I moved here from Maryland the second week of December and I did my research on the web as to finding a SAFE apartment community to live in for myself and my roommate. I was of course enticed by the many higher-income apartment complexes that touted gated access, secure/limited access gym facilities and safe neighborhoods.
I had called and spoken with the specific complex that I was leaning towards on more than several occassions and I was informed that all of these would be offered, that there would be timely 24-hr maintenance, and specifally a waived security deposit. I moved here with two cars, a motorcycle and a 7X11 trailer behind me. It was defintely like the Oregon Trail.
Upon arrival, I was informed that the information provided in regard to my waived security deposit was FALSE and that we owed them a certain HIGH amount for the deposit. Had we not had all our belongings in tow and had been so stressed out, we may have opted to look elsewhere but this was our only option at the time since funds were low and we were so excited to finally have arrived!!!
Living here for almost a month and half now, I have had several SEVERE issues with my contract and with security. Our gym, which we paid $25 for a key to use was supposed to be locked at all times so that only paying gym customers could use it. Since the second week of living here, the door was broken and after several complaints, still nothing was done.
To this day, the door is still broken. NO one has responded to my complaints, fixed the issue or showed concern for someones safety. I had to call the maintenace department several times in regards to people WALKING IN OFF THE STREET to use the gym and unsupervised children. The apartment complex shouldn't want any criminal activity to ensue because with that door not being locked, I am sure a "suing" issue could easily arrive. As a young woman, who occasionally works out at night, I am scared that someone may attack me while using this so-called secure gym. I was also NEVER offered or issued a refund.
This past Friday evening, my car tires and rims off my brand new car were stolen while my car was parked at my complex. I had been told that things like this in our "secure" apartment were rare. I do know that Phoenix has a terrible crime rate and car theft is the highest in the nation. I was aware of this upon moving here to Arizona. BUT what I was not expecting was for my apartment to not hold up their agreement as far as doing the best they could to provide SOME sort of security. The evening this happened to my car, our front security gates were BROKEN! They have since been broken until this day, the 13th of January upon which someone was called out to repair them.
This was after a police report was filed for my theft incident and the officer noted that the gates were broken. I believe that they were fixed only after I had handed them written complaints and asked them to pay my insurance deductible. It cleary states in my contract that the management is not repsonsible for injury to a person or damage to their property UNLESS it is an issue of neglect on the managements part.instead of spending so much money on cosmetics, such as raking my stones, they should be hiring someone to watch the gates to ensure that damages do not occur. Had the gate been working properly, I probably would not be so devastated. I honestly believe that the complex was neglegent because no one came to fix the gate until 4 days later and they did not provide a back-up means of security. The courtesy patrol person who is a Maricopa County Sherrif had actually taken off the weekend this occured as well.
I have contacted the Attorney Generals office as well as the Secretary of State and the tenant law offices in regards to this matter. I have photographs of my car as well as the broken gate. I also have witnesses including the two property maintenance men who were aware and attested to the gate being inoperable since FRIDAY.
I had left several messages on the leasing offices' voice mail in regards to both matters since I arrived and NO ONE ever responds to me. What bad business practices!
I am asking that you take this to heart and use this information so you don't make the same mistake. I was also told I would have a month free and my security deposit waived, yet what they are planning to do is NEVER give me my security deposit, saying that this went to my one month free. What a trick! I have been lied to and now, I am living in a place where I feel unsafe, I am terrified that more vandalism will occur and I am being taken advantage of for my money.
Now the apartment complex is giving me an opt-out to leave which makes me think that they are trying to write me off or are terrified of legal reprecussions. They are also stating that the gate had not been broken for that period of time. Normally, there are fees amounting to over $1300 to break your contract. I can not afford to set up in another apartment or move my belongings again. I moved here under the guise that certain security issues would be handled and that is not the case. What am I paying for here? I may as well be living in the ghetto for hundreds of dollars less!
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