ComplaintsforSierra Realty & Management LLC

• Initial Complaint

  01/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Sierra Realty has falsified charges on user accounts. They refuse to provide backup for their calculations. I have called the city and received copies of the bills which prove they have fraudulent charges on my account. This has likely impacted thousands of tenants for many years. When questioned, they threaten with eviction, even though the lease states tenant is only responsible for separately metered utilities. There have only been two billing cycles since I moved in November, yet Sierra has placed 3 charges on the account with no supporting documentation. Either they can adjust the amount, or we can proceed to arbitration and potentially class action, as they have likely scammed all of their residents.

  Business response

  02/22/2023

  Per the tenants lease he is responsible for utilities such as water, sewer, and garbage (service charge). As each of the 22 buildings only have 1 water meter per building, management takes the water usage and divide by all tenants in the building depending on square footage. This is the way the buildings were designed.  The tenant claimed to have received a copy of the bill from the municipal, we can confirm this is not true as our name is on the bills not the tenant as the units are NOT individually metered. We have explained this multiple times to this tenant, and he is currently the ONLY tenant not paying his portion of the utilities. The charges will remain on the ledger as they're rightfully his expenses. If not paid we will move forward with removal due to non payment.

  We are willing to provide any proof requested by the tenant in this topic. We have all conversations noted regarding this matter in our system. Please see attached ledger for your review

  Customer response

  02/28/2023

  
  Complaint: 18943643
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  My lease says I am responsible for "separately metered utilities" key word, separately. Sierra conveniently seems to leave that word out, or they do not understand it's meaning. Lease is attached, see paragraph on the very top page. Attached image highlighting it as well.

  
  

  In addition, I refute Sierra's claim that I did not receive bills from the municipality, and attach proof to falsify their claim, once again.

  
  

  They also claim to divide out the charges, but refuse to provide the calculation behind it. If they can backup their claims they should do so, however, I believe they cannot.

  
  

  As you can see in their communication to BBB, they threaten with eviction when they are challenged, which is illegal.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

  Business response

  02/28/2023

  We will be communicating with the ****************** as the invoices are in the name of Sierra and should not have been shared. Regardless we have nothing to hide. Each building is separately metered. We have 22 buildings and 22 meters. Please see below where we indicate that on the lease and the tenant by signing the lease acknowledges this information.

  Per the lease provided by the complainant on page 6 number 4 it says the following:

  4. UTIITIES. Utilities and services shall be paid for by the party indicated in the lease. Tenant hereby acknowledges that Landlord, or the
  person authorized to enter into this Rental Agreement on Landlords behalf, has fully explained to Tenant the utility rates, charges and
  services for which Tenant will be required to pay, other than those to be paid by Tenant directly to the utility company furnishing service.
  If Tenant fails to put appropriate utility in Tenants name by first day of the term and Landlord receives a bill for those utilities, a service
  fee will be assessed by Landlord. Tenant shall reimburse Landlord promptly for any utilities due from Tenant to Landlord. 

   

  It clearly states "Tenant hereby acknowledges that Landlord, or the
  person authorized to enter into this Rental Agreement on Landlords behalf, has fully explained to Tenant the utility rates, charges and
  services for which Tenant will be required to pay, other than those to be paid by Tenant directly to the utility company furnishing service". 

   

  This means by signing the lease the tenant acknowledge the information regarding those utilities, charges and services owed to the landlord by the tenant other than those paid directly to the utility company. He signed the lease (which he provided), therefore acknowledging the additional charges and service fees assessed. 

  The utility charge he provided is for the entire building. Not specific to his unit. Charges are broken down per sq. ft. of the building as there is NO WAY of knowing the tenants actual usage amount due to each building having one meter. In addition we only charge units that are occupied, we do not charge units that are vacant. 

  Based on the documents the tenant provided, I am not sure what more needs to be discussed at this time. This is the way this complex has always operated, the City knows this, and we have never had any issues prior to this complaint because page 6 #4. If the tenant had any questions about this, the responsibility to gain clarity was the tenants'. 

   

   

  Customer response

  03/03/2023

   
  Complaint: 18943643
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  If Sierra has nothing to hide, they can share the calculation behind the charges on my account, plain and simple.

  I don't believe they can, and I believe they have been fleecing tenant accounts for as long as they've been operating. I already proved they were fleecing mine.

  How did they arrive at 5 months of billing when they city has only issued 3 billing cycles since I moved in...?

   

  Per their attachment, they charged me for usage from 11/1/22-11/30/22. First, I moved in on 11/12/22. Second, that doesn't agree to the usage period on the bills.

  I am very clearly stating here that Landlord has NOT "fully explained to Tenant the utility rates, charges and services for which Tenant will be required to pay."

