ComplaintsforRealty Trust Services

• Initial Complaint

  06/19/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  One of the attached photos below will show the original posting date of May 23rd 2024 - it is shadowed banned. Double dealing. Scam leasing to get the tenet out so they can get a new one in (to up the rent and get a new deposit that they won't return). **** **** ********* ***** property has immense sewage issues the whole two years I have lived here. The landlord uses two leasing companies per tenet to this end. They did not give me a week to decide then there was an issue with the lease in which they wanted me to sign an addendum, to which I refused. Below is the electronic receipt stating signatures could not be verified. I have Ram's emails stating "hopefully" they could work something out. (which means I could have ended up homeless) I had to leave. It is all a scam to screw the tenant over. Reality trust gets you to agree to a 3% increase, then changes it citing it was a "mistake" and the landlord (****** *****t who is out of state in Orlando Florida) wants a month-to-month lease with a 10% increase. Very unethical and double dealing. Use caution when dealing with this company. Below is the sewage problem I delt with for two years, and their improperly executed lease. Also see ****** reviews. and uploaded word doc. *********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

  

  Business response

  07/08/2024

  To be clear we have been told the sewer issues are with the city. We have always dispatched immediately when notified through proper chanels to fix the sewer.

  We sent out agreement to sign for that which is standard however owner asked us to rescind and not sign. The 10% premium is not as desirable I think as it is for the owner to keep their options open. So perhaps that is negetiable. I will reach out to Ram who was in negotiations with you on that.
  

  Customer response

  07/09/2024

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ****** ******
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  03/26/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On Wed. Mar. 20th, I applied for a rental and was charged 45.00 for an application fee. The person ***** ***** responded giving terms and and email stating I needed to pay 5207.00 for a deposit and in order to hold the home I needed to pay it on a website called ohio tenant. I reached out up until today 3/16 with no response. The phone number listed does a double ring then goes to a blank vm. I have emailed with no response and believe this may be a scam. I am requesting my application fee be returned because clearly there is no home to rent.

  

  Business response

  04/15/2024

  Hello,

  This is not a scam. However we do understand the amount of money you would need to offset the cost risk seemingly indicated by your credit profile is more than you can do. I looked for your email on bbb in our credit card processor and could not look up your payment with that. If you can give us your email you used to make your credit car payment I can look up the payment and refund that for you. I hope that helps. When we refund it the processor normally takes 4 to 7 days to get it back into your account. 

  Customer response

  04/15/2024

  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.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  
  ***** *******
  
  
  
  
   

• Initial Complaint

  02/25/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This is a property management company that overcharged me, charged me for things they didn't do and caused problems for my tenants and me.

  

  Business response

  02/27/2023

  Hello *****,

  We charged things that were being done as we exited. Our sub told us it was done but we are verifying ourselfs on this and will be getting back to you.

  Customer response

  03/30/2023

  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.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]

  
  RECEIVED VIA EMAIL BY BBB STAFF MEMBER:

  FYI, I honestly have zero problems paying for what I owe, but it is completely unreasonable what he is asking.
  Summery: In July last year they said I needed to change 10 windows in one house (2700 hood ave) they charged me $5000+ which I paid that day, I followed up several times over the next few months and heard nothing, so I asked for the property management to stop (Due to many issues with all my houses and terrible lack of communication) we stopped the contract Nov 2022.
  Apparently I found out they did install 5 in the lower unit but none in the upper unit, I dedicated to sell these houses because of this awful experience, I lost all my trust.
  Without communicating with me and after my house was 3 weeks in escrow, apparently they must have contracted the tenants (without my knowledge) and gone and changed then but at this point I was not aware and already sold the house because of the windows not being replaced and I didnt want to go out and get them done again, I lost my trust due to they way they dealt with another issue in a house in ********* ******* too.
  
