My lease for a one bedroom apartment with Deer Cross Apartments in Indiana (an AIMCO community) ended on November 30th. I notified that I'll be moving out of the apartment when I paid the rent for the final month (November) on October 21st. One week later I also verified with the community office that they are aware that I am moving out. The reply was positive.
On the morning of December 1st around 7 am there was a knock on the door. When I opened the door a maintenance guy was there. He asked me what time I am leaving because he was suppose to paint the walls for the new resident. I said I'll leave in an hour when your community office opens.
Around 8:30 I surrendered the keys in the office. I was told I'll receive my deposit money back as soon as the paper work is done. Last night I received a "Move out Reconciliation Report" with following charges
Late Notice Fee - $292.67
Delinquent rent - $4.54
Water/Sewer - $22.61
Trash - $11.33
Pest Control - $4.53
Pest Control - $6.48
Pest Control - $4.53
Along with this ripoff bill that I received on December 8th I have been threatened that if I don't pay it by December 12th the said amount (346.39 - 100 (the deposit I paid) = $246.39) my case will be sent to a collection agency and my credit history may be impacted.
First of all if I notified late then when did I notified because one thing for sure is I did notify otherwise the paint guy wouldn't be knocking the door 7 in the morning. Since I moved to Chicago on October 22nd after paying my November rent I never returned till November 30th so I can hand over the apartment keys. This means I notified on or before October 22nd. According to the lease agreement you are required to report 30 days prior to leaving. I notified at least 38 days before I moved out.
Now come to water/sewer, Delinquent rent, and trash. My monthly rent was $439.in last eleven months my bill was never more than $460 (usual was $458) including water/sewer and trash. This time they are asking for (11.33 22.61 4.54 450 (I paid $450 on October 21st) - 439 = $49.48). That is $49.48 for water/sewer and trash only for a 1 bedroom apartment. For last one year it was never more than $21.
For pest control they are asking $15.59. I have no problem in paying this if every customer who moves out must pay this. But I lived there for two years (December - November) and never had to pay $15.59 in pest charges.
Ignoring pest charges the rest shows what kind of business practices this community is involved in. If I consider late fee notice as an honest mistake then why water/sewer and trash charges so high just when I left and in fact for the month I never lived there (the only reason I paid for November was because my lease expired on November 30th).
Future Residents Beware!!
0 comments