Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/18/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On June 11th, Barker realty, provided fictitious work order invoice. Invoice stated over 1.2k in excessive charges. Invoice is attached. Staff is rude and unfriendly towards paying customers.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/01/2024

  ************* and **************** came to our office on Friday, June 28, 2024 to speak with the Property Manager regarding the issues with regard to their Security Deposit and additional charges. I explained to them that I would review everything and get back to them. I reached out to them via email on June 30th to share that I had reviewed everything and that I felt they were overcharged. Their security deposit covered most of the damages with a balance due of $74.20. I stated in my email that I would waive this balance due to their frustration, therefore, the invoice that complainant attached to their complaint is no longer due. It will be credited back and their account will have a zero dollar balance.

  Thank you.

  *******************************, Broker-in-Charge

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/17/2022

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  We rented from this company for a year. Upon moving in we noticed a couple of issues. 1) we had no trash or recycling bins. 2) there were a few roaches in the home 3) the wooden spindles on the back deck were loose or coming off. They did not ever provide us with trash containers even though they said they must have been stolen before we moved in. We were promised an exterminator every 3 months that never came once. Also, we personally hammered in the wooden deck in the back for the safety of my children. You can even tell the difference between OUR nails put in which look new versus the ones that were there and were rusty. Our security deposit was $1300 and the company wants to give us $65 of that back. Another note they said was pet damage inside and outside the home. We NEVER had an animal at that property. Neither one of us have a pet. I feel this security deposit was just a way for them to better the property to ultimately receive more income on their behalf.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/23/2022

  Barker Realty, Inc. is addressing the complaint filed by a previous tenant that occupied one of our rental properties and disputed the handling of the security deposit for this property. Noted below are excerpts from this tenant's lease. These excerpts address her concerns related to extermination services, trash removal; pets at the property and any damage beyond normal wear and tear. The property was fully inspected at move-out and these items were noted on the move-out report and handled via the security deposit itemization letter. Charges were late fees for the months of May and June 2022; after hours tenant locked out of property; pest service for roaches; trash out of property; replaced broken blinds, repaired damaged laundry room tile; repaired broken spindles on back deck; repaired damaged moldings on inside and outside of property.
  

  1.16 TENANT'S OBLIGATIONS: 
  Unless otherwise agreed upon, the Tenant shall: (d) keep the Premises, including but not limited to all plumbing fixtures, facilities and appliances, in a clean and safe condition;(e) cause no unsafe or unsanitary condition in the common areas and remainder of the Premises used by him; 
  (f) comply with any and all obligations imposed upon tenants by applicable building and housing codes; (g) dispose of all ashes, rubbish, garbage, and other waste in a clean and safe manner and comply with all applicable ordinances concerning garbage collection, waste and other refuse;(h) use in a proper and reasonable manner all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and other facilities and appliances, if any, furnished as a part of the Premises; (i) not deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage or remove any part of the Premises (including all facilities, appliances and fixtures) (j) pay the costs of all utility services to the Premises which are billed directly to the Tenant and not included as a part of the rentals, including, but not limited to, water, electric, telephone, and gas services;...

  1.22 DAMAGES: 
  

  Tenant shall be responsible for all damage, defacement, or removal of any property inside a dwelling unit in the Tenant's exclusive control 
  unless the damage, defacement or removal was due to ordinary wear and tear...
  
  1.23 PETS: 
  Tenant agrees not to keep or allow anywhere on or about the Premises any animals or pets of any kind, whether on a temporary basis or 
  otherwise and whether belonging to the Tenant or anybody else, including but not limited to, dogs, cats, birds, rodents, reptiles or marine 
  animals, unless permitted under the terms of a Pet Addendum attached to this Agreement. Tenant shall be subject to a fine of $500.00for any 
  violation of this paragraph or of the terms of any Pet Addendum that may be a part of this Agreement, and Tenant agrees to pay any such 
  fine upon receipt of Landlord's demand therefore. 
  
  1.24 ALTERATIONS: 
  The Tenant shall not paint, mark, drive nails or screws into, or otherwise deface or alter walls, ceilings, floors, windows, cabinets, woodwork, 
  stone, ironwork or any other part of the Premises, decorate the Premises, change or remove any existing locks or add any additional locks, or 
  make any alterations, additions, or improvements in, to, on or about the Premises without the Landlord's prior written consent...  

  1.27 TENANT'S DUTIES UPON TERMINATION: 
  Upon any termination of the Tenancy created hereby, whether by the Landlord or the Tenant and whether for breach or otherwise, the Tenant 
  shall: (1) pay all utility bills due for services to the Premises for which he is responsible and have all such utility services discontinued; 
  (2) vacate the Premises removing there from all Tenant's personal property of whatever nature; (3) properly sweep and clean the Premises, 
  including plumbing fixtures, refrigerators, stoves and sinks, removing there from all rubbish, trash, garbage and refuse; (4) make such 
  repairs and perform such other acts as are necessary to return the Premises, and any appliances or fixtures furnished in connection 
  therewith, in the same condition as when Tenant took possession of the Premises; provided, however, Tenant shall not be responsible for 
  ordinary wear and tear or for repairs required by law or by paragraph 6 above to be performed by Landlord; (5) fasten and lock all doors and 
  windows; (6) return to the Landlord any and all keys, other access devices, parking and pool passes, garage door openers and other similar 
  items to the Premises and any amenities; (7) restore the level of fuel in any fuel tank used by the Tenant to its level as of the Beginning Date 
  of the Tenancy; and (8) notify the Landlord of the address to which the balance of the Security Deposit may be returned. If the Tenant fails 
  to sweep out and clean the Premises, appliances and fixtures as herein provided, Tenant shall become liable, without notice or demand, to 
  the Landlord for the actual costs of cleaning (over and above ordinary wear and tear), which may be deducted from the Security Deposit as 
  provided in paragraph 4 above. 

