Complaint / Review
Shadow Oaks Apartments
Aka Arruth Associates Inc. Overcharged on rent, charges 2 different prices for rent, forces you into month-to-month lease without your written approval then charges you more than $250 more than your previous rent. Ripoff

Shadow Oaks is an apartment complex in Austin, Texas. It is owned by Arruth Asscociates in Houston. Their address is 5718 Westheimer, Suite 2100, Houston, 77057. Their phone number is 713-784-1994.

Shadow Oaks has a two-tier pricing system for its apartments. One price - the price they advertise the apartments for and a fictional 'market price' that is around $200-300 more. For example, my rent on my first lease was $650, the second lease was $670. The 'market price' listed on my lease was $850.

Approximately 6 weeks before my first lease was to expire, I received a note stating that I had until the end of my lease to inform management whether or not I wanted to renew my lease with a certain increase. I decided to renew with a rent increase of $20 for seven more months.

As the end of my second lease came near, I foolishly assumed that I had until the end of the lease to decide whether I wanted to renew or leave. I decided to leave and informed an employee in the office. She said I had to pay an extra months rent because I hadn't given 30 days written notice. After looking over my lease, it appeared she was correct. I foolishly assumed the extra-months-rent/punishment payment would be $670, the amount of my last rent payment.

I returned to the office several days later to speak to the manager. He insisted that I pay $960 (not $670 or $850) since I was now on a 'month-to-month' lease, though I had not agreed to this nor was the magic amount of $960 mentioned anyplace in the lease agreement.

Wanting to avoid a major argument, I gave the manager 'Larry' a check for $960. He refused to give me a receipt but stated I could use the cancelled check as a receipt, which I intend to do. While I made a mistake in not giving 30 days written notice, I feel I've been ripped off by having to pay $290 over the previous rent for an apartment I will not be living in.

I called Arruth Associates to complain. They apparently do not return phone calls.

I'm looking at other options and avenues to illuminate the shady practices of Arruth Associates.