Avalon Walk Apartments $7,000 Rip Off after we moved out. Hamden Connecticut
We lived at Avalon Apartments for 18 months. During this time we thought the place was adequate despite the lack of sufficient parking and the all too frequent appearance of tow trucks (@ $200 per tow). We believe Avalon was getting a kick-back, they towed cars daily. But that's not what I am here about.
Our little Rip Off nightmare started many months (5) after we moved out. Ninety days prior to moving out we approached management to inquire about the option to move into a smaller apartment, in the same complex, which we could afford after my wife got laid-off. We were unceremoniously told that it is possible IF we pay approximately $3,500 (security deposit, first month, last month, etc). We would be treated as new tenants regardless of our history with them.
In addition, we had to give them sixty days notice that we're moving out, and there was no guarantee that the apartment we wanted to move into would be available by the time the sixty days expired. In other words, we are to notify them that we're doing a lateral and the availability of the apartment we're attempting to move into could disappear, effectively making us homeless on very, very short notice.
Having been presented with a ridiculous option by Avalon Walk Apartments, we decided to find an apartment elsewhere, which we did and issued a thirty days notice to Avalon Walk Apartments. When my wife delivered the thirty days notice we were told "you don't need to move, we can work out a deal on the lateral move". My wife's reply was "Day late and a dollar short, we're moving. You gave us no choice when we approached you a few weeks ago."
The day of the move I personally turned in our keys and parking permits. Which any reasonably intelligent person would take as an indication that we have actually vacated the apartment.
Five months later we received a letter from Avalon Walk Apartments indicating that we owed the over $7,000, for replacement of carpeting, replacement for vertical blinds, and for three month's rent, and various fees, some of which were unexplained in the letter. This was in addition to the loss of our $1,000 security deposit.
The three months' rent is because the apartment was "vacant" and we owed them to the end of the contract. After we received the letter, we had a friend go the our (old) apartment in March and she actually spoke to someone who indicated that they "moved in about a month and a half ago".
In addition, a second letter contained somewhat more information that shed a little more light on this Rip Off. In this letter, the author (Apartment Manager) actually states that the new tenant moved in on March 6th. According to this admission, they can't charge us for an "empty apartment" for the month of March. Our estimate, based on the information gathered by a friend, the tenant(s) actually moved in some time in early to mid January. There's two months rent they're trying to rape us for.
Connecticut state law dictates that landlords must present detailed bills and explanation(s) within thirty (30) days of a tenant vacating the premises and return of security deposit funds or the amount of the security deposit must be doubled by the landlord. In other words, if we don't get a bill and our deposit within thirty days of us moving the landlord must pay us twice the amount we gave them for a security deposit.
We are willing to pay them one month's rent because we gave them thirty days notice as opposed to the sixty days, which what the contract states. We are not willing to pay them anything extra because they claim they couldn't rent the apartment when they already have. And as for the carpet needing replacement, we were told when we signed the contract that they replace the carpet after every tenant that moves out who has been there for a year or more. They conveniently neglected to tell us that they charge the tenant that has moved out for the cost of replacement.
There is more to this Rip Off but I don't want to bore anyone. If you (or they) are interested I can tell you more about it.
Bottom line: Don't Live Here!!! If you want to move in be VERY careful when signing anything with these people. Ask for everything they promise in writing and READ the contract.
You can do much better a few miles away. We moved 20 minutes away and are saving over $500 a month.
P.S. - Avalon Walk has been sold and is no longer owned or managed by Avalon Communities.
Steve
Branford, Connecticut
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Town Walk Management
Hamden,Connecticut,
U.S.A.
Management response to an untrue, unfair posting
#2UPDATE Employee
Thu, July 23, 2009
I am the manager of this community and would like to respond to this unfair posting. These residents moved out of their apartment 9 months early and stopped paying rent. The apartment was not reoccupied until March, at which time the residents were relieved of the remainder of their financial obligation to the community.
If these residents had requested to transfer to a smaller unit we would request a new seucurity deposit and a transfer fee (if transfer occurred during their current lease). This is not unfair. In comparison, if you were leasing a vehicle and decided a few months into the lease you wanted to switch cars, there would be fees assessed. The same holds true with an apartment. The community NEVER requests first and last month's rent. The statement made by residents saying we required a 60 day notice for a lateral move and could not guarantee the apartment they chose would be available and ultimately leave them homeless is ridiculous.
The residents also state that we charged them rent for months the apartment was re-occupied by new residents. This is untrue. They are relying on information from neighboring apartments with approximate guesses as to when someone moved in. We have the lease and can back up our charges legitimately.
The residents moved out and left behind piles of boxes and trash and their carpet was laden with pet urine (although they previously posted on other sites that they never even had a pet, yet their lease and guest card all show they did. They also paid the monthly pet fee while they were here!) In addition, extensive cleaning was required. There was damage to window blinds and vinyl siding. We provided the residents with pictures of the damage and have yet to hear a dispute personally.
The residents also state that they were told we change all carpets after move out if the apartment had been occupied for at least a year. This is also untrue. The carpets have an 8 year lifespan with reasonable care and cleaning.
It is understandable that residents are upset when they owe money upon finalization of their lease. However if the money is owed due to lack of payment on a contracted obligation as well as damage to the apartment, it is unfair to state the management company is being unfair in their practices. We are just holding residents responsible for their actions and obligations.