I lived at the Cumberland for almost four years, was treated very well, and was told that I was a "favorite tenant." However, when I moved out I received a bill for nearly $1000. They claimed that because of my smoking and a carpet stain (which I admit to) they would have to replace the carpet...and repaint the unit...and hire some "odor-guard" specialist to "desmoke" the unit.
Now, I've been renting my whole life, have smoked in each residence, and have NEVER been presented with such a bill. After four years of renting a place, I would expect the carpet to be replaced as a matter of course, and I would expect it to be repainted whether the tenant was a smoker or not. Plus, it's not like it is a "non-smoking" unit. I had heard that this had occurred with some other former tenants, but thought they would never do it to a "favorite tenant."
I called the office and was told that they know that "some places" don't pass on those costs to their renters...but it is their policy to do so. I mentioned that this is a very small town and absorbing that cost is a much better business policy than passing it on in terms of "word of mouth"...but they don't care. So...they leave me little choice but to pay them the money and to exercise my right to warn anyone who will listen.
***UPDATE- Look at the other reviews...this is common practice on the Cumberland's part. They make excuses without really addressing the real issue - which is that the carpet should always replaced and the unit should always be repainted if the renter has been there for any length of time...the renter should not be charged (regardless of a stain or anything else) for things that would have been done anyway!

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/15/2008
Next time: Steam Clean the carpet and use "smoke-be-gone" type airfreshners... they are what hotels use. And WORK!

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