7rent.com, False Advertising Apartment Scam! Columbus Ohio

On 6/7/07 we signed a lease with 7rent.com, Ltd. to lease 90 E. 8th Ave. #3 Columbus, Ohio 43201 for 12 months beginning the 1st day of September 2007. We mailed a check the same day for $625 to hold the property per the instructions of Angel Robinson. The lease states that the landlord (7rent.com, Ltd.) will give possession of the leased property on 9/1/07 in a clean, safe, and sanitary condition.

However, upon our arrival on 9/4/07 we found it to be in a state of disrepair that was not in agreement with the terms of the lease. It was neither clean, safe, nor sanitary and certainly not move-in ready, as advertised on 7rent.com's website.

We had been notified on 9/4/07 by Angel Robinson that three rooms were in need of new carpet and that this carpet would be installed the next week. We were assured at this time that the rest of the property was ready for occupation. However, upon inspection of the carpet we felt that all of the carpet needed to be replaced.

Furthermore, we found problems with the property ranging from sloppy and obviously hurried painting and repairs to unsafe conditions (exposed electrical wiring and loose carpet on the stairs) to unsanitary conditions (dirty cupboard and counters and windows, bathtubs containing mildew, and dusty vents). The lease also states that The landlord or its Agent may enter the property during reasonable hours by appointment to examine the same, to make necessary repairs and to protect any property from damage

When we arrived at the property on the evening of 9/4/07, the Landlord was present in the property, however, we had not been notified. We feel that 7rent.com, Ltd. has seriously misrepresented the property and the condition of it prior to our arrival. Specifically, the apartment was not move-in ready as advertised and the apartment was not clean, safe, and sanitary as stipulated in the lease.

Furthermore, the entry of the landlord into our property without contacting us also violates the contract which states that the apartment cannot be entered into without prior appointment. The above grievances, we are confident, amount to the violation of the terms of the lease by 7rent.com, Ltd. and as such we have vacated the property known as 90 E. 8th Ave. #3 effective 9/5/07. We requested that our lease be cancelled effective September 5th 2007 and that our security deposit in the amount of $625 be refunded. However, 7rent.com., Ltd. has not been open to communication.

We have called them, faxed them and emailed them, but have received very few phone calls and a letter stating that they do not accept our lease termination - even though they now list the property (90 E 8th Ave. #3) as available for immediate occupancy on their website! We have met with legal council, who advise us that we are indeed the wronged party in this situation. All we want is for our lease to be canceled and our security deposit of $625 returned. 7rent.com, Ltd has consistently avoided our phone calls and attempts to meet with them.

Traskgirl
Columbus, Ohio
U.S.A.