  2.8 TRASH AND STORMWATER 
  Trash for properties within City/Town limits will be picked up by the City/Town on a regular basis or by a dumpster service. Cost for 
  trash removal services is typically included with the water utility payment and is the responsibility of the tenant, unless noted otherwise in 
  the Lease. You must contact the City/Town to find out which days trash is picked up within seven (7) days of receiving possession of the 
  leased premises. All trash must be neatly placed out for the City/Town to collect it in order to comply with all City/Town ordinances for 
  City/Town Collection. Tenants shall comply with local ordinances regarding when trash containers may be put on the street and when they 
  must be removed from the street. By way of example, trash items may only be placed in containers and not placed on the street, particularly 
  furniture, and special loads may need to be arranged for items not fitting in the containers in most places. For properties outside of City/ 
  Town limits, trash collection may be a separate charge. The tenant is responsible for all costs of trash collection. Trash is to be placed in 
  plastic bags which are securely sealed and is not to be kept on the decks or porches at any time. Tenants are responsible for keeping the 
  trash picked up in the yard at all times so that the yard is neat and free of debris and trash. Most cities and towns also charge monthly or 
  quarterly fees for storm water management. These Storm water fees are typically included with the water utility payment and are the tenant’s 
  responsibility unless noted otherwise in the Lease. 

  • Extermination: Extermination is the responsibility of the tenant after the first seven (7) days of occupancy. Tenant is responsible for 
  keeping the premises free of infestations of roaches, ants, hornets, bees, mice, bedbugs, and other pests. Tenant shall be liable for and 
  shall pay for all pest control, removal, treatment, and/or any other cost associated with the presence or suspected presence of pest 
  infestation. 

  2.27 TYPICAL TENANT RESPONSIBILITIES 
  The following items are tenant responsibilities, but the same are by no means an exhaustive list of all tenant responsibilities: broken glass, 
  lost keys, key broken in lock, jammed disposals, stopped up drains, tripped breakers, overloaded circuits, replace burned-out light bulbs, 
  replace blown fuses, non-functioning heat or air due to clogged filters or no fuel, damages which are not normal wear and tear, no problem 
  detected as reported, and to keep the premises free from visible infestations of roaches, ants, hornets, bees, mice and other pests. 
  
  Tenants are responsible for any unnecessary service calls/repairs made due to tenant’s negligence or misuse. If tenant does not keep, 
  cancels, and/or fails to make any appointment to be home for maintenance or repair work, the worker’s time will be charged to the tenant. If 
  the tenant request repairs and the worker/agent is unable to enter due to extra locks or chains on the door not being removed or unlocked, or 
  due to any other restrictions to enter, the worker’s time will be charged to the tenant. The tenant will be charged for any and all service calls 
  to repair items that the tenant is responsible for maintaining. Such costs must be paid in full within fifteen (15) days from the date of the 
  request for payment. You shall not authorize any maintenance or repairs at the Landlord’s or Agent’s expenses. You will not be reimbursed 
  for any unauthorized repairs. 
  Tenant must maintain good housekeeping. Keep all porches, patios, balconies and front and back yard free of clutter, unsightly items, and 
  other personal articles. 

  Based on these lease terms and the move-out assessment of the property, Barker Realty feels that this security deposit itemization was done per our lease terms and that no refund is warranted to this tenant. We wish the tenant all the best in her future endeavors! Thank you.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/24/2022

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  1. We have had NO pets in or outside the home. We have neighbors that can verify this as a witness that they have never seen an animal with us. 
  2. The property manager changed and everything we were told from our old property manager is on an old telephone number of mine which I will go through the process to recover those messages if necessary. 
  3. The spindles were broken at time of move-in we personally used our own tools and nails to fix them for the safety of my children. The nails WE put in are visually noticeable because they are new and shiny opposed to the rusted nails that the property originally had. 
  4. I agree with the blind damage, there were two broken ends of two single blinds. 
  5. At move in the fridge had a broken shelf that WE ourselves fixed as well. The broken shelf was written on our move in damage list as well. It is now not broken thanks to us. 
  

  We put our own work, time, and money to fix things in this home when we moved in that actually benefits the company as well. 

  I disagree the amount for the “damage” done is as much as stated. 

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

  Business Response

  Date: 08/24/2022

  Thank you for your reply to our response. At this time, Barker Realty does not have any additional information to provide. We stated all the necessary information in our previous response to support how the security deposit funds were handled based on the tenant's lease terms. Again, we wish all the best to the tenant.