SPV Realty - Design Place SPV Realty Unlawful Collection of Alleged Rent Due Despite Desperate Need to Vacate Property and Proper Notification of the Same Miami, Florida

My husband and I have faced serious problems with our previous landlord and their collection practice. Back in June 1 2009, my husband and I were forced to abandon our apartment at the Design Place in Miami, Florida based on a severe rodent and cockroach infestation. The company was warned of the infestations and of our need to vacate the premises on previous occasions, including detailed letters and email both mailed and hand develiered to the adminsitration advising them of the situation. Said warnings were given a substantial time in advance, prior to vacating the premises since, although we had a year lease, said lease could be terminated after six months based on our prior agreements with the landlord. In fact, we went personally to the management office and explained to Mr. Frank Leonor our situation and our urgent need to vacate the property as we could no longer continue living in such substandard conditions. We were told that we would be allowed to vacate the property but my security deposit would be forfeited. In return, we would nto be charged for the additional two months allegedly remaining on my lease. Hesistantly, we agreed to the same and subsequently confirmed our agreement in writing via a letter which was also mailed and hand delivered. Now, some time after we left the premises, we are being contacted by collection agencies retained by the subject property regarding money allegedly owed to said company.

Not only did we have to live in substandard conditions, but now we are actually being charged extra for finally abandoning them and taking all the proper steps in doing so. No money is owed to the company. The collection agency has forwarded us the documentation used to allegedly substantiate the collection process. Said documentation includes our leasing contract and letters mailed to our old apartment address at the Design Place even after we had given notice that we had vacated the property and conducted the inspection. Needless to say, the documentation is not sufficient to hold their claim for collection purposes. Nevertheless, the company has made our living sitution extremely stressful by placing an additional hardship on us and destroying our credit.