From:
MissAustin
Date posted:
10/12/2007
Years at this apartment:
1998
-
2001
2 responses
After reading all of the good (and bad) reviews for this place, I just had to add mine. I lived at Gables Bluffstone (when it was part of the Gables community) from the summer of 1998 until the end of November, 2001. I found the management and the maintenance personnel to be exceptional - all excellent. During the time I was there, I incurred many rent increases, a flooded apartment (I was on the top floor), which flooded the apts below me, all from a defective toilet. At least the maintenance people beat me home and cleaned up the mess. Fortunately it was only water. Also, the very day I was scheduled to move in, there was a problem with the fuse box and I had no power or air conditioning. This was the summer of 1998, one of the hottest summers in Austin's history!
I moved out in November, 2001. I asked if I could break my lease since I had just renewed the lease a few months prior. I was told by the Leasing Manager that I could as long as I paid something called a "Reletting Fee". Even at $800 , I paid it to avoid the hassles and was gone before the last day in November.
When I arrived at my new home, I began getting disturbing letters first from Gables Bluffstone, then from a collection agency. I was told I was expected to continue paying rent on the apartment I vacated until new resident(s) moved in. WHAT'''' Anyway, I am not about to do this and consulted with an attorney who advised me to write and clear the matter up. I did that and heard nothing.
It is now more than six (6) years later and some outfit in Florida is handling the collection. Gables no longer owns Bluffstone (I wonder why...), and I have a $8,000 debt on my credit report! I have disputed this and they have ignored me too. They don't want to help even though they have been lied to by Gables Bluffstone. Don't make the same mistake I did. Hire an attorney and make sure they do a walk-thru with you when you move out. Don't trust anyone, especially Texans!
Recommended: NO
Overall Rating
Parking:
Maintenance:
Construction:
Noise:
Grounds:
Safety:
Office Staff:
I'm the author!
Lived here?
User Responses
From:
Anonymous
Date:
10/13/2007
The re-letting fee is only to let you break the lease WHEN they find someone to rent your apartment. It doesn't get you out of paying your rent. If you didn't understand what it meant, you should have asked more questions. It's basically a gamble...You can either pay your rent through the end of your lease, or pay the reletting fee and pay the rent through the end of your lease. I had this option as well but since I only had 2.5 months left on my lease it would have been a dumb gamble for me. I choose the other option they give and that is to find someone yourself to sublease. I felt lucky because a lot of complexes don't let you sublease. Broadstone not only let me, they financially screen the applicant for me. Anyway, the reletting charge is a pretty standard thing so you could have checked it out on google, through friends, an attorney, the management company, etc. Don't blame others for your own lack of diligence and understanding.
From:
MissAustin
Date:
10/14/2007
No, I understood perfectly. I specifically asked what the reletting fee was. I was lied to, pure and simple. The leasing manager knew why I was leaving (I had no money), and knew I was unable to pay rent. I wanted out so I would not be kicked out for non-payment. This is probably why Gables does not manage this apartment complex any longer. They knew whay kind of activities were taking place (there) and washed their hands of it.
As far as the reletting fee being a "pretty standard thing", that's baloney. I live in the Dallas area now and my lease agreement specifies a "transfer clause" which says I can break my lease if I should need to move. Other states like Pennsylvania, New York, and Arizona, have the same thing. People are not going to pay the remainder of their lease if they are not occupying the apartment any longer. That is just stupid. Saying that people do this on a routine basis is the dumbest thing I have ever heard!
Disclaimer: No attempt has been made to verify or assure the accuracy of the claims made by the author of this opinion or responses. You must judge the truthfulness of any review and accept responsibility for your use of this information.
I'm the author!
Free estimates on moving trucks
Free quotes on movers
