Complaint Review: Goodson Real Estate

I used to be a property manager for Goodson Real Estate (Three Dog Holdings) and want to issue a warning to anyone who is currently or thinking of renting an apartment with them. Alex Goodson, owner, instructs his property managers to cheat all renters out of their rent deposits. By that he invents a variety of repairs that a renter is not legally responsible for making to justify keeping 100 percent of a deposit. 

Here is what you can do if you're renting from anyone, especially Goodson Real Estate (Three Dog Holdings).

1. Request a walkthrough with a property manager a month prior to your planned move out date. Put it in writing with the date on it, make a copy, and file it away for future reference.

2. When they perform the walkthough ask them specifically to WRITE DOWN the types of repairs you'll need to make before moving out to ensure that you get as much of your deposit back as possible. Remember to make them WRITE DOWN item by item with a estimate of what they'll deduct if you don't make the fixes. File away their estimate with your original request for a walkthrough.

3. There are many things that a landlord cannot legally charge a renter for when they move out, as they're considered normal wear and tear. Alex Goodson gets around this by charging for things that are not recognized as legally deductible repairs.

4. Call the Los Angeles Housing Community Inventment Department (LAHCID) to find out if the repairs that have been itemized on Goodson's estimate are legal. (866) 557-7368.