ARC American Residential Communities Discriminated against due managers dislike for us Wichita, Kansas

We moved to Twin Oaks in Wichita last July (2011). Right away we started off by loosing about $500 worth the freezer food due to their maintenance failing to do a functions check in the home prior to us moving in. One of the outlets, which happened to be the outlet our freezer got plugged into, wasnt working, so 5 days later I open it and all of our food was thawed. I called the office and had them come to the home so they can see it because I did not want them to think that we were making it up. The reaction was more less...hmm sucks for you!! Since the home did not have a dishwasher, we offered them a deal that we will replace the food as long as they buy one and install it. They agreed and it was a done deal. I am thinking, well this is not so bad.

Since then it has been 11 months of pure hell with them. We had a sewer pipe come loose under the home and it went unattended for several days. I didnt not take a count but I am taking a wild guess that we had thousands of sewer flies in the home because of it. The only reason this issue was fixed because I finally had it and called the city inspector.

We have put in around 27 maintenance requests since we moved in which less than half have been rectified. The biggest issue were our windows leaking. They are still leaking to this day. They sent people out 3 different times but it appears none of them have an idea how to fix it. I have a lung conditions that prohibits me from being around mold and even mentioned this prior to moving in and I was assured there is no mold present in the home. Well here we are 6 months into our lease and I had to be put on stronger inhalers and even my husband whom never had a problem that would call for him to be on inhalers, now has been given 2 different types due him starting to experience breathing problems.

The 27 maintenance requests mentioned above range anywhere from heater not working, stove not working, water leaks by back and front door, ac not working, no GFCI outlet by the sink, deadbolt not locking, front porch railings coming loose, storm window not staying open, window wont open half the time in bedroom, countertop falling down to shingles missing, leaky windows. I wanted to list this because I wanted to be clear that these are not nit pick work orders. 

So here we are now, May 2012. The mold is becoming more and more of an issue. We told the manager that I can not stay in this home and that the windows are leaking again. He told us that they do not have a DW home available and that he has to put us into something comparable to what we have now. After doing some research on the internet I found a home in Haysville that was a DW and more suitable and comparable to what we are in now. So i called the park this home is in only to be informed that it is only for sale, even after I explained her our situation, she insisted there is nothing she can do, for sale only. I went to ARC's website and clearly, for this home is has a rental price listed. I speak to our manager, he makes a call and asks her and same story, for sale only. I showed him the print out of the Website Ad. He proceeds to get in touch with the DM and after about 5 minutes the "sale only" was overwritten by the DM. May I say that me having copies of the HUD laws and Fair Housing Act may have had something to do with that. I also mentioned that my friend went by the home and took pictures of the sign in the yard that clearly states "For sale OR LEASE". I am sure that only helped my case.

That evening we came across a home that is up for sale by a private individual and we wanted to check into that option as well. I told the manager that we are going to look at a different home as well, just to keep our options open. I then get told that the Haysville Manager stated that we will not be allowed to put up our fence or our flagpole and that we need to have an answer to them if we are taking the home no later than monday 5pm. I am thinking at this point, Uhm isnt it your fault we have to move? Do not rush me now, its been 10 month of them doing hardly nothing about anything while we have done nothing but pay rent early or on time and kept our yard looking nice and clean. I told him i may need another day depending on when we can see the other home.