  You can see the thread below, 
  Please let me know if you have any questions,

   

  If you look at the email screenshot I sent below (from their contractor) it seems like they installed the windows on March 24th 2023, (without telling me)  they told me they had already done it last year and I paid the full balance for it back in August 2022.
   It was when I had a handyman and my realtor looked at the house recently and asked the tenants in the upper unit and they told me no windows had been changed, so I decided to sell the house. I just felt I could not trust a property Manager, I contacted them and they said the windows had been changed (Obviously they had not) so I asked them to prove it to me and show we photos hence the email chain below.
  
  My contract with them was stopped in Nov 2022 so they should not have gone and spoken with my tenants or changed any windows after that date, specially without my permission, and they sent me bills that I owe them for over $6000 in Nov too, which is ridiculos, 
  I don't own this house anymore so have the new windows now is a total mute point, 
  
  Another house they "managed" for me 1002 roanoke rd.
  I was fined by the city of ********* ($550) which I had to pay as there was trash left on the road that they told me was taken care of, I also had to pay $3000 for a trash removal service to come and empty the house when realty trust charged me more than that to clean it out but they did not do it, they also charged me to clean the carpets but a few days last I had a replace them because they were in such an awful condition.
  
  Its been such an exhausting and terrible experience with them :(
  
  They keep asking me for the $6000 but I just don't think it is fair, since they didnt install the windows as they told me (until it was wayyyyyy too late) and they didnt clean out the other house either, I had to pay for it myself and also pay for the fine by the city.
  
  Let me know if you have any questions,
  Thanks
  ***** 
  

  

  Business response

  04/06/2023

  Hello,

  The complaint and alleged issues are partially false and the extent of them is false.  We did not cause owner any loss. The complaints about loss are actually caused by owners actions. 

  We did install windows on one of owners houses with a 6 month delay. We got that done before she closed on the sale. Her own tenant delayed numerous times in addition to fabrication delays. 

  She handed us a house to manage with a non paying tenant. We evicted. We did the make ready at a loss for her. We finished the make ready even after we chose to go our own ways. She didn't pay utility bills. She didn't pay the attorney. She didn't pay us for a whole lot of work that took. This was a house that had chicken crap 6 inches deep in the basement. We cleaned that out. 

  Anyways we are happy to be separated from this owner who has not treated us in good faith.

  Customer response

  04/07/2023

  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.
  
  I had no idea the windows had not been installed, I was told via email they had been completed many months ago so when I found out they hadn’t I decided to sell the house as I could not trust property management companies. 
  I have zero need for the windows to be installed. At this point the house already passed the inspection and sold so there was no need for them. 

  I was not contacted to be told they were delayed or they were going to install them as the home owner I should have been.  

  I am not happy to pay for windows that were not installed when I was told they were during the timeframe the house was managed by realty trust. 
  

  I hope you understand a landlord living out of state pays you a monthly fee to trust you, when you say work has been done or agree on a price or timeframe that should be honored.

  I am not happy to pay for the services rendered when it was done under completely false pretense and without communication.

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

  Customer response

  04/17/2023

  Please see statements attached 

  

  Business response

  04/17/2023

  Hi *****,

  You paid for the windows. We installed them. There were reasons for the delays but their were delays. They were done before you closed. You gave us a couple days notice by the way on that even. 

  Customer response

  04/19/2023

  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.
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  
  ***** *******
  
  
  
  
   

• Initial Complaint

  05/30/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  For the past month I have dangerous conditions of the home I am renting and I can not notify anyone cause if I do I will be forced to leave and be homeless with my family I put in work orders sent plenty of emails and the refuses to repair broken steps outlets that catch on fire I have a contract with section 8 and I fear of speaking up cause I will have to move I just had a baby so I’m turning back to work they have been hitting me with all this money telling me they can evict me for not paying the water and the sewer and all types of threats please can someone help me on what I need to do first

  

  Business response

  05/30/2022

  Hi ********,

  You agreed to pay your utilities when you signed your lease. Your lease explicitly says that all utility balances will be considered rent. We are a bill collector and it is our obligation to warn you of penalties fees and all collections measures we may have to take so you aren't surprised by that. That may be emotionally overwhelming and we apologize for that. 

