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Security Deposit Scam |
Current rating: 0 |
by Ellen Eberhard
Email: elleneberhard (nospam) yahoo.com (verified)
Phone: 0064-9-5228967
Address: 87-2 Waiatarua Road Remuera Auckland New Zealand |
09 Nov 2004
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A conflict of interest between a property management firm and the company it hires to do repairs affects the ability of tenants to recover their security deposits. |
I would like to bring to your attention a conflict of interest between a property management company and the firm it hires to do repairs which has affected my ability to recover to my security deposit.
I rented an apartment from PPM for 4.3 years. Although I was a good tenant and although I left the apartment in good condition, they kept my $435 security deposit, $10 in overpaid rent, and charged me for another $31. To my surprise, they said they had to replace my kitchen counter because there was a burn on it. I contacted the current occupant, who had moved in hours after I moved out (which would explain why they didn't choose to repair the moldy carpet). The current tenant was in the apartment when the hired worker came to examine the “damage” to be repaired. The worker commented, “Looks like the management has it out for someone.” PPM has sent me photos of the “damage,” and it's a light brown discoloration, just as I remember it. My lease accounts for “regular wear and tear” and if this doesn't qualify, what does???
Why would PPM make such an unnecessary repair? Because the contractors who do the repair, Bash & Schrock, are owned by the same people who own PPM. This is a conflict of interest which provides incentive for PPM to invent “repairs.”
I have since moved to New Zealand, where security deposits are held by a governmental agency. The landlords have to appeal to the agency if they wish to keep the deposit, which helps to avoid this type of scam. This has the additional effect of landlords asking for lower security deposits, commonly only one or two weeks rent. |
This work is in the public domain |
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Re: Security Deposit Scam |
by Altazor
none (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
09 Nov 2004
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Reason #512 to tell your landlord to go to hell.... AND SQUAT!!!!!
.....Reason #1028 for REVOLUTION!!!! |
