ComplaintsforKnutson & Associates

• Initial Complaint

  10/21/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am writing to file a complaint against Knutson & Associates and seek your assistance in resolving critical issues I've faced as a tenant.Background:I've been a tenant at 82-***********************************************************************, managed by Knutson & Associates, since August 3, 2023. During my tenancy, I've encountered unsafe living conditions, delayed maintenance, unprofessional conduct, and unaddressed health and safety concerns.Specific Concerns:Unsafe Living Conditions: Persistent mold, dust mites, and air pollutants have affected my health and led to my daughter's hospitalization.Maintenance Neglect: Despite timely rent payments, maintenance requests remain unanswered.Unprofessional Conduct: Unauthorized property access, code sharing, and privacy breaches have compromised my safety and well-being.Rent Reimbursement: My request for a $14,258.31 rent reimbursement remains unaddressed.Illegal Labor Practices: ***************************, Property Manager with Knutson & Associates disclosed the use of illegal immigrants for cost-saving cleaning, a clear violation of federal law.Additional Circumstances:My daughter has been hospitalized for severe breathing issues, requiring ongoing treatment from a pediatric specialist. We won't return to the property due to health concerns.Desired Resolution:I request your assistance for:Immediate Inspection: An impartial inspection by a health and environmental department representative.Timely Resolution: Swift action to address the hazardous living conditions.Rent Reimbursement: Compensation for the uninhabitable period.Privacy and Safety Measures: Ensuring tenant safety and privacy.Legal and Financial Remedies: Addressing physical, emotional, and financial hardships.Investigation into Labor Practices: An inquiry into the use of illegal labor practices.Conclusion:Your involvement is crucial in achieving a fair and ethical resolution. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.*******************

  Business response

  11/14/2023

  Knutson& Associates appreciates the opportunity to address the concerns raised by *************  Launched in ****, we are a family-owned business with an excellent reputation in our community, as evidenced by our 4.9 ****** rating, based on 161 reviews.  We manage over 200 vacation and long-term rentals and believe the key to our longevity and solid reputation is operating with ALOHA, which for us means being kind, respectful, and responsive towards our clients, tenants, and guests.  
  We are disappointed that ************ has chosen to portray our company in an unflattering and inaccurate light, because her demands for $14,258.31 in rent reimbursement and approximately $65,000 for additional expenses were not met.  During her 3-month tenancy, she notified us of an a/c unit needing repair and a small leak under the sink.  We immediately responded to both issues by hiring service providers. Unfortunately, ************ failed to allow these service providers access to her home on multiple occasions, which resulted in delayed maintenance and cancelled trip charges billed to our company. 
  ************ claims of unauthorized access to the property which she calls privacy breaches were landscapers doing their regular service as part of our landlords duty under the rental contract, of which she had notice when she signed the lease.  For the record, we respect the privacy of our tenants; therefore, we would never allow unauthorized access inside a tenants home. 
  ************ notified us on 10/18/2023 that her daughter was ill, and the doctors suspected that it was due to an allergic reaction from dust mites or another airborne contaminant. The home had been professionally cleaned just 2.5 months earlier and at the time, there was no indication of any health and safety conditions.  Upon ************** notification of a possible air quality issue, we immediately set up a mold inspection to occur on 10/23/2023. ************ filed the Complaint with the BBB on 10/21/2023, three days after notifying us of an issue.  We regret we were not given ample opportunity to assess the home, gather information and/or address any issue that might be discovered.  During our inspection, we discovered that ************ had removed a shower curtain allowing water to flood the bathroom and blocked ventilation by sealing windows up with tape. It appeared that ************ was actively attempting to cause a mold situation, that she hoped to profit from.
  We do not believe her making false claims, attempts at extortion, threats of legal action, and dragging a companys reputation through the mud is the best way to handle issues.  We have tried valiantly to find a workable and fair resolution for ************, which included granting her the opportunity to break her lease prematurely. Despite her unreasonable demands and threats, we wish her and her daughter well.
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