Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  12/12/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I am writing this complaint which took place on December 6, 2023, at the management office of Sophie Plaza apartments located at ***********************************************************. I am active-duty Army, and I am currently on orders to conduct a government move to my next duty station. I received my orders on December 5th, 2023, and went to the office on December 6th, 2023, to conduct a move out appointment of my apartment. I am fully aware of the lease and that it states on page 7 that there is a 30-day written notice required for moving out of Sophie Plaza but that was not possible to achieve as I received my orders after the first of December. I have spoken to three members of the management team and one of whom I verbally spoke to on November 30, 2023, regarding my orders and move out date. She informed me to fill out the move out worksheet and when I receive my orders to come back with the full packet. I was not told that I would have to pay next months rent of January ****. When I returned to the rental office on December 6, 2023, a different member of staff sat me down in the office and notified me that because I turned in my 30-day notice on December 6, 2023, I would have to pay for the next month's rent of January ****. My move out date is December 21st, 2023, and I have paid for the month of December in full and asked if my rent would be prorated. Sophie Plaza informed me it would not be prorated and although I would turn my keys over to them on December 21st, I will still be liable for January ****s rent. The Sophie Plaza lease states on page 7 that all rent, cleaning, and/or repair charges will have to be paid in full upon termination of this rental agreement and I have met that obligation for the month of December, and they have a 500$ security deposit for any damages that might occur. I have met the terms of this lease and notified them within the timeframe I was allotted, and I am unable to locate the policy stating I am liable for the upcoming rent due if I am leaving December 21st. next month's rent cycle. I have emailed and talked to the management here to whom I get the same reply which is to look at page 7 of the leasing agreement. I have gone to Fort Wainwrights housing office which is partnered with multiple apartment agencies to help soldiers rent apartments and they informed me that if I were to pay for ********* rent and Sophie Plaza allows another tenant to move into my unit that they will be collecting two forms of rent payment and that is illegal. Fort ********** housing has tried to contact Sophie Plaza several times regarding my account, and I have given them full access to ask questions on my behalf. Sophie plaza has not been helpful with their responses to me or the Fort ********** housing office. As a ************* Army Soldier, I have a high-level clearance I must protect for my career, and I do not want to lose my clearance because of Sophie Plazas inability to accept my notice to vacate on 21 December 2023 or comply with SCRA which is federal law. All I am requesting is an exemption to their policy.

  Business response

  12/13/2023

  Attached is the rental agreement signed by **********, her notice of termination by resident and the two pages of her PCS orders that were provided to us. I spoke with ***** at Fort ********** ****************** at *************. ***** let me know that ********** had already cleared Fort **********, meaning the soldier had know she would be PCS for a while now and could have turned in her 30-day notice of termination at any time prior to. As you can see on her rental agreement she would usually be responsible through June 30, ****. In accordance with the Service Members Relief Act. We are dismissing the remainder of the lease, but the resident is required to give a full calendar month notice. Meaning if a notice is given on any day other than the 1st of the month they are responsible through the following month. I believe ********** is worried about this negatively impacting her rental history or credit. This will not negatively impact her in any way unless the amount is not paid or a payment agreement is not entered into after January 31st, ****. We will do our very best to re-rent the apartment but cannot promise that that will be the case. If the apartment is re-rented before January 31st, ****, we will prorate back to Chereyelle the difference or stop the charges and send a new invoice. 

  Customer response

  12/15/2023

   
  Complaint: 20998965
  
  I am rejecting this response because: Speaking with ***** from housing has no importance in this complaint because she is only a Barracks and CNA Manager for Fort ********** sub housing. Your statement of me having cleared and that I knew I was leaving Fort ********** is actually incorrect and I will not clear Fort ********** until December 21st as I stated. Although I did receive a stamp from ***** at the off post/barracks housing department, that stamp only clears me from not living in the barracks and shows I have a zero balance for on post housing and my certified-non availability is cleared before I depart. As for me clearing Fort **********, I was brought up on orders in which I did not know would be effective in December or January timeframe as stated in my orders in the subcategory of special instructions. I am tdy in route for school and therefore I must leave my lease sooner than expected. Although I tried to get an idea of what that time frame would be for months that decision was ultimately not up to me. I have not once stated I am worried about any rental agreement negatively impacting my credit and your assumption of that is a biased opinion. I have stated that I came into your office on November 30th and was not allowed to set up a move out appointment without orders as your agreement states although I did receive a move out inspection work sheet that day and gave verbal notice to an individual there at that time.  I was informed by that person that I would also need a copy of my orders to be part of the packet. As soon as I received orders, I immediately came to your office to set up an appointment. I was informed by ******** of the military housing office on December 14 that I would only have to pay a prorated rent from January 1st to January 5th although I have paid for the rent of December I should be prorated for the month of December as I am not staying the full month. There is an exception to every policy, my request is to be prorated for the month of December as well as receive my security deposit after all cleaning is deducted and the removal of next months rental fee due to circumstances, I did not have control over to provide written notice and orders as outlined in the rental agreement.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Chereyelle ********

  Business response

  01/05/2024

  We will not charge ******** and you should be receiving deposit outside of the cleaning charges. 

  Customer response

  01/11/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Chereyelle ********

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