Larchwood Villas Nick Nikolic Landlord - Beware of Rip Off, Illegal rental activity/practices Largo, Florida

Hello,

This report is being filed to inform all people who are potentially looking to rent an apartment within the Larchwood Villas, located at 170 Larchwood Drive, Largo, FL 33770.  The landlord (Nick), his wife (Mary), and his son (John) are absolute nightmares - do NOT rent here.  I rented an apartment here for a few months in 2009 - I'm only writing this report now out of fear that I somehow would be sued by the landlord.  During the few months I lived here I was charged all sorts of fees.  I moved in the final week of Aug, paid my deposit of $1000 and Septembers rent of $725.  The second week of September I received a pounding on my door and it was the landlord.  He stated that I still needed to pay him for the last week of August, a pro-rated amount.  I asked how much this was - he said $400.  A week for $400 or a whole month for $725?  Furthermore the landlord informed me that he would only accept cash - no checks and no money orders.  I insisted that I pay via check or something with a receipt - he threatened to evict me.  He stated that he would gladly sign a receipt, acknowledging that he had received the funds.  I asked for 3 months for these receipts and I never received them.  The final straw came when I was notified at 11pm one night, by the landlord, that because I used too much water, threw away too much trash, and that my girlfriend was living in the apartment with me, my rent was going up $200 a month.  I asked him how he came to the conclusion that my girlfriend was living with me.  He stated that he had seen some of her items in the apartment on several occasions.  I asked him if he had been in my apartment without my knowledge/approval and he began speaking a language other than English and quickly walked away.  I began looking to move from the apartment and find some way to break my lease.  I reread my lease and saw the verbage that stated I could not take my landlord to court nor could I even submit the lease to the courts for review.  I ended up moving from my apartment, paying him the $925 for the last month and he kept my deposit of $1000.00.  When asked why, he just hung up the phone.  Interestingly enough, rumor has it in the complex that no one receives their deposit back.  In the 4 months and one week that I lived in the apartment, I paid the landlord over $4,500.00.  According to my lease, I should have only paid him $2,900 and received my deposit back.  I have made a couple of postings online regarding this apartment complex.  The complex is nice and if it wasnt for the landlord and his family, it would be a great place to rent.  Because of the landlord and his practices, Im warning you all STAY AWAY!