I went to the see the Haysville Manager on saturday morning which was the next day to let her know that it may be tuesday evening or wednesday morning before we would know for sure if we would be transferring into the home in her park. Friday evening we were made aware of by our manager that the Haysville manager does not like us and therefore she was trying anything and everything to keep us out of her park..interesting right?? So back to saturday morning, I walk into her office and get greeted with a "hey giiiiirrlll" wow how unprofessional is this? Knowing she doesnt like us, i honestly wasnt in the modd for a greeting that only one of my friends would give me. I told her that I wasnt there to chew the fat with her or make friends. I told her that we may need until Wednesday morning to make a decision. That did not set well with her. She kept interrupting me as I was trying to explain to her what other option we are seeking out. I finally told her that I would just talk to Chris (DM)about it and it all went sour from there. She asked Chris who, i told her Chris the District Manager...and I proceeded to explain to her. She interrupted me again to ask if I had an appointment with him and i politely told her no but if I had to I would sit outside of his office and wait on him because this situation with us living in a house full of mold needed to be resolved. I proceeded to tell her our plan when out of the blue she slaps her hands on her desk and asks with me a raised voice WELL DO YOU WANT THE HOME OR NOT?? I was stunned and couldnt even say anything. I was however able to raise my hand up and say that she is not going to talk to me that way and that she will have it coming to her. I left and even shut the office door quietly. I right away drove to our Community Manager so I can tell him what just happened. He tells that he already hear because she called him already. I told him what happened anyway due to wanting to let him hear what happened. While we were talking the District Manager Chris called him and told him the deal was off because he did not take kindly to resident cussing out his Managers. I was hot...I never called her anything and this man doesnt even care to hear both sides of the story. I was on the other side of the desk and have years and years of manager experience, I know how to talk to people when situations need a resolution and cussing and screaming is not the way to go about it. 

At this point I feel discriminated due to the fact we DO KNOW that she does not like us. So here was the perfect opportunity to prevent us from moving to her park. A meeting with the DM was set for Monday morning 10am. At this point we do no longer want to do any business with ARC period. 

Monday morning 10am-meeting. We explained to him what we have been through for the past 11 months and shared a little insight of what it is really like to be an ARC resident. He was very open to listening, I give him that. I mentioned to him that we feel that she kept us out of her park for a reason but that went nowhere. So long story short, we got offered to be let out of our lease without having to pay the early lease termination fee (ya you bet because its not our fault we have to leave) and full deposit refund. Not one word about paying our moving expenses and no apology for what we have been through. I feel ripped off, we paid our rent all these months and this is the best they have to offer? How about the thing about not liking us and the way she spoke to me while i was in her office? What about the fact that they did have the home advertised as for sale or lease? The man had no care in the world when I expressed my suspicions of HUD Laws and Fair Housing Acts being violated. Keep in mind that ARC is now refusing the home to us based on a lie. In my mind, first priority should be my health and offering a solution to all the problem we have had.

We will be filing a Law Suit against them for refusing to rent, sell or exchange real property for discriminatory reasons, for presenting a property that is not available for rent when in fact it is (their sign stated for sale or lease), Dwelling has an available sign but they told us its not for lease and I could go and on about the laws they have broken. I want others to know, you do have rights as a tenant. Do not let them bully your around, take action. Make phone calls to call the agencies out there that can help you identify if they are breaking the law or not. They will guide you in the right direction. 

To anybody out there that is looking to move their home in an ARC park, DO NOT DO IT!! They will raise your lot rent all the time. One of the people I hear is paying 350 dollars a month for lot rent only but they dont have an option to move there home because ARC has locked them into a 5 year lease. DO NOT rent a rental from them either. Their maintenance people are ... well lets just say my 13 year old son has a better grasp of how to fix things. They are unprofessional. One of the tore up our shower curtain rod and smeared adhesive all over our bathtub and didnt even clean it up. When they do finally show up to "fix" something, they look at it and tell you that they will have to get the part and come back. I wasnt aware that "will have to come back" ment days later. They leave their trash everywhere on your property and do not pick up after themselves. 

ARC takes your money and does not uphold their end of the bargain. The make promises they have no intend to keep. The managers are nice to you until you move in. Then when you get upset because things are not getting fixed, they develop an attitude for you rather than doing their job and putting themselves into the residents shoes. 

I will live under a bridge before I EVER do business with them again. DO yourself a favor and keep looking if you are in the market for a lot or rental. Drive past their places. There are too many other honest parks out there that will appreciate your business.