Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  09/20/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  the owners of the duplex told us to sign the lease before anyone else so we can secure the unit, but because someone was still living there we were unable to see the unit we were agreeing to. the owners forced us to turn on water and electricity before our move in date. due to the property not being what was told to us, they offered a refund of the $750 we paid. now they are refusing to send the refund as promised twice. we never moved in, never used any electricity or water, and now we are out the $750 plus the water and electric they used in that time frame.

  Business response

  12/08/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/09/22) */ No one forced anyone. Mrs. ********, was shown the duplex next door, and was told that the floor plan on all the duplexes are the same, only difference may be the flooring or color of kitchen cabinets. We simply said that the duplex would most likely be rented before the current tenants move out. It was their choice to go ahead and sign the lease to secure the duplex and make a $750. deposit. After they signed the lease and when we were going to start working on the duplex we asked if they would kindly turn on the water since it would be minimal water used to clean; but that we would turn on the electricity, which I turned on the electricity, but she decided to turn it on also and superseded my connection. Unfortunately, when she came to see the duplex, she did not like the greyish-blue carpet in the upstairs bedrooms. A week later, we offered to change the carpet, but then we were told she really did not like the stairs because of their child. Most recently, she informed me that the living room was smaller than what we showed herwhich this is not true because again they are all the same floor plan. In fact, the unit she was taking, which was told to her, did not have a fireplace but instead had a big window which makes the room look bigger. She at the time liked it because having an infant it would be better. Normally under the law, Mrs. ********, would have been accountable for the full deposit and 1st month's rent at a minimum for backing out. However, we were counseled into not return the $750, because she changed her mind after signing the lease and we had taken the duplex OFF the market and lost our window to rent. We also gave them a refrigerator, which we took to their storage unit while the duplex became available for move-in; which she has now refuses to return unless we give her back the $750. We then said go ahead and keep it and sell it if you wish. We feel we have gone above and beyond to make Mrs. ******** happy, but the truth is she changed her mind and she should not get any deposit back. We always try to make people happy. After further consideration, counsel, and the loss of rent we have incurred by trying to make her happy and taking the duplex off the market for her signed lease, we should not return her $750. We are being nice by not making her be responsible for the full amount of the lease. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/09/22) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) The owners of the unit offered the full refund once we found out the unit was not what we were promised. This is because they knew they were being deceitful - as proved in my previous messages provided. Then again, two weeks later, she again promised the refund and assured me she "keeps her word". Now, almost 30 days after stating we would be receiving the refund TWICE, they are refusing to hold that agreement. Here is more proof that they asked us to turn on the water AND electricity - as you can see there was a problem turning on the electricity since the previous tenants were behind on the bill. She even provided as screenshot of her message to the previous tenants stating we were trying to turn it on! There is nothing but lies and deceit from these property owners. We should not be held liable for anything, as we never moved in, never used electricity, never used water, and the refund was OFFERED to us after we refused to pay $650 to replace carpets in a unit we have never lived in. There was never a point where the manager stated they would turn electricity on, in fact the opposite.

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