DECRON Properties - Pacific Ocean Apts Terrible management at Apartments... indicative of the apple not falling far from the tree Santa Monica California

I'm currently a resident at these apartments, so it was difficult deciding whether to speak out about these problems. My hesitation was because it was difficult moving and I was not ready to move again. However, after reading someone else's experience from Bay Club in Marina Del Rey (Report: #418310) I decided I needed to bring my experiences to light. I think the problem is further up the ladder and it begins at Decron.

In my opinion, Pacific Ocean Apartments (owned by Decron Properties) are decent apartments for the money. Unfortunately they have a terrible onsite property manager (Elizabeth "Lisa" Marshall). To put it simply: she lies (so get everything in writing), she talks down to residents, she is lazy (spends more time on the internet working on clothing designs than helping residents), and can be malicious.

Basically, I consider myself an easy-going person and a pretty good judge of character over the years. So when I met Lisa I could tell she was not the sort of person I would want to meet again She soon demonstrated this during a phone call with a distressed resident as she responded with an unsympathetically tone as to why she towed their car from their parking space- saying it was because different cars were using the space. Rather than intervene, I let it go. Later on, a resident saw I was interested in the place and confided that the maintenance was terrible, but since I'm a handy person I ignored the warning.

When I moved in I immediately noticed a moldy smell coming from the bathroom and upon closer inspection noticed the smell was coming from the sink cabinets and behind the walls. I contacted the manager and she said she would have a "mold inspection". I also pointed out how the bathroom door did not properly close or lock, the wall plaster in the kitchen and living room was bulging and cracking, and about 8 other missing or repair items.

On the day of the scheduled "mold inspection" I was at work. When I came home there was a note from the property manager saying that she looked below the bathroom sink and did not notice any signs of mold... basically, she performed the "mold inspection" herself! On top of that, the maintenance person who adjusted my bathroom door left with 2 of my tools that I had out (my needle nose pliers and regular pliers).

I complained that the "mold inspection" was not performed by an authorized inspector and pointed out that the smell was still so bad that I could not keep towels or anything below the sink without getting a moldy smell. I also complained about my missing tools, but got nowhere.

I then pointed out that the hardwood floor was not placed at the entry as discussed. The property manager responded that the carpet installers apparently forgot and there was nothing she could do. It was one month later when I noticed a seam in the carpet near the entrance where the hardwood was to be placed, therefore the carpet installer did not forget. Instead, she decided to cut corners- which soon became obvious, was the common theme for the entire apartment.

Then 30 days after living here my rent was due. Since the end of the month fell on a Sunday I planned on paying it early on Monday morning. However, later that Sunday a "3-day Pay or Quit" notice was prepared and posted on my door with a $85 late charge applied to my rent. This was after my first month in the apartment, for I always pay my rent on time! This was uncalled for and insulting, nevertheless I paid the fee and made no fuss.

While living here the elevator in the parking garage is regularly out of order- practically once a month like clockwork. Then it will remain broken for 3-5 days, although it once went unrepaired for an entire month! With no stairs nearby, everyone has to either trudge outside of the secured building to a stairway outside, or walk to the other end of the building where a second elevator is located.

The worst however, was when my brand new car was towed from its parking space with no notice. To make a long story short, the property manager said my car was towed because it was not registered at the office. On top of that she then said that my car alarm was bothering residents. However, rather than calling me as she customarily did, she said she knocked on my door. However, this is not possible since I was sick in bed all day and did not hear a knock.

Later that day I went to my parking space and saw my car was missing. No note was placed on my apartment door (if she had knocked) and I could only assume my car was stolen. After speaking to 911 for an hour they were able to find that my car was impounded. After paying the towing fee, I asked the tow truck driver if my car alarm was going off when they arrived and he said it was not. I then went to the car dealer and they confirmed that my car alarm was working fine. I then tested the alarm myself and after shaking my car vigorously it alarmed for 45 seconds and turned off. I asked residents who lived above my parking space and they said they did not hear a bothersome alarm. I presented all of these facts to the property management company (Decron) and they said they would do an "investigation". After 2-3 weeks I got a letter back from Decron saying that since my vehicle was not registered at the office that it could be towed. Ok, does this make any sense at all?! Does that mean my friends or family cannot park in my parking space even though I pay for the space?! This is outrageous! I checked my lease agreement and it does not say this. But I am now stuck with a $300 towing fee and my roof racks were scratched and damaged in the process of pulling it out from below the building- another $600.

Now I must go to small claims court to reclaim my expenses- and all for what? I will never get back the time and the frustration from this. Decron is only protecting their interests putting the burden of proof on me. The tow truck company even confided that another individual from my apartment building was suing for a similar event.

So while that was definitely the worst event, there are still plenty more. For instance, the jacuzzi was down for 8 months with no explanation to the tenants. Then when it was finally opened the water tasted like rust- I mean, it was bad, really bad- and may still be that way for all I know. Then there is how the property manager spends all her time on the internet working on clothing designs while phone calls go to her voicemail and she ignores people on the security camera as they call and wait at the front gate. I've seen her do it- she even did it to me. Fortunately, someone let me in, so when I arrived at her office she was surprised how I was able to get in.

Basically these apartments are old, and as a result warning signs are posted all over about the asbestos. But as bad as asbestos concerns might be, I believe the more pressing health concern is the mold behind these walls that is being covered. I saw it firsthand in my bathroom.

Decron is cutting corners and not listening to their most important customer- the residents!

Anonymous resident
Santa Monica, California
U.S.A.