ComplaintsforCitywide Real Estate and Property Management, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  07/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We have 3 rental properties and a mgmt agreement with CITYWIDE Real Estate and Property Management, LLC. Located at phone: ************ **************************************************************** One of the homes was vacated in May 2023 following 3 years continuous occupancy. Then, we learned there are serious issues with the ********************, termites, etc. The cost to repair the home will be appx 30K. We are heartbroken to see such negligence by our property management company over this lovely home. There is massive evidence this issue occurred over time, not suddenly, and was partially repaired, unsuccessfully. Also, plenty of documentation as to the condition of the property before and after this tenant. We entered into this management agreement expecting them to watch over the homes. They didn't and don't.According to Citywide, their vendors (repair and maintenance people) are trained to report back on anything they observe.We specifically asked about liability under the circumstances described. For weeks they did not answer the question, and finally stated all liability is on the owner.Now we have been sent a notice to terminate the agreement, without any explanation, and are told we owe them money.We believe they have been grossly negligent as property managers and are in breach of our agreement for not maintaining the safety of the property.We have many questions about their bookkeeping and certain double charges.For example, they are charging another one of our tenants hundreds of dollars in late fees. And said an audit revealed a couple of NSFs from 2 years ago. Making them several thousand behind. They have not given us any documentation of this issue nor any of our rental income since January. It appears to be covering these fees. Is that even legal? Finally, our homes are listed for rent. The photos on the *** are from 3 years ago and look great. However, the reality is far from great. Totally false advertising and a complete waste of everyone's time.

  Business response

  07/28/2023

  Citywide Real Estate and Property Management LLC managed three separate properties for **************************** and her husband. The owners were aware of the repairs these properties needed at the time they hired Citywide.   Citywide is not an inspections company nor at any time claimed to be an inspection company.  As stated in the complaint, one of the properties was already occupied by a long a term tenant at the time Citywide took over management. 
  
  Citywide is a property management company with the authority to advertise, lease, schedule with companies for access, verify info and references, negotiate and execute leases, amendments, extensions and renewals, terminate, collect and deposit rents, etc. Also, collect administrative fees, eviction, reports, hire contractors. Citywide performed is obligations to ***************** by locating tenants, collecting customary fees, and proving accurate monthly statements all while communicating and abiding by ******************* direction. 
  
  Citywide always acted in ******************* best interest.  When **************** accepted a proposed rental amount for a lease and then changed her mind and demanded an amount of rent that exceeded the current rental market values, Citywide notified ***************** that it could not continue to lease or manage the property for her. 

  Customer response

  07/28/2023

  hi,

  Thank you for sharing their response. I was pretty shocked to see that most of their statements were either completely false or very misleading.Somehow, I thought they had to be honest with you.
  

  I suppose the most important update I can offer would be this. I spoke with an attorney regarding all of the issues we have experienced with Citywide. As soon as Citywide was informed that I had merely spoken to an attorney, my tenant coordinator was forbidden to speak to me. She and I had been on great terms throughout our working relationship.

  Our attorney spoke with *********** and requested she or her attorney respond with additional information. They never did. Finally, he sent a letter to Citywide to terminate our agreement and repay the rent that they embezzled from us, or an explanation for the myriad of bookkeeping issues and potential deceptive trade practices. TREC has been contacted, too. He has teamed up with another practice that specializes in property issues and is pursuing litigation.

  That's the latest. I can provide lots of documentation, but don't know whether or not that would be considered useful to you.

  Thank you again for following up with us.

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

   

   

   

  Customer response

  08/03/2023

  I am rejecting this response because:   

  hi,

  Thank you for sharing their response. I was pretty shocked to see that most of their statements were either completely false or very misleading.Somehow, I thought they had to be honest with you.
  

  I suppose the most important update I can offer would be this. I spoke with an attorney regarding all of the issues we have experienced with Citywide. As soon as Citywide was informed that I had merely spoken to an attorney, my tenant coordinator was forbidden to speak to me. She and I had been on great terms throughout our working relationship.

  Our attorney spoke with *********** and requested she or her attorney respond with additional information. They never did. Finally, he sent a letter to Citywide to terminate our agreement and repay the rent that they embezzled from us, or an explanation for the myriad of bookkeeping issues and potential deceptive trade practices. TREC has been contacted, too. He has teamed up with another practice that specializes in property issues and is pursuing litigation.

  That's the latest. I can provide lots of documentation, but don't know whether or not that would be considered useful to you.

