[Worldly]

ARE YOU RELOCATING TO FORT SILL / LAWTON IN THE SUMMER AND FALL OF 2009?

IF SO, YOU NEED TO READ THIS POST!

PURPOSE: The purpose of this post is to warn prospective residents of Lawton of unethical and illegal conduct by well-known property-management agencies.

BACKGROUND: Lawton is a moderately-sized town (about 100,000 residents) that serves the Ft. Sill area. Due to a nationwide realignment of bases and installations within the Department of Defense, Ft. Sill has absorbed a major military activity from Ft. Bliss, Texas. Accordingly, Ft. Sill is growing quickly, and the demand for off-post rental homes in the local area has skyrocketed. Demand for rental homes in Lawton has always been high in the summer months, but this year, the demand appears to be unprecedented. It’s extremely challenging to find a reasonably-priced rental home in Lawton right now!

DISCUSSION: In Lawton, a very popular source for finding a suitable rental home is with rental agencies or property-management businesses. Often, these businesses are associated with real-estate-sales businesses.

THE PROBLEM: Without beating around the bush, let me be frank.

Property managers, to include private owners and dedicated businesses, are using the extremely high demand for rental housing to act unethically and illegally.

Often, the targets of these unscrupulous businesses are younger, inexperienced soldiers and their military families who are desperate to move in and get settled without spending inordinate amounts of cash to stay in local lodging. However, they prey on anyone who needs a home!

Yes….you can find low-life property managers anywhere in the World…..unfortunately, they are in Lawton in disproportionate numbers, and they’re making life miserable for us!

The illegal and unethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Leasing property that is in gross disrepair and/or filthy.
  
• Ignoring requests for repair of items broken or in disrepair prior to tenant taking possession.
  
• A particularly disturbing anomaly experienced by two recent families was leasing a home with a broken air-conditioning unit. Can you imagine the discomfort of no air conditioner when outside temperatures are 95 to 100 degrees (Heat Indexes of 100+)?
  
• Despite the fact that a broken air conditioner is an emergency repair in the summer months (Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; 41 O.S. 2001, §§101-136), and the families making numerous written and verbal pleas to the property managers, the air conditioning remains broken after two weeks.
  
• Failing to act in “good faith.” (A violation of the Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; 41 O.S. 2001, §§101-136).
  
• Entering the inside premises of a home without previously notifying tenant (forbidden under Oklahoma Law)
  
• Drafting lease agreements that are notoriously one-sided in favor of the owner/property manager, and attempting to minimize or ignore your tenant rights

CONCLUSION / RECOMMENDATION: Extra care must be taken in Lawton to minimize your chances of being a victim of greedy, unscrupulous property managers. You must protect yourself by knowing the law, and being fearless about using the legal system to enforce your rights as a tenant.

Keep these websites handy:

Oklahoma Bar Association

http://ok.gov/OREC/documents/Landlor...t%20Update.pdf

Here’s an invitation to Geraldo Rivera, FOX NEWS, or any other Investigative Reporter:

Come on down for a great story about “good-ol’-boys” greed and exploitation of military personnel and their families!

[LadyRobyn]

Moderator note: If you are interested in specific business names, DM the OP do NOT post them in this thread or they will be deleted. Libel and Consumer Complaints are not allowed.
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Worldly, There is some VERY good cautionary advice in your post!! Our Daughter had a similar experience here in Duncan that took her MONTHS to get sorted. We are just thankful that her health and the health of her unborn child were not affected.

[j67bubba]

Simple answer to all of this is to :

1. Do not rent if the place looks like trash
2. Research about the rental place, check with other apartment renters and or neighbors before renting.
3. If you are military, check with on-post housing about the place you are going to rent from. If other military members have been having problems with the owners or property managers then they should have reports on them.
4. Before signing a lease, have the agreement checked out by a lawyer or if you are Military have it checked out by Legal Aid. If anything, read the entire lease, take your time and make sure you understand all of it.
5. DON"T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS, NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!

Just because you think you have to rush to get someplace to live doesn't mean you have to go thru hell after you get a place.

If the place is dirty, don't rent it. Don't agree to move in and have the Property Manager say they will get it cleaned up after you move in. NO!
NOT CLEAN, Don't take the place.

All in all, it is not that hard to figure this stuff out. If you allow these Owners and Property Managers to swindle you then it is going to happen.

Remember, not everyone has Ocean Front Property to Sell!

[jmc79]

I have a police scanner at home, and theres always police being sent to the apartments on Motif Manor. I'd stay away from there.