Anyone else have problems w/Property Management Companys?

[lesallimc]

Glad you got out. I similarly had problems with the last apartment I lived in (ran by property management company.) They also charged for every little thing and were so disorganized, they called me two weeks after I moved out (I personally hand delivered the keys) to ask if I was still in the apartment!?!?!?! Also, I remember a "new" property manager coming in and threatening eviction over one of those $75 unclogging fees that she claimed I had been invoiced for a year prior. I had gotten the drain unclogged but was never invoiced (let's not even get into how old the building's plumbing was...) She had a few new orifices by the time I was finished with her...

I currently rent in a small building (over four years now) and deal directly with the property owner/landlord who has been nothing short of fantastic. I broke something in my apartment which was totally my fault, and asked my landlord to replace and give me the amount of so I could pay, and I returned home from vacation to find it fixed for free!

I think every experience/situation is different, but I can certainly feel for you.

[tiki_styles]

Thank you Lesallimc, I'm glad you can relate to the horrors of Property Management companies. I do believe that there are some (very small percentage) of Property Management companys that are good, (so I've heard) but the areas I lived (South LA) most of them are very difficult to deal with, in the sense of good business practice & holding on to your money, granted you are a person who rents & lives a quiet live, leave the apartment as is when you first came, there should be no reason why you shouldn't get all your deposit back, or if typical/expected maintenance needs come up (especially living in a real old dwelling) why should you have to foot the bill, for the owner or for that matter, the Property Management Company? Because they are greedy bastards, thats why, nickel & dime you for every little thing that goes wrong... You are already paying the rent, and I can see if it is my fault, or it tends to happen more often (clogging a drain) because of me, but that isn't always the case with some people.

Anyhow, I'm much happier now, (found a house to share w/another professional), till I can own my own home, I'll never go back to renting, unless its directly w/the owner.