ComplaintsforCedar One Realty

• Initial Complaint

  03/08/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Comprehensive Complaint Against Cedar One Realty Dear Better Business Bureau, I am writing to file a comprehensive complaint against Cedar One Realty, located in Wintersville, Ohio, encompassing multiple issues that have significantly affected my living conditions and rights as a tenant. 1. **Discrimination and Harassment:** - Despite living in a separate unit, I have faced discrimination and harassment from my upstairs neighbor. - Violations of my right to quiet enjoyment include intentional breaker box shutdowns during hot summer months, causing discomfort. - Discriminatory policies, such as prohibiting smoking even on the outdoor patio, have been added to the lease without fair consideration. 2. **Electricity Theft:** - Video evidence and documentation support claims of my neighbor running an industrial company from his residence, stealing electricity from my apartment. - Despite reporting this issue to Cedar One Realty, there has been no effective action taken, resulting in excessive and unjust electricity bills. 3. **Maintenance Negligence:** - Last winter, it took nearly two weeks for Cedar One Realty to address a breaker issue during freezing temperatures, forcing me to sleep in the living room. - The broken bedroom window, reported since February 2023, remains unfixed, while the neighbor's broken window was promptly repaired at no cost. 4. **Privacy Invasion and Surveillance:** - The neighbor in the connecting room has installed a camera, invading my privacy and recording activities within my apartment. - Despite reporting this matter three times to Cedar One Realty, there has been no appropriate action taken to address the intrusive surveillance. 5. **Communication Issues:** - Cedar One Realty appears to have labeled my emails as spam since November, hindering effective communication. - Despite multiple attempts to contact them, there has been a lack of response, suggesting a disregard for tenant concerns.

  Business response

  03/28/2024

  ***** ******* currently rents *** ****** ***** ************* ** *****. This tenants lease expired on January 31, 2024 and Cedar One is not renewing the lease. On February 1, 2024, Cedar One Properties posted a 30 day month to month lease termination to the door of ****** residence, after the 30 days, a 3 day was posted to his door on March 4 - Court date for eviction is set for April 8 at 1 pm. The 30 day, the 3 day, and lease are attached. The reasons for not renewing the lease are for violations during his time as a tenant. Violations include an unauthorized occupant and damage to the property. A police report showing both violations, has been attached. The broken window described in ****** complaint stated the window broke in February 2023, as you can see by the attached police report, the window was broken on October 31, 2023 by ****** wife, who is not on lease. Our maintenance team boarded up the broken windows and placed an order for the new window. The new window came in, in February 2024. A contractor went to ****** unit on February 17, 2024  to fix the window on and was denied access by ******
  
  SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT FOR FULL COMPLAINT RESPONSE

• Initial Complaint

  02/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On the morning of September, 16 2022, I met Nathan from Cedar One Realty to show me an indoor, climate controlled storage unit. While he was showing me the unit, which is in the basement of a building, with no windows, the lights went out. We had only been standing there a few minutes when the lights had went out and he appeared nervous and began waving his arms. (This event happened all on a recorded camera). I had thought it was just a fluke ,and although it scared me I did not know that this was commonplace. I signed a lease via ******** a few hours later after he had went back to his office and sent it to my email. I began moving my belongings in that day. As I was moving my belongings in the lights continuously kept shutting off on me. I texted Nathan that day (09/16/2022) and asked if he could have the owner extend the timer on the lights. I could not move my things in because the building was dark and the lights kept shutting off on me. He responded with " Yeah I'll get ahold of the owner and have him fix that". I then texted him again on 09/28/2022 and stated that the lights still did not appear to be fixed and within less than a minute from stepping out of the hall into my storage unit the entire building went dark and that it was dangerous. I also mentioned that I would be frequently in and out of the building and that if this was not remedied I did not think this unit would work for me. He responded that he would shoot another text to remind the owner to fix it. Over the course of several months I was ensured by Cedar One that the owner had to get with his "IT guy" to fix it. I have made several recorded phone calls to Cedar One asking about why the lights had not been fixed. They said someone would follow up with me and no one ever did. The last time I went to pay my storage Zoe from Cedar One finally told me that the owner was not fixing it after they had lied for several months and never followed up with me. I am requesting my deposit back.