  If Sierra could go ahead and do that, we could close this matter out.

   

  Or, Sierra could adjust my account by the amount I requested...I would agree to pay $20/mo for water & sewer + $8/mo for trash + their arbitrary $4/mo service fee for a total of $32/mo.

  If Sierra finds this alternative agreeable, they may adjust my account to reflect the appropriate charges, and we could put this to rest.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

• Initial Complaint

  07/18/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have had a rodent living in my kitchen wall for about 1 month. At first the management company thought it was a mouse and sent a extiminator (who was certain it was a mouse) out and they put poision behind the wall. A week later the scratching noise began again, and I complained again. Sierra Management has been making excuses and dragging their feet. I called a few exterminators and they told me that a condo is a commercial building and that the mgmt company had to call. ****** (our rep) didn't believe me that a company won't talk with a home owner. The squirrel which makes noise almost every night is scratching something. A few weeks ago, I saw the squirrel poke his head out of a small space near my exhaust fan for my stove. I quickly put up more ******** wrap and something to hole it in there. I am told by the exterminators that they have to find where the squirrel is coming from because it has been coming and going for about 1 month. I told Sierra Mgmt that there were NOT going to put poision behind the wall again, as this squirrel has to be lured out and set free. I am tired of them acting like this is no big deal. Our condo has 18 units and I am the only one that hears the noise. Except for a month ago, my neighbor heard scratching and since they were renters I told them to contact the owner and have them call the management company. When I mentioned this to ****** at Sierra Mgmt, she said that they never called to report it and therefor it doesn't count. I guess if one of the units in the building have a raging fire, I shouldn't call the fire department, becaues I am not the owner.

  Business response

  08/03/2022

  This is a condo association that is ran by a board of directors. ***** knows this as she used to be on the board up until a couple of months ago. She has had an issue with an animal in her walls for a couple of months. We informed her to contact an exterminator and provide a report of what needs to be done to determine who's responsibility it is to correct. As this is an association, not a residential rental, financial responsibility is determined by cause of issue and location. To date ***** has never provided this report. We have sent contractors out to see where the opening is that is allowing access to the rodent, and to date cannot determine how the squirrel is getting in her walls. In regards to the statement about the renter hearing a sound. My response to ***** was have the tenant contact their landlord and the landlord put in the complaint. Never said it doesn't matter because their tenants. However we are NOT their landlord, we manage the common elements of the property not individual owners or their units. 

   

  Customer response

  08/16/2022

   
  Complaint: 17583738
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  
  

  To:"Better Business Bureau" <**********************************************************************************************>

  Need to Reopen this case. 

  
  

  Per my conversation with a representative at BBB, I am requesting that this complaint be reopened.  Realty Mgmt stated that I did not provide them paperwork for this.   I sent them the information regarding what the Pest Control Companies i called said.   I have sent them detailed emails regarding the squirrel issue.   In the beginning, they sent an exterminator out because they thought it was a mouse.    The *********** Management came out on June 2 and told me that he was 100% certain it was a mouse and set poision behind the stove in the wall and near my furnace.   Needless to say it was not a mouse.    I have addressed this concern aggressively but nothing has come out of it.     We have no "official form" to report such incidences.    My emails should have be sufficient, if they were not, I was not informed.   The places I contacted were Animal ****************** (they don't come out unless the squirrel gets into my unit) -  Kritter Control ***************) & Human Wildlife *************) and Terminix who all stated Condos are commercial buldings and we only talk to managment companies not individual homeowners.  I informed the *** and *********************** of Sierra Mgmt of this.     In light of that these companies will only talk to mgmt, I thought that mgmt would then proceed.  I have recently sent an email to the *** asking if one of them can contact the pest control office since I am just a homeowner. 

  
  

  In reference to my neighbor I told them to contact their landlord and have them call mgmt.   I am under the impression that they did not.    I asked my neighbor in 1A if the noise had stopped and they said yes. 

  
  

  I cannot control what people do or not do regarding an issue, all I can be in control of is me.  So I reached out to mgmt and the *** about my issue.   

  
  

  Sierra Mgmt indicated that they sent contractors out to see if they could find the entrance way, and they could not.  I am not sure if contractors are trained in this expertise or  not.   

  
  

  Thank you.

  ***************************

  5825 **************** 1B

  *******, **  60630

  ************

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

  Business response

  08/16/2022

  ***** is an owner of a unit. This is not a rental property where management has control over spending. The board has to approve a more aggressive approach and the costs. This matter should be closed because there is not much more we can do.  

  Customer response

  08/17/2022

   
  Complaint: 17583738
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  The management is responsible for this.  ********* has known about this for 3 months.   It was suppose to be vote on at the last meeting.     I don't know what the issue is.    This has to be taken care of.  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

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