  Thank you again for following up with us.

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

• Initial Complaint

  06/21/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This company absolutely does not need to be in business. Im going to do everything I can in my power to shut this building down and for Sona to never run a business again. I have never in my life been treated so horrible and talked down to and been completely Lied to you as well as my actual landlord who owned my home has been lied to know as well as the state inspector, this company falsified documents and gave it to the state inspector and then lied to the land Lord and then we owe $5000 when we had that have every single thing credit card we have had since we have been with them in oh, not a *****. So they retaliated against us and forced us at our house so we are looking for the choice of nothing, but taking them to court

  Business response

  07/05/2023

  ******************,

  We seem to recall the events of your tenancy a little differently.  No one at Citywide has spoken down to you.  We have gone above and beyond to make sure you have a complete, concise and clear understanding of your account.  We have invited you to the office on several occasions to go over the account and to offer you a payment plan.  We have issued you credits for your late charges and worked with you extensively to bring your account current to no avail.  Your account has been delinquent 67% of the time you have been a tenant with Citywide.  Several NSF's and non-payments have been issued that are currently outstanding.  You were not evicted as we continued to work with you and settled on a non-renewal of your lease so the eviction would not go on your permanent record.  Collections and housing debts you can recover from with hard work and discipline.  We wish you well .

• Initial Complaint

  02/24/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I hired this company to manage my property. They charged me for work that was never performed, I asked for a meeting to walk my property and never was contacted. They would not return emails, falsified statements of charges. I confronted them about erroneous charges multiple times. I asked for explanation of charges and could never receive what I requested. I want a refund for work not performed on my property.

  Business response

  05/18/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/03/10) */ Mr. ******** and Citywide had several meetings and numerous phone calls. All work billed to Mr. ******** was performed on the property. All emails were returned timely. Citywide managed this property for several years since June of 2016. Citywide was always been courteous and did the work timely to maintain the property for Mr. ******** and his tenants. During the almost 6 year period we had 2 multi year tenants and a tenant that was in for 6 months that was transferred to the next management company. Pictures were presented to Mr. ******** as well as he visited the property to see the work had all been completed as scheduled. Near the end of the contract term, Mr. ******** was upset and I apologized for any confusion many times over. Mr. ******** came in the office many times without scheduling an appointment or time with staff and made them uncomfortable and was abrasive. A staff member quit over his "directness" and I had several staff members that would no longer meet with him. People were "frightened" and this made working with a client adversarial and difficult. After many attempts and meetings, it was clear Mr. ******** was unhappy and that would not change. The Texas Property Code has guidelines which allow collections for anything beyond normal wear and tear. Normal wear and tear was collected and reimbursed to Mr. ******** along with any damage that was noted. Mr. ******** asked to terminate is agreement and Citywide agreed to the request. All monies were disbursed and accounts cleared. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/03/14) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Thank you for the follow up. I have attached the November 2021 statement. I asked in multiple meetings to provide receipts. As well as itemized make ready and maintenance charges for the interior and exterior work that was claimed to have been completed in the current section of the statement. This has never been provided and I was given the run around on why they would need more time to provide the requested information. Please provide for the $695.98 and $3,164.64 charges. I was never asked for prior approval before performing these services. If she said that she has approval, please provide the email approval. Business Response /* (4000, 11, 2022/04/04) */ In prior meetings, owner was provided with all the receipts, bank activity statements, Profit and loss statements, Management Monthly statements, and all other documents he has requested. In addition, the tenant reimbursed Mr. ******** $1,690 from the security deposit for maintenance and repairs that was deemed beyond normal wear and tear that was credited towards the bills. Again, we apologize for any misunderstandings and stand behind the fact we handled both parties equally, honestly and fairly per the Property Management Agreement and the Residential Lease Agreement. Consumer Response /* (4200, 13, 2022/04/11) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) They again are not wanting to provide the explanation of charges. Citywide has only provided me monthly statements. I did meet with them and asked that they provide me detail information on the charges provided on the statements. This was never given to me. One example, they charged me $2500 for a make ready, but would not provide me with any detailed information on what work was actually completed on the property. They removed a dryer plug and never replaced it, they removed a garage door opener and never replaced it, they agreed to repaint the exterior of the house but this was never completed. They never had approval for the work they have charged me for and now will not provide any information for what they say was completed. Why will they not provide me with the detailed breakdown of work completed and charged? I want all receipts, and explanation of charges for the make ready charges reflected on the statement i provided.

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