  Business response

  02/22/2023

  We reached out to him and he will be leaving the lights as is. We have not had any other concerns regarding the timer in which the lights have been set to. This tenant is having issues regarding the lights because as you know the lights are motion detected and stay on as you go in and out of the unit. Tommy has witnessed this tenant going into the storage unit, shutting the door to change clothes as if this is her personal closet, and then leaving minutes later. The motion detector cannot read if she is in the unit with the door shut. She also did not provide notice or pay February rent, she moved out on the 8th but her lease states we don't prorate rent. I discussed this with both Tommy and Joe. They both do not want to give her the deposit back and Tommy called her himself. We have not had any other complaints or issues regarding extending the timer.

   

  Customer response

  02/23/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

  I've never seen anyone else at the storage unit in the basement besides myself to complain. I have never changed clothes inside of the storage unit and that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I actually resell clothing and other items and was storing them there.

  Regardless of what I stored in the unit I should be able to access my items safely with proper lighting as frequently as I like. I understand the lights are on a timer in the hallway, but the time that you have to find your items inside of the storage unit is less than a minute and I actually have a video of this. I did not request for the light timer to be adjusted months after moving, but the DAY OF moving in.

  Nathan who showed me the unit also was well aware of the problem as you can see from the texts on the date that I moved in and stated he would let the owner know to adjust the timer. Since the owner is watching the cameras so closely, ask him to watch the morning of September 16, 2022 when Nathan was showing me the unit and the whole place went dark as we were standing there.

  I was transparent that I would be in and out frequently to get my items and that this unit was not going to work for me if the lights were not adjusted. Cedar One Realty ensured me from the beginning that this was going to be resolved as you can see through the text messages.

  Months later, the issue was never resolved and every month I called in they told me that someone would follow up with me (and no one ever did). Until this past month, I asked why no one had ever returned my call and finally someone told me that the owner was not fixing the lights and I stated I was no longer paying for a storage unit with no lights was moving out.

  If Cedar One would have followed up with me like they had promised I would have ensured to get my items out before the end of the month and not to incur another month's rent and lose my deposit, because once again I refuse to pay for a unit with no lights.

  I have had many indoor storage units in Pittsburgh and I have never been told I have to "run out in the hall and wave my arms" to have lights or be on less than a one minute timer to find my items. All of these things that Cedar One has said and promised to follow up with are on a recorded line and in text messages. 

  I would have not taken the unit if I knew that the lights were not going to be fixed, which as you can see through the texts that is well communicated.

  I am still requesting that Cedar One return my full deposit due to them misleading me about the lights being fixed and then never following up after I had made several calls inquiring about the lights, which mind you once again is on a recorded line.

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

• Initial Complaint

  02/16/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have lived in apartments for the most of my life. This particular unit at Cedar One properties was beyond the worse stay and worst customer service that I ever encountered. We moved their on Sept. 29th 2022 and moved on Jan. 6th 2023. We ultimately spent $2,425 just on rent and our deposit while living there. I had so many negative instances living there that I had to just leave and break the lease. It is not my opinion but in my estimation they are slum lords. Issues we had living their included : electrical problems and multiple outlets not working, openings in the home structure that made it hard to stay warm in cold months, water and plumbing issues, a gas leak that obviously affected our health, and racist and unruly neighbors that threatened our safety and our peaceful enjoyment. I spoke to 2 lawyers and they stated that Cedar One properties violated my Civil rights by not evicting them like their lease states they would do to noisy neighbors. Additionally my honest opinion is that some of workers are racist and have racist views because every house we showed interest in they said was unavailable even though it was still up on their website! I remember we clearly stated we wanted a home but they still offered an apartment that was way in Shady Side Ohio. We went there to at least check it out both our cell phones had no service at all and when we went inside it was a decent apartment far as looks go. I ask the realtor that showed us the property “Do you know who occupies the next apartment that we are beside?” He said yes and stated “A young couple that had 2 or 3 young kids”. In conclusion they have violated numerous ******* codes and also my Civil rights that put out lives in danger literally. I have some photos but also have video footage via links.

