Southview Apartments

Review: This is the most recent email I sent to [redacted], the General Manager. It was sent on 11/17/13 and there has been no response. They are paying $1996/mo or nearly $24000 for the year.Hi [redacted],My daughter, [redacted], sent us a video of the leaking ceiling in their hall last weekend. This is NEW damage in addition to the bowing ceiling problem in the living room. Although, it is no longer leaking, there is a crack in the ceiling and when pushed, it moves; meaning it is still wet and soggy which suggests a much longer term problem. Clearly there is a bigger plumbing problem and my biggest concern is a potential mold issue with so much accumulation of moisture and water. With any kind of leak and/or water damage, it is imperative to stop the leak and bring in heaters with blowers into the affected area to completely dry it out within 24 hours to avoid mold accumulation/growth. In order to confirm there is no mold and remediate the problem, the ceiling should have been opened up, thoroughly dried and checked in accordance with professional standards. This was not the case.As for the bowing ceiling (i.e. cracked supporting joists), after reinforcing the support beams and drywall being replaced, the repair/maintenance person cut the vent hole too large so the vent cover was never re-installed. Now they have TWO cracks/holes in their ceiling and theyve only been living there for a little over 2 months. Also after the support beams were repaired and the ceiling was drywalled, the apartment was left disheveled, spackle dust coated everything and the carpet was not vacuumed, certainly not the condition it was in before the maintenance person completed their work. I believe the professionals are taking advantage of the situation. Secondly, was a state building inspector brought in to determine whether or not the fix meets current building codes?The girls have also complained about the carpet smelling like animal urine predominately coming from the living room. Even though the carpet was cleaned 10/11/13 per their request the smell is still there, just fainter. To have done this correctly, the carpet AND the padding should have been pulled up. The urine is clearly emanating from beneath the carpet. In fact, when they first moved in and walked on the carpet, their feet turned black. Obviously, the carpets were not even cleaned prior to their moving in so I have to question whether or not you actually did any type of maintenance prior to their moving in especially in light of us having to submit a report on 8/27/13 just a few days after their moving in (i.e. Lamp taped together, ceiling fan about to fall, hole in wall, holes/tears in the carpet, broken handle on oven, closet a/c unit flooding, no screen door leading to deck, shower head in bedroom D falling off wall, smells like animal urine, paint tearing in bedroom A), none of which was reported to the girls upon their arrival. As the responsible landlord, you didnt notice these things?There seems to be a clear pattern here where you are not keeping the facilities in good, clean, safe and sanitary condition. There are lots of patches but no real resolutions to the multiple problems. And it appears no one is using common sense to solve these problems nor adhering to any professional standards (i.e. building codes and inspections by the state). These young ladies are paying nearly $2,000 a month for this awful apartment! This is extortion when you can rent a home for less than that.The girls are doing their due diligence reporting these problems to you. They do not want to be a nuisance nor inconvenience you but feel they are not being taken seriously. Sadly, they should not even have to be in this position. If they werent communicating these problems to you, you would be looking at much more serious problem. In addition, they have not been told when these problems will be corrected. They certainly deserve a deadline from you so they are not living in fear for their personal health and safety. They feel like the apartment could collapse in on them at any time and we as parents know that mold impact on perfectly healthy individuals can be serious.Do we have to get an attorney involved to resolve all these problems? Do we need to withhold the rent until you completely eradicate the problems in this particular apartment? Do we need to contact Consumer Affairs? This is ridiculous that you take their health and safety so lightly; its unconscionable!Desired Settlement: Have building inspector check structure of ceiling and check for mold due to on-going water leak as well as complete all the repairs requested.

Business

Response:

December 9, 2013

Dear Ms. [redacted],

I am writing in response to complaint #[redacted] regarding South View Apartments. In response to the ceiling crack from water damage, my maintenance manager checked the ceiling and did a moisture reading today, 12/9/13. There is no water spot and the moisture reading was zero. When the support beam was put in between September 24, 2013 and October 4, 2013 the contractors covered the floor and vacuumed when they left. Also, per the contract, everything was done to city and state codes with the proper permits and inspections as required. On October 11, 2013 we also had the carpet professionally cleaned. The carpet was also professionally cleaned in August 2013. I do apologize that Ms. [redacted] is unsatisfied with the level of customer service she has received from South View Apartments, but I have made every effort to respond in a timely matter to any and all maintenance issues that have arisen in the apartment and will continue to do so.

Sincerely,

General Manager

South View Apartments

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

I spoke with [redacted] @ Revdex.com today and explained that the only reason I contact the Revdex.com was because the Manager, [redacted], did not respond at all to my 11/17/13 email regarding all the repairs that we left unfinished. Once I filed a complaint with you, all the repairs were done with the one exception of replacing the carpet and padding. They did have the carpet cleaned in October however that has not remedied the problem of the strong smell of urine. Cleaning the carpet without removing and/or replacing the padding does not fix the stench of pet urine (from the previous renters).

Regards,

Business

Response:

Ms. [redacted],

I am responding to Revdex.com Complaint #[redacted]. I am currently out of the office on vacation for the holiday. I am requesting an extention until after January 2, 2014. I would like to visit the apartment again to evaluate the carpet and discuss the situation with my Regional Manager once I return. Please let me know if this is acceptable. Thank you.

General Manager

South View Apartments

Business

Response:

I am responding to Revdex.com #[redacted]. Upon inspection of the unit I found no smell of urine to be present in the apartment. However, I have received approval from my supervisor to replace the carpet in the apartment. I will work with the residents of the apartment as well as my carpet installer to get this scheduled.

Thank you,

General Manager

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

I spoke with my daughter today and they have not been contacted by [redacted], the general manager, or anyone from Southview about replacing the carpet – but more importantly addressing the padding which DOES smell like pet urine.

She also mentioned that when they came in to inspect the carpet, the girls pointed out the nails sticking up out of the carpet which were hazardous as well as all the holes in it. The management said they would take care of the nails but they have not so the girls threw throw rugs over the nails they wouldn’t step on them and get cut. Hopefully the new carpet will be installed correctly and the nails removed. However, as I said above, the management has not had any contact with the 4 girls who are living there to notify them that the carpet will be replaced (as [redacted]’s 1/9/14 response to you indicates) nor when that might happen.

Business

Response:

I am responding to Revdex.com # [redacted]. I responded on 1/9/13 that I would be in contact with the residents of [redacted] regarding scheduling the replacement of their carpet. I ordered the carpet from my contractor on 1/9/14. Since this is not when we typically do carpet replacements my contractor had to order the carpet, as he does not keep it in stock. He told me he would contact me when it came in and we would schedule an installation date that worked for everyone. The carpet still has not been delivered, therefore, I have not contacted the residents of [redacted] for scheduling. I was given permission from my supervisor to do a courtesy carpet replacement, however, I have to work with other contractors to provide the services needed. Also, in regards to the carpet padding, I have all padding replaced each time I have new carpet installed so that will be replaced with the carpet. I am hoping to have the carpet replacement for [redacted] scheduled within the next week.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

Regards,