Star Batt Inc. Steve Stolaruk Slumlord - Very bad Business tactics, unprofessional management, takes advantage of Small Businesses ROCHESTER HILLS, Michigan

Oh how it never ends! Heavy rains yet again provide us with more roof leakage throughout our building 07/26/12. Just unbelievable!

Update as of July 26th 2012. Early this past June Star Batt Inc. replaced the roof top broken down HVAC unit and had claimed that OUR roofing/flooding problems had caused its demise. This is funny since they own the building of which we lease. Recently as threatened we received a $6000.00 bill for the cost of the new HVAC unit and if we don't pay we will be evicted. We consulted with the Roofing and HVAC contractors and both stated that the HVAC unit and Duct work were never installed correctly from it's original installation. We also have been informed, that the condition of this unit most likely has been causing very inflated energy bills for us the past 22 months due to it's deteriorating condition.More roof leakage throughout the building 07/03/12, front windows, front lobby, and two more places in the back children's play area even after new HVAC unit install and roof sealing. Roofer called on the 5th and came out on the 10th and 13th to do repairs. Thank goodness it didn't continue to rain all 10 days.Pictures included show new area leakage, returning leakage and water damaged wood floor.Even more leakage today 7/26/12 in back children's play area.

Emailed Star Batt on Friday morning 4th about more leakage and only response was "we forwarded your email to Marc". No response 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th or even an on-site evaluation of these issues shows the absolute lack of concern for the safety of our customers. Customers of which all day of 5/4/2012 had to endure the overwhelming odor of electrical burning from the flooded HVAC unit then on May 7th had more rain and more leaks. They continue to jeopardize the progression of our business and fail to follow the last court settlement agreement to investigate and repair any leakage. The recent roof leakage (5/3/-5/4/2012) and flooding of our lobby and the continuous flooding of the HVAC unit has finally caused it's complete breakdown, major damage to the hardwood flooring causing possible mold.  From the beginning of our lease these issues have impeded our plans to complete our lobby, as we have made them well aware of these issues over the past 19 months (the entirety of our lease).

Response from Star Batt on May 8th - "The HVAC technician said the unit is not fixable and needs to be replaced and is the probable cause of your leaking problem!  The quote he gave me is $6800.  Your portion of the expense is spelled out in Paragraph 27 of your lease.  We are ready to move forward on our end and have the unit installed ASAP.  I will need your portion up front.  If this is not possible, I would also be willing to increase your monthly rent over the term of the lease to move this along more quickly."
So now you can clearly see that since the HVAC unit is completely broke down, Star Batt Inc is claiming the leaking is now our problem. Really! Even after continuously explaining to them that only when it storms there is roof leakage in our lobby and flooding of the HVAC and ducts. We are just stunned and at a loss of words anymore at this point. If this isn't the true meaning of slumlord I just don't know what is! 

Overnight rain and storms May 3rd. Morning of May 4th entered front lobby to more roof leakage and flooding on floors. HVAC also flooded AGAIN and not working. Still no progress with these issues and no attempt to provide us with documented repairs or any documentation showing status and condition of both roof and HVAC unit due to flooding.  

Roof and HVAC unit flooding into our front lobby Sunday 15th, 2012. Air Ducts for HVAC with every rain fall fill with water!!! Star Batt Inc continuously fails to repair these ongoing issues correctly and professionally. It is just a absolute lack of respect and very immoral what they do to us as small business tenants. The roof, HVAC unit, and our lobby have been flooding ever since the beginning of our lease! Another threatening email quote from Star Batt Inc. "(Our company name) can and will be sued for eviction for more of its non-performance if you wish to push the matter". Furthermore a previously court settlement states- "Star-Batt agrees, once the windows have been replaced, to continue to investigateany further water leakage in the unit, if replacement/re-caulking/resealing of the windows does not resolve the issue, and if such leakage continues, to take steps to resolve such issues on a timely basis". Star Batt Inc. simply refuses to resolve these issues which is causing a tremendous negative impact on our business. To this date and from June 1st, 2010 we have yet been able to finish our front lobby to our plans because of the flooding.   

So rather than getting any respect and handling recent issues professionally, we have yet more problems with Star Batt Inc. Corporate bullying of small businesses. We continue to have flooding issues from roof and HVAC unit. After recently contacting Star Batt about recent flooding issues and HVAC problems (numerous times to many to count) they have denied us any help and will not take responsibility for their faulty roof which is causing waterfall amounts of water to come into our lobby and fill our HVAC unit duct work which is now resulting in the units malfunction. All they do is send their maintenance workers up to slap tar around and do repairs which they're probably not certified to do. We do have a lease that states we are responsible for "maintenance/repair" of the HVAC unit and we do accept these terms and understand we are responsible for normal wear & tear. BUT, because of roofing problems that haven't been fixed correctly for 16 months now, is causing damage to our HVAC unit. Any issues we bring to their attention which is caused by their building issues and neglect to fix things properly they just threaten us with lawsuit, no renewal of lease and eviction.
 
Some response quotes from Star Batt Inc.
 "Be well aware that you are liable by personal Guaranty for the lease terms and any shortfall in future rents, so think wisely before you act.   We will not hesitate to evict you and hold you personally responsible for all damages for any and all lease shortfall.  Feel free to test the enforce ability of the terms of the lease; we have had a very successful track record in winning court cases"

"We have been around a long time before you came to our complex and will be here a long time after you go"

Issues have been resolved at this time.