  Regarding work that needs done currently please tell us specifically what needs done right now for your safety so I can reference this with the requests we have from you directly through official channels. 

  

  Business response

  05/31/2022

  RECEIVED VIA EMAIL BY BBB STAFF MEMBER:

  Regarding ID ******** I got new info from my team.
  
  We recently took over management for this property and we believe the issues were from before we started manage. We don't have any work orders open right now from her showing in our system. We would like more details on the issues she is experiencing that need immediately handled for her safety so that we can handle them.  
  
  I do see that there are some communications in our system regarding utilities.
  

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  03/25/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  From August 2019 until March 2021, I was a tenant in a property managed by Realty Trust Services LLC. I experienced multiple water leaks throughout the house that were left unresolved. There was also a mouse infestation that the company neglected to address despite me filling numerous maintenance requests regarding the issue. Due to their neglect, I suffered the loss of my furniture and appliances, in addition to incurring costs related to hiring Orkin to provide what pest control they could. As a result of these issues, I was awarded a judgment through Cleveland Heights Municipal Court totaling $3,594 plus 5% annual interest from Realty Trust Services LLC on November 16, 2021. I reached out to the company directly to make arrangements to receive my payment but was told they would reach out to me. That has not happened. I posted a review on their Google listing requesting that they resolve this matter. They responded on the listing by stating that no one should rent to me, claimed I left trash everywhere and accused me of lying. I responded by posting the court's judgment which found their accusations to be unfounded and held them responsible for my damages. I would just like to be paid for the losses they were found to have caused.

  

  Business response

  04/11/2022

  We are still in legal dispute on this matter and it is not finalized. We are addressing this with our attorneys. We disagree strongly with the court agreement both in regards to the fact that long before this court session we hadn't even been managing, the fat that there was never any damage and the fact that if there was it was due to owner neglect which we represented but were not responsible for his actions.

  

  Business response

  04/19/2022

  Hi its not currently an active case. However my attorney had reached out to them and was looking at options for further legal recourse. She is free to call Attorney /.****** **** ******************** It is our belief that the court mistakenly made this in our name as we are not primary party on this as an agent and all activities reflect on the actual landlord. It would be like sueing an attorney for actions of the party they represent.  Either way she would need to contact our attorney to work out a settlement on this. 

• Initial Complaint

  02/13/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Realty Trust Services has been the most unprofessional company I have ever rented from. There is black mold throughout the home, paint chipping and cracking off the ceilings and walls, there was a flea infestation that took them almost two months to take care of, the apartment was absolutely FILTHY when I moved in, leaking ceilings filled with black mold in the bathroom, a furnace that has quit working twice in the last two weeks in the dead of winter, a garage door that they refuse to come out and fix and a management company that all together doesn’t return phone calls or emails to resolve tenant disputes when blocking common parking areas and playing music extremely loud at 2:00 in the morning. I found out that I was paying for the upstairs tenants electricity since I moved in back in June of 2019. I have been reimbursed 20.00 a month when I was paying 300 a month. The amount of money and time I have invested with this disgusting, lazy, good for nothing management company is just ridiculous. I have been harassed by the last THREE tenants and they continue to promise me they will find someone better next time and end up moving someone even worse in than the last. Please do not do business with them. You can be the best tenant in the world and they will still take advantage of your kindness.

  

  Business response

  03/01/2022

  Hi *****,
  
  >>>> Realty Trust Services has been the most unprofessional company I have ever rented from. 
  We apologize for your undesirable experience with our company.
  
  >>>>>There is black mold throughout the home, 
  ***** I feel this is just an excuse. We don't have complaints of black mold previously. The pictures you show are discolorations appearing to be common bathroom mildew which normally would happen because tenant didn't fulfill there obligation to properly vent after taking bath. That may or may not be the case and we are certainly willing to both treat and repair that area.
  
  
  >>>>> paint chipping and cracking off the ceilings and walls, 
  The picture on paint chips I believe is just in the bathroom due to moisture and maybe one other area.
  