  Business response

  02/28/2023

  Cedar One Properties completed all work orders in a timely manner. The electrical and outlet work order was placed on October 6, a third party vendor, ** Electric completed the work and resolved the issue on November 14, 2022. Openings in basement work order was opened October 19, 2022, Cedar One Maintenance started work on October 22, 2022 and fully resolved the issue on October 28, 2022. The water and plumbing issue- Cedar One was notified December 25, 2022, a third party vendor, ****** Plumbing was contacted and dispatched the same day. Fully resolved issue the following day December 26, 2022.
  Regarding the gas leak, Cedar One was not aware of any prior gas leaks. Tenants stated “Additionally recently we discovered a gas leak in this very apartment. The lady next door called out ******** gas and I saw him and asked him to check out out apartment. He went in the basement and his machine went off and he had to fix the gas leak. I will state that again, we lived here over 2 months and there was a gas leak in our basement." The Gas leak was not something that was brought to Cedar Ones attention at any point prior to, we only heard after the issue was resolved by the gas company.
  The unruly tenant was evicted, the eviction process began in October with lease violations being sent out, on November 14, 2022 a three day notice was posted and on January 11, 2023 the eviction proceeding took place in court and the court granted the unruly tenant have until January 31, 2023 to vacate. 
  Cedar One has tried to place the ****** in another home, and unfortunately we were not able to before they broke their lease and vacated without notice on January 6, 2023.
  
  

  Business response

  03/21/2023

  Documentation regarding all work orders completed, conversations with Heather and Antonio, Security deposit balance, and history/notes are available upon request from Cedar One. Every complaint has been rectified including the eviction of the troublesome neighbor. I could not attach the documents because the file exceeded the size allowed, but as stated we will gladly share upon request. Thank you and I hope this information was helpful.

  Customer response

  03/27/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  Well I see no reason to continuously go back and forth. Cedar One realty never fixed the electrical sockets in our apartment or evicted the neighbors while we were there. I have audio recording of the secretary stating that about the electrical situation that I recently spoke to this month and sent emails of as well to you guys. The law states that reasonable time for landlords to repair or rectify issues is 30 days. Well their date timeline obviously shows that I had to deal with the noisy neighbors and the electrical issues far more than 30 days. Additionally there are some other past tenants that had similar issues with Cedar One. Like I said not only did they ignore our major complaints like unruly, uncivil neighbors but electrical issues but it even when we asked them to move us Cedar One was basically non - responsive. Yes Cedar One finally fixed the sink, light bulb electrical burnouts, the big hole that allow animals in; but they did not rectify the serious issues until we left far as the eviction goes. Far as the electrical sockets the lady at ** electric stated that even up till the day of our call this month that they have not fixed the electrical outlets. I do not care about what they try to fix after all our attempts for them to treat us fairly and I do not care what they did after we left.
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* *****

• Initial Complaint

  12/22/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Went to look at an apartment. They charged $30 application fee. Couple days later I call to inquire about the application and *** said that I have an eviction. Well I don’t. And they refused to give my money back. They are running an application fee scam.

  Business response

  12/22/2021

  Hello, I have attached *** ********s file for you to view. Please note that on the application page 3 in bold print it states " Applicant shall give landlord a nonrefundable application fee in the amount of $30.00 per adult". ** ******* signed on page 4 meaning that he understood the application.  There is also a landlord reference letter to explain why he was not approved with our company. The previous landlord was *** ****n and he spoke with our company on 12/4/21 and had the following to say " *** ******y grew and smoked marijuana in his apartment, he was very hard to get along with and he tried to evict him when *** ******y skipped out and left him with 2 months rent unpaid."  For these reasons *** ******y was not approved by our rental standards of no illegal drug activity will be tolerated. 

*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. ↩