ComplaintsforEdgewater Property Group, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  08/04/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I recently moved out of a property owned by Ben C**********, Part of the Teri C********** realty and Keller Williams Realty team. Our move out date was July 15. We left the keys where instructed and spent a weekend cleaning before move-out including but not limited to filling holes, painting scuffs, and deep cleaning appliances. There was absolutely no damage done to the property. Upon move out, Ben kept $558 of our deposit to hire a professional cleaning and painting crew. I asked for pictures of the mess left that warranted that charge, which he was unable to provide. He then stated that he would do this no matter what unless we had hired a cleaning crew beforehand, which he did not ask nor is that a stipulation of our lease. I warned him that this was against our contract and Ohio Law. He stated that this is standard practice for all of his properties and that "being a landowner is not cheap." This means that he is taking deposits from multiple tenants with no intention of returning them. On top of that, we realized upon move out that our upstairs neighbor was attached to our gas bill, meaning we were being charged for a portion of, if not the full amount of our neighbor's utility bill. When brought to Ben's attention, our concerns were ignored.

  Business response

  08/25/2023

  As requested, I have responded to the above referenced complaint.  First, the complainant filed a complaint against the incorrect entity.  She filed it against my wife, as a Realtor.  She being a Realtor is separate from the property that is owned by an LLC that I control.  This property is owned by Edgewater Property Group, LLC.  You can confirm this on the county auditor's website.  **********************************
  
  The complainant also posted some nasty comments on my wife's Realtor website, after being a tenant for two years with no complaints and after coming to an agreement on the complaint in question.
  
  There was damage to two of the walls, which ****** did attempt to patch and paint.  This effort was not satisfactory, so I paid our handyman $165 to do the work correctly.  ****** did not reference this expense during our communication.  She did not ask for any photos, but I did attach here two photos of the walls that needed the additional work.  She did ask for the cleaning receipt, which I did provide.  
  
  She only complained to me about the $392.90 for the deep cleaning that we do after a tenant vacates.  The combination text/email stream provided by the complainant neglects to show the last few entries which confirm that we came to an agreement.  The copy of the actual email communication is attached.  After ******  complained about having $392 subtracted from her security deposit for the deep cleaning, I asked if it would be OK if I only deduct 1/2 of this amount, or $196.45.  She responded by writing:  "Please Venmo me the $196.45", which I promptly did.
  
  ****** is only partially correct when she asserts that "the upstairs neighbor was attached to our gas bill".  It is a three unit house with two hot water tanks.  Before they moved, I thought the first floor water tank provided hot water to the third floor.  It was only after they moved when I discovered that the second floor heats the water to the third floor because ****** prematurally disconnected the gas, so the third floor tenant informed me that he was not getting hot water.  ****** lied when she states ""When I brought this to Ben's attention, our concerns were ignored".  I brought it to her attention when I ask if she had disconnected the gas.  The only cost they incurred was the cost to heat the water that he used, a single man.  His heat was provide by the first floor furnace and I pay the water and sewer bills for the property. 

  Customer response

  09/05/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  In the Ben's reply, he mentioned that I have filed against the incorrect entity and left "nasty" comments on the website. The comments, although not flattering, were not "nasty." They were an honest review of the services I received from Ben C********** as a landlord. If they were written on incorrect page, I would be happy to write my review on the right one. I felt that since he had admitted that he charges a cleaning fee to all of his clients regardless of what is in the lease agreement, other prospective clients should know that in advance, and we were not informed. I have also had many complaints with him over the years, however this is the only one I felt needed to be brought up on behalf of all of his tenants. 

  It is also stated in his response that I "did not ask for any photos" when in fact according to the attached emails, I requested photos and the last year's cleaning receipt many times and was not provided with either (see highlighted sections of attached screenshots). His rebuttal to my claim was my first time seeing those images, and even then I have a hard time seeing the issue, especially ones that warrant a $165 charge. I requested the receipt for the cleaning that was done prior to our moving in because as stated in my previous complaint, the apartment was filthy upon our moving in and there will still multiple items left over from the previous tenants. Since he was "unable to find it," that leads me to believe the cleaning was never actually done. We have left the property in better condition than when we arrived.

  In regards to the gas bill, whether or not the entirety of the upstairs tenant's bill was on our account, we were still being charged for another tenants utilities without notice or consent. Whether it was "a single man" as the business exclaims or an entire family, no amount of their utilities should be the responsibility of their other tenants. 

  In the collection of half of the cleaning bill, there was no mention on either end that this was a settled matter. In fact, the only time Ben C********** mentioned any form of repayment was after I mentioned that According to Ohio Law, “tenants are not responsible for normal "wear and tear" on a residence. You cannot be held accountable for cleaning costs unless the cleaning required is excessive or constitutes some sort of damage. For example, you cannot be charged for carpet cleaning, unless you damaged the carpet. Also, the landlord cannot keep money on the premise that cleaning will be done.” This leads me to believe that the only thing that spoke to him was fear of legal repercussions. 

  
  Regards,
  
  ***** ******
  
  
  
  
   

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