  >>>>> there was a flea infestation that took them almost two months to take care of, 
  We had to get rid of the other tenants which we did at great expense to the owner along with their animals. That takes time. Often times pest treatment is something that takes months to do.
  
  >>>>> the apartment was absolutely FILTHY when I moved in, 
  We always clean and we have an extended checklist. There may have been floor stains etc but we do take issue with your claim.

  >>>>>in the bathroom, a furnace that has quit working twice in the last two weeks in the dead of winter,

  Furnaces sometimes need repair. We we immediately dispatched both times. 

  
  >>>>>a garage door that they refuse to come out and fix

  I will have to review this.

  >>>>>and a management company that all together doesn’t return phone calls or emails to resolve tenant disputes when blocking common parking areas and 
  playing music extremely loud at 2:00 in the morning. 
  The only thing that can be done at 1am in the morning is call the police on the noise. This is an unfortunate side effect of the multifamily buildings for which we wish we had a better option. We do talk to the other tenants but if they are noisy there is little we can do other than non renew there lease. We certainly do return phone calls and actually answer the call a high percentage of the time.
  
  >>>>> I found out that I was paying for the upstairs 
  >>>>>tenants electricity since I moved in back in June of 2019. I have been reimbursed 20.00 a month when 
  >>>>>I was paying 300 a month.
  Yes there was a circuit that ended up being on the other tenants unit and ran to you billing. You agreed to that arrangement. I believe we made that right and owner spent several thousand to fix this though it took some time. It was one really bad month but that was likely mostly your usage as well as a that was a hot month where everyone was running their window ac.
  
  >>>>> The amount of money and time I have invested with this disgusting, lazy, good for nothing management company is just ridiculous. I have been harassed by the last THREE tenants 
  

  >>>>> and they continue to promise me they will find someone better next time and end up moving someone even 
  

  >>>>> worse in than the last. Please do not do business with them. You can be the best tenant in the world 
  

  >>>>> and they will still take advantage of your kindness.
  This appears to be more a review than a complaint. I am not sure that you have even do anything at this point to remedy things with you. We have after hours emergency maintenance. We do return calls. We do our best to manage every building we can and offer a great product. However though you are exaggerating I do acknowledge your less than optimal experience in this unit we manage and thank you for paying your rent.  

  

  Business response

  03/03/2022

  *****, we literally have text messages that I just viewed in my research where we had someone out in an hour and you told us we couldn't enter with out you there and to come back tomorrow. We have proof that you blocked other tenants. We had 3 different tenants that you hated we are starting to think indeed you are the common denominator. We do a criminal background check on every tenant that we manage regardless of your experience. I'm sorry you about your experience and I think this goes two ways.

  Customer response

  03/03/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 1******** and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  I will see you all in court. Giving someone an hours notice for a maintenance request that isn’t an emergency is hardly giving someone enough time to adjust. If it is an emergency I have HUNDREDS of emails that state you can enter AT ANY TIME as long as you give 24 hours notice as you are REQUIRED BY LAW. I ALSO have multiple cards from Shaker Heights police department on the tenants you “background check” where they were pulling guns and harassing people in my home. So is this really a professional thing you think you’re doing? Believe me, I have WAY more incriminating emails and texts than you do against me. Every single request I submit states you can enter without me being present, yet you guys never do. Perfect example is today. I have told you guys for the past month you can fix the garage door without me being there… yet you guys are calling and bothering me when I am at work to fix a garage door THAT IS OUTSIDE!!!! What kind of sense does that make? I have a job to do, too. Calling non stop when you already have my prior consent to enter or fix the problem just sounds like a typical excuse from RTS. Anything to deflect blame. So, about my money? Again, if you wish to just argue, I’m out. Im interested in mitigating this issue. If you don’t want to discuss a solution, I will just take you to court. Believe me, the electrical situation alone was illegal enough that that it won’t come out in your favor. Don’t make me add any of the other stuff. Let’s be professional. 

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

*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. ↩