Stephen of New York, NY on July 21, 2003
The first incident occured when I was negotiating a move out date after deciding not to renew my lease. I showed my apartment to a prospective tenant who ended up taking the apartment. Because of other commitments, this guy couldn't move in until the 25th of June but Landmark charged him beginning the 15th, which isn't that unreasonable. However, when it looked like I couldn't move into my new apartment until the 15th of June, Landmark wanted me to pay a full month's rent just to stay those 2 extra weeks...on top of the half month rent this other guy was already paying them for the same month.
Fortunately, my new apartment became available in time for a June 1 move in but even if it hadn't I would have slept on the street before paying them a full month's rent!
The second example of how unethical they are came in today's mail, when I finally received my security deposit (7 weeks after moving out). They had deducted $760 in bogus charges: $140 for cleaning, $450 for painting, and $175 for buffing floors. You don't know me but I left my apartment immaculate when I moved out--far better condition than when I moved in. It was a very small studio so even if I had left it dirty, anyone could have cleaned it in less than an hour. Even so, minor cleaning is almost always the responsibility of the owner to make the apartment ready for the next tenent. Painting is the same story.
I had only been in the apartment one year so it was in great condition. I had painted one wall a different color but the tenant specified in the lease that he wanted the wall to remain that way. Finally, I had two large rugs on the floor that covered 90% of the floor space. There was no reason to buff the floors, as they were in the exact condition when I moved out as when I moved in. I've been trying to reach the manager all day to dispute these charges but they say he is out and that I have to call him on his cell phone. Of course, he doesn't answer his cell phone!
