I have been a tenant since July, 2002, and like the young couple who also are dissatisfied with the service, staff and some physical aspects of their apartment, I feel I am in an awkward position. There aren?t many nice apartments around and I had to make a quick choice. Regretfully, I wish I had known about this site before and could have shown it to the realtor.



Here is a condensed version of a letter I sent to the owners, a building company based in Pittsburgh. Both the management and owners refused certified letters of my complaints. The letters were written after I had personally contacted the manager and tried to reach the builders.



The letter begins, Dear Sirs: I have been a recent tenant in Briarcliff Manor. I discovered that several items need attention because they affect my well-being. The most serious problem is that my apartment has a lower-level entrance and there are concrete steps going down to the lower level from the roadway and sidewalk. These steps are placed approximately 3-1/2 feet apart and one of them is longer, with approximately an 8-inch drop. There is lawn alongside the steps and there are electrical facilities on the wall of the building on the right side of these steps.



There wasn?t a guardrail until I had made a considerable noise complaining. Because I sometimes work late, I fell on the steps because, not only was there no guardrail, but a light at the foot of the steps has been out since I moved in.



Just the other night, I was returning home from a hospital visit and, even with the new guardrail, fell again because of no light. I think this is a distinctly hazardous situation and I intend to inquire whether it violates Village of Bethlehem or City of Wheeling safety codes. The one light should be repaired and kept in working order and I have requested that another light be placed in front of my apartment. The management was installing some new lights and I requested one more. Nothing has happened since this request about a month ago.



A second problem is the door to my apartment. It appears to have been previously damaged and the doorjamb has been repaired on both sides but hasn?t helped any.

The screen door closer is missing, presumably because there is so much wood damage that they cannot install a new screen-door closer; therefore, the screendoor has to be manually shut. More seriously, trying to close the entrance door to the apartment requires brute force. I have had at least one complaint from my neighbors that the noise of my trying to close this door creates a disturbance in the early AM when I have to leave for work.



Because of the poor condition of the locking mechanism, I would request that the entire unit be adequately repaired or replaced and include a deadbolt lock, as I feel the door can be easily forced or opened with something as simple as a credit card.



I have asked and then complained to the office manager about these matters--the guardrail, broken, inadequate lighting and a useless door. A guardrail was installed and it might be because I used the word "lawsuit." I was told I was responsible for my own deadbolt and its installation.

This office is supposed to be open from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The personnel in the manager?s office most often wander in around 9:30 and are gone by 3:30.



Even though I have had friendly discussions with the office manager, her only admonition after I started complaining was to pay the rent on time "or else." I don?t know what this expression infers but it is not a good way to foster good consumer relations. I would request the office hours be maintained as posted and the manager process and respond to complaints. I have talked with two other persons in the complex and they said basically what I have: multiple complaints about the light being repaired over the last six months and no response or action.



Finally, I find this apartment adequate for the amount of time I have to work in Wheeling. The area is pleasant and close to my work. However, I intend to get my requests taken care of, either on an adversarial or civil basis.



One other item troubles me. I keep my small apartment clean, but it has cockroaches. I have killed several and have asked for pest control.



I am a senior citizen in the medical profession and have lived in many different areas of the United States, both in houses and apartments. In all of my personal residences I have maintained a clean, safe environment. I expect no less in a rental apartment, even though this is a small unit and on the low end of the rent scale. The fact that it is in the middle of an upscale neighborhood makes it appealing.



Both the office manager and building company have refused to accept my certified letters. The office manager insists she never received any. However, I have received a "failure to accept" notice from both her and her employers.



If I were looking for an apartment in Wheeling, I would look more carefully for one that honors its tenants? requests/complaints.



Sincerely,

< Burrows

As of September 12, the defective light has been repaired, and with the railing installed, the steps to my apartment are now safe. The grafitti on the brick wall outside my apartment has been cleaned.

However, I've had to repair the screen door closer myself which involved replacing part of the door frame.

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