We signed a year lease with Area Rentals. The rental was infested with Cockroaches ~ Huge health risk. It was super filthy and had not been cleaned (although they said it had been cleaned.) It was NASTY ~ had NOT been cleaned.
Cockroaches...we asked Area Rentals to take care of this problem. After waiting a reasonable amount of time, (in which we got NO response) we tried to eradicate the cockroaches ourselves. All our efforts were unsuccessful, ineffective, and costly. Area Rentals never did address this habitability issue, ever. Cockroaches crapping in our dishes, in our food...this was unacceptable.
One big window and the sliding glass door would not lock. We were without adequate heat for over 30 days in the winter. The power was unstable for months and the lights flickered constantly until they finally stopped working. We were without any lights and no one came out to repair the problem for over 72 hours after Area Rentals was notified of the possible fire hazard, electrical emergency.
These are only a few examples of the substandard living conditions that we experienced with Area Rentals as our property management company.
Forget little repairs. It was almost like it took an act of congress and three work requests to get them to come out and fix something.
Acting in accordance with California Civil Code, AND the Best Interest of our Child, we terminated our lease due to Landlord negligence and breach of implied warranty of habitability. The health and safety of our family was at risk, and Under California law, we terminated the lease early.
NOW, they will not return our $1,100 security deposit.
We CLEANED the rental spotless to re-rental condition, had the carpets professionally cleaned, returned the keys, and gave them a 60-day notice of our wish to terminate the lease due to Landlord negligence and habitability issues (which "notice" is NOT required by law under these circumstances.)
We would like an apology and our $1,100 security deposit returned.
International Scout
Barstow, California
U.S.A.