I had to comment on this one since I have problems of recent. This past week someone came in my apartment WITH A KEY. I was in bed with the door shut but my dog went crazy!! I went to the office to report it and this email I sent will explain alot:

Dear Property Manager:

I am most disgusted by today. This morning as you should be aware by now someone entered my apartment with a key while I was here! My husband and I are the only ones with a key except the office. I have filed a police report. The lady in the office reassured me throughout the day someone would come change the locks. I am sure if this was one of the staff's apartment it would have been done with much more haste. My husband and I called her several times and she kept saying they will be there soon. After sitting around most of the day (besides going to the police dept. to make a police report) I am pretty mad. I had plans of my own today that were pretty important; however, I sat around waiting. I have called after hours maintenance atleast 6 times from 2 different numbers to which they have not given a damn to call back. This could have and could still be a bad situation (rape, thief or murder) as that my husband is gone on the weekends and I am home alone. I would completely blame the apartment complex if something was to happen. I am tired of excuses of why this has not been done. Home depot is less than a mile away so obtaining a new dead bolt lock is not impossible. I would like you to know my husband has bought a new dead bolt lock to which he is installing himself tonight. I will give you the receipt and take it out of the rent. I have been a very good tenant and there is no reason for this at all to ignore these very important needs!!!

Also I would like you to know I have spoken to the people upstairs from us that he heard a telephone conversation of a previous employee in the next door neighbors apartment that stole his guns and pc. Please be more particular in whom you hire to enter these peoples properties.

I have been very upset all day as you can well imagine. I do not take it lightly someone has entered my apartment nor should you as it could have been your apartment. I would like a response to this email that is the least wood gardens can do. Also I would like to talk to the property owners. I am also sending a copy to the attorney I work for since this situation has exceeded beyond ridiculous. Thank you.

(The property manager at first called and said that I had never called...however she called me back after checking with maintenance and apologized..She has informed me the maintenace guy that ignored all my "emergency calls" had been fired)

Second Email:

You mentioned this morning that we did not call several times. I will be more than happy to pull both my husband's and my phone records from yesterday. It may take a little longer for my husband's as his phone is supplied by his work. I came down to the office twice, called atleast 2 to 3 times to the office, and atleast six times from two different numbers to the emergency maintenance number.

Please confirm that our lease is up in Jan. 09. How long does it take to get deposits back' They took one for my husband not having credit ("a just in case deposit), pet deposit (which is non-refundable), and another one for whatever reason. I needs to plan it out since you know that moving can be a hassle and that money would help. Thanks.

(She said she did not ever see where those where paid..but i brought the receipts and she would check into it for me.)

The new property manager is very nice and I believe she is sincere.

I have lived at this complex for almost 2 years. The only other problem is that my toilet in the master bedroom did not work (although paying extra to have that toilet). It took almost a year to fix. Matter of fact, the previous maintenance guy laughed at me when i said 'maybe they should hire a plumber if you cannot fix it' (this didn't make me happy). After a year they did replace it. I would send you all those emails; however, I think this has explained enough.

Also I have been reading other complaints and I will make sure to take pictures when I leave for my deposits since it seems to be a problem.

Oh, I saw the raccoon they caught. Poor thing was locked in that cage for almost 2 days and no one would come get him. I gave him water and threw food at him. Office was notified saturday but after sunday it was hot as heck. I WAS THE ONE WHO CALLED ANIMAL CONTROL.

Laura

User Responses
From: tickedofftenant52	Date: 09/30/2008
Thanks for your review, we are also having problems with management and are leaving. Sad is all I can say.
From: Anonymous	Date: 10/20/2008
I also had someone try to get into my apartment that had a key!! Thankfully I had the flip-over lock in place! I was up till 11 that night studying and got up at 6 when i noticed it was pushed open, so there was NO EXCUSE for it being one of the staff. Since that night, i have replaced the knob with a keyed entry knob and replaced the dead bolt and brought my dog from my parents house. I didn't bother telling the office about it, b/c in the lease it says if you add or change a lock, they must have a copy of the key. Bump that! The 500 pet deposit hurt, but I sleep at night at least. Its good to know that I wasn't the only one!
From: agent7	Date: 11/01/2008
Unfortunately, the way it works is this: all staff has access to the keys, and most staff tend to take advantage of the discounted rate one gets if they opt to live at the said company's property. Having access to the keys, office, etc. (without regard to time of day/night) would enable crap like that to happen (if there's a shmuck who's entered your place & thinks that way.) Larger companies run background checks, unsure of the smaller ones. Your best bet is...the LAST maintenance guy(s) to have entered your place should be first on the suspect list. It's TOO EASY TO BUY A CAMERA- do so & catch what else is going on, too & better yet- have the proof you need (if you're filming in your own home, it's legal to not inform others of the activity) & have a better likelihood of pressing charges. That's one of the things I hate about property management- the maintenance staff tends to be ...well....I'll let you be the judge. I don't like to stereotype but the same rule applies with construction workers. It's a given, to expect mischief more often than not. :( Sorry yall had to go through that!! Best to always call the police dept. of the county you're moving to BEFOREHAND. Ask how many calls have been made to _____(insert property here) Also, statistics on city data is available online and, of course...sites such as this. Do your research FIRST BEFORE YOU MOVE!!!! Visit the site AFTER 5 (and other odd hours, to see what the neighbors are up to) I wish I did that before moving to an apt. that had 20 people living above me (illegally, of course). Also, do a google maps search and view satellite so you can see any obvious problems (varying upon your preference)...example, I just saw a train track on one search I did...I personally don't want to hear trains- etc) Another property I saw, you could see the roof & what looked like HUGE areas of damage in the roof. I DOUBT those problems stay above the ceiling, you know??! Hope this helps! Having been in that field, I have to say the MOST IMPORTANT THING you check up on is the COMPANY the property is owned by. See what their GUARANTEES are...visit the corporate website. Maintenance is SUCH an important issue- find out how quickly they turn maint. requests...it should be within 3 days or sooner & they should give deductions on rent if the policy is not adhered to. Good luck!!
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/26/2009
Man You People Are Harsh!!!! It was probubly a matenence guy. They Probubly got the room numbers mixed up and he got the wrong key!!!!!

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