for the documentation.

The attorney fees that have been charged to this owner have been a result of her continued failure to respond to our correspondence. We make attempts to contact the owner in regard to past due fees as well as failure to provide renter documentation with no response. As a result we are then instructed by the Board of Directors to have the attorney representing the association contact her. We then hear from her and she is upset that we involved the attorney.

Regarding noise issues with the unit above hers, we have taken action on numerous occasions. One of her tenants reportedly complained of the noise that the previous owner from the unit above. We spoke directly to the owner above and asked if they could be quieter with their walking apparatus necessitated by their onset of [redacted]. When that owner sold the new owner decided to do some improvements to the unit. This was very well communicated to the tenant down stairs and the new owner checked in with them on numerous occasions to make sure that they were not being too noisy.

This building was converted from apartments to condominiums approximately ten years ago. Apartment buildings are typically not constructed as soundly as condominiums. These are also units with horizontal boundaries so sound transmission from an upstairs unit to a downstairs unit is expected. If this were a loud music complaint it could be more easily dealt with. Making a hammer quieter or asking an individual with MS if they can use their walking apparatus quieter are a little more difficult.

In closing I would like to state for the third time that I am more than willing to meet with this person to review her account and discuss any other issues she would like to discuss. As a management company we do not decide how a property is run. The Board of Directors makes the decisions and directs us in how to take care of issues. This owner needs to meet with the Board and discuss issues that she has with their policies. This would be a much more productive way to handle these issues than involving the Revdex.com and misdirecting her anger at the management company.

Review: Two summer's ago I hired [redacted]'s of R&E Associates to renovate, remodel and repair a cabin I had bought in [redacted], Maine. The work to be done was substantial [strip the walls down to studs, remove a partial wall, update the wiring, rewire and replace the plumbing. It was also agreed that a new bathroom and kitchen be installed, along with hardwood floors and tile floors. Any rot in the wooden frame would be replaced and the ceiling would be made into a slanted ceiling. New fixtures would be installed and new windows be placed in the kitchen along with a 4ft base board for heat. A ceiling fan, light fixtures, switches and a circuit board was also to be installed. The agreed amount for this project was approximately $9,000.00 their cost in labor and an additional $6,000.00 for fixtures, to be installed. I would either buy the fixtures and have them delivered, or they would buy the fixtures and I would reimburse them the cost, including pick-up. To date I find that the quality of the work that has been completed to be excellent by all standards. Unfortunately work in completing the project has been slow which is disappointing. The cabin is only 255 sq ft. Two summers have now passed and no end appears to be in sight. No completion date has been given when asked, and no updated invoices for services rendered or materials provided. Payments totaling $9,000.00 has been dropped off when requested, so payments should not be an issue. When I did address costs and the lack of work being done to complete the project in a timely manner [redacted] of R&E Associates assured me that he to would like to have this project completed and that an updated invoice would be forth coming by [redacted]. Three months have since passed and no effort has been made to complete the repairs, finish the project or send an updated invoice as promised. With winter approaching I have an unfinished cabin with exposure to the outside elements. I'm now at a loss for answers and an attorney ready to send a letter holding them liable.Desired Settlement: I would like my e-mails addressed in a timely manner, an updated invoice explaining cost of repairs completed, services rendered, payments that have been received and a cost estimate for the work to be completed. I would also like a completion date set and whether work to complete the project will be extended into the fall season when the complex is shut down. My requests are simple and reasonable and I see no reason why the e-mails I have sent have gone unanswered!

Business

Response:

This is being handled by the owner of the company and Legal.