Looking to rent a house after years in apartments I found a rental that was definitely a "fixer upper". The rent was affordable and pets were allowed so I was excited. The carpets were full of burn holes and melted wax but I was told at the time that they had been cleaned twice and they couldn't do any better. I didn't complain as I was excited to be in a house and have a yard for my animals.
I guess my first clue should have been when I was told that the bathroom window couldn't be repaired because they didn't make that size window anymore. The window was bolted shut, there was no fan in the bathroom, and no ventilation whatsoever. I lived with it.
The air conditioning unit went out every summer and I never complained, even when told on a Friday, with 100 degree temperatures outside, that I would have to wait until Monday for a technician. I just lived with it. During the five years that I lived there I never once was late with a rent payment.
I installed a ceiling fan and cable hookups at my own expense. Before I moved out I painted the entire inside of the house at my expense. I steam cleaned the carpets. I completely emptied the place with the exception of left over paint that I thought they might want for future touch ups.
Imagine my surprise when a month after I moved out I received a notice that my entire $1050.00 deposit was being kept. When I received the certified letter from Bridget Pagel I was shocked and sent back a certified letter of my own asking for receipts as the cleaning she described obviously had not taken place. (In the 5 years I lived there they never made one repair other than the air conditioner which is required by law).
When I called Bridget she said it was due to urine stains in the carpet. She charged me for carpet cleaning in her letter but then they completely tiled the approx. 800 sq. Ft. House. At my expense instead of doing it before I moved in as they should have. I told her that the carpet was ruined before I moved in as stated on the move in checklist. She said it wasn't that bad. (Burn holes, melted wax and a family living in a house for 5 years left the carpet a mess, big surprise!)
I have now requested receipts for the repairs for the second time but don't expect to see any. Apparently when you rent from a slum lord you should expect to lose your deposit and I should have known better but what really hurts is that after 5 years of paying the rent faithfully without complaining and trying to be a good tenant I get the shaft. I guess the income they made off me for 5 years just wasn't enough.
Having many friends that rent property I know what it is like to have bad tenants and I know that if there is such a thing as karma there will be plenty of "bad" tenants in this house in the future. Also I should add that Century 21 and Bridget Pagel are only the property managers of this house, I never met the owner and do not hold them responsible other that the fact that they have hired swindlers to manage their property.
The property address is 1427 East Elm Street, Tucson, AZ 85719 and I only hope if this does nothing else that the next tenant may see this and not waste time trying to fix up the place when moving out, it is a complete waste of time. Century 21 and J Pagel Realty will keep your money once they have it in their grubbing little paws.
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