Our family relocated back from Arizona for medical reasons. We are here for a kidney transplant. When we moved into the Berkshires of Columbia's two bedroom apartment unit instantly we became exposed to carpet that was loaded with a powdered carpet deodorant; so, obviously to cover up something that was already in the carpet before we occupied it. (When it rains it smells like animal urine and we don't have pets!) Also there was evidence that the carpet had been dyed. In every room the brown over spray still was on the lower walls.

Once we discovered this we attempted to vacuum it with our cleaners. The powder was so fine and overloaded that the sensors in our Electrolux machine stopped the vacuum cleaner from running to protect the motor. It is a patented design. We brought this to the property manager's attention what the carpet was doing to our vacuum cleaner and that we needed to take it to an Electrolux dealer to have it serviced to be cleaned out. Instead of replacing the carpet the manager had it steam cleaned twice. We had to remove whatever belongings that we had in the apartment for these cleanings in their attempts to extract this powder. Meanwhile, we left most of our items in storage which mounted additional storage expense for us.

Once it was discovered that steam cleaning did not work we were given two other options to either pay $892.00 for new carpet out of our own pockets or relocate to another apartment on property. This did not include reimbursment of our storage fees or the service fees of at least $150.00 for our Electrolux vacuum cleaner. Besides, looking at the shoddy renovation work here who knows what another apartment would reveal. This current management refused to replace the carpet so that we could gain stability to prepare for the availability of a kidney to be transplanted whenever the call should come.

The management is rude, uncaring, unfair and the lease contract is one sided. When medical documents were presented, they were discarded and even physicians' recommendations were ignored. When we attempted to complain to their tenant relations department we were ordered to cease communicating with management about the carpet via their attorney. We were again given the option to move out, cut our losses, forget about any reimbursment and hold them harmless. Does this sound like a nice place to live'

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/01/2009
No, it sounds like another lovely corrupt, gangbanging, drug infested, rude and crude place to live in Columbia, Md....you should have moved to the Gramercy at Town Center...been here for more than 6 years and still here and still loving it (that's only cause I have to live in Maryland though, otherwise...I'd be back in Florida where they know how to build things correctly and treat others!
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/09/2009
it is hard times and u got to do wat u need to do... sum people wouldnt care cus it gives dem a roof ova der head it would be perfect!!!

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