Complaint Review: Lobos Management

I have lived in the Adrian complex for three years. The first year, they seemed like a good management company -- courteous service, respectful, even waived a late fee the one time I was a couple of days late on the rent. In the second year, problems began. First was the front door. The do not fix it when it's broken, the simply bend the metal around the latch (come on, that piece of hardware is around $2.00 as a local hardware store). A drunk guy kept sneaking in in the winter to stay warm.

Then the vandalism started. People were scratching things on the elevator, okay. People get drunk and probably do that. But then I began to notice a smell in the elevator. Apparently someone had a dog that was urinating in there (unless, God forbid, it was a person). They kept "perfuming" the elevator carpet, which just made matters worse. Finally, they replaced the carpet with tile (after a full two years of this). Next were the mailboxes -- pried open three times in 2008-2009!!! Lobos was called time and again by tenants and the police. It was often a week before they were fixed. I had to get my mail from the post office two miles away. Third, the paint on the lobby ceiling started cracking and falling in large chunks. I called their "maintenance" after being hit by a piece of falling paint about a foot and a half in diameter. They didn't deem to care (and it came very close ot hitting me in the eye). It took them about three weeks to fix that (mainly because their maintenance people spent the day smoking on the lobby couch!). But wait, there's more. They have shut of heating and AC everywhere in the building except inside the apartments. In winter, I had to wear a coat to check my mail or get food delivery. The front door can be "jimmied" open by anyone. Repeated vandalism. Noise complaints go unanswered. The people in the office (particularly Lori and Ebony) are utter incompetent and would not last under any other employee.

Finally, there was the great water and sewage scam, which affected many people in my building. I never signed anything that said I had to pay for water and sewage -- not the lease, not a renewal, not a separate contract. For several months, they tried to charge me nearly $20 a month, and would send threatening letters and make threatening phone calls. I finally got so sick of it that I called and told them I would pursuing a harassment claim, and I would not pay anything unless they showed proof that I had signed something to that effect. After waiting on the phone for about five minutes, they told me they had made a mistake with me and several tenants at the Adrian, and that I was not obligated to pay anything. I have recently found out they are still billing water and sewage to tenants in the Adrian!!! I have half a mind to call the police or the FBI, because I believe this qualifies as embezzlement and/or fraud, but I am not sure of this. Living conditions are unsuitable at this and other Lobos locations.

Avoid anyone attached to Lobos Management, Ron Sobol, or the phone number (412) 441-1400. I do not make these accusations lightly, and only do so because I know many of my friends and neighbors have also been vicitimized by this deplorable company. Spread the word about Lobos Management, for the health and safety of Pittsburgh renter! For information on prior legal and city actions against Lobos: http://ww.postgazette.com/pg/08024/851565-56.stm, http://www.postgazette.com/pg/08262/912925-56.stm, and http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=20060618&id=JbINAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XnIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6366,2826357

Ron
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.