On 3/29/07 we contacted Donovan AKA Don Chang regarding a viewing of a rental property at 3919 SE 44th Ave, Portland OR 97206. We set up an appointment for the next day, after work and met him for a viewing.
We viewed the property and decided we wanted to submit an application and discussed the premise of our tenure. We informed him that we had just established employment within a month of our application and that we had just moved from Spokane, WA. Also, that we would have another person that will be moving up from Spokane in as little as a a couple weeks to 6 months. He agreed that this wouldn't be a problem as long as the person was "like us." in the respects of being responsible and accountable. (I realize now that he meant appearance)
So the next day (03/31/07) he called us to come sign paperwork, give payment, and gather keys. He then informed us right as we where about to sign the paperwork that we are going to have to give him an extra $500 deposit because of the length of time we had our jobs. We reluctantly agreed after haggling over how we where going to afford this extra expense.
We already had to give him $2100 in cash, up front to get into the property, and after that we had agreed to give him an extra 100-200 per month extra to supplement the remainder. He also charged us a 200 non refundable "cleaning deposit" and the day we moved in we noticed all these spots on the floor from the previous tenant who was actually Don Chang, himself.
So a few days go by and we invite our future roommate over from Spokane to fill out the paperwork to get his name on the lease. I asked Don to drop by an application and meet him and take his application fee to get everything on the record, being completely honest about everything. A few days go by and he calls my Girlfriend to explain to her why he was going to deny his application.
Don gave a bunch of reasons that seemed to contradict themselves and straight up lied to us and told us that our friend told him that he lived in Portland already, which was untrue and that since his "story" had "loopholes" he didn't trust us anymore.
Once he expressed his feelings about his trust issues he accused us of "being up to something" and requested a home inspection on that Friday. We agreed and at that time I had mentioned the fact that we paid for a non-refundable cleaning deposit and moved into a house that had not been cleaned. We couldn't even wear white socks on the carper without the carpet turning them grey. It seemed that he took some cleaner and spot removed some of the major spots to disguise them.
We also noticed, immediately after we moved in that there was a trail of ants coming from the wall behind the refrigerator, which hadn't been cleaned for some time. We purchased some residual insecticide to combat the pest infestation but to no avail. We mentioned to him that we felt that was unfair to have to have to pay a non-refundable cleaning deposit on a place that was filthy. He said we could have $50 dollars off of the non refundable deposit if we agreed to shampoo the carpet when we left. We expressed that that was unfair and illegal to rent to a tenant with infestations and that we wanted some resolution. He changed the subject quickly.
I called him later and he told me that since we where there a week that the stains in the carpet had to be from us. The ants too and had no interest in complying. I asked him why he would treat us like this after agreeing to have our friend move over from Spokane and then after he visits to get on the paperwork legally. He again told us that we where "lying about something and that he just didn't want to talk about it."
I pleaded with him to get a reason as to why and he told me that he "just didn't like my friend and that there was nothing that we can do to change his mind." Please keep in mind that our friend had a co-signer if needed. He also had saved up several thousands of dollars for the move and was financially secure and expected.
So because he "didn't trust us anymore" he wanted us to break the lease with a $500 penalty. There was one condition to stay, that he would be conducting a home inspection almost weekly, which we felt was a violation of our privacy and as far as I'm concerned, civil rights. He didn't give us much choice in the matter due to the fact that he was dangling the 12 month contract in our face and threatened to evict and charge us for rent for the 12 months.
We had agreed and then he reminded us that, "if we where ever late in giving any payments that he can then charge us another $20 per day for the length of the rest of the year that we agreed to." He had no concern weather or not this was fair. He just wanted his money.
Needless to say we a we are on a house hunt again but, now we do not have the lump sum that we previously had, making this a very difficult situation for my girlfriend and I.
I'm shocked and feel discriminated against and cant believe that this is happening in Portland OR.
I feel like this had happened before because this home has been off and on the market for several months. I just felt like I should warn others about this situation.
Thank you.
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