Provided by the Bucks County Department of Consumer Protection:
Q. I have lived in my apartment for the last ten years, and I have had many problems with my manager and staff ever since I moved in. I contacted him almost immediately after I moved in about a leak in the bathroom, which took them six months to fix. Then my refrigerator broke and they replaced it with a very old used one. I called to complain and they told me that it runs and that is all that it has to do. I have been putting up with a lot of issues in this apartment that the manager would not address. I decided I had enough and I moved out. Now the manager has sent a letter saying that he is keeping my security deposit of $1,200, plus I now owe him another $1,200. The letter states that the reason is because I didn’t give the proper 60 days notice to vacate. I feel that with all the problems that I had with the apartment that I didn’t have a choice but to just move out. Don’t I have a right to just move if the manager doesn’t take care of the problems? BR Bensalem
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A. Bucks County Consumer Protection looked into this complaint. The facts are there was a lease and in the lease it states that you must give 60 days notice to vacate in writing, which was not done. It is important to read your lease from beginning to end and understand and follow the agreement. Also, there was never a letter sent to the manager from you concerning any of the issues you had with the apartment. Tenants need to document their issues with their apartment units to management by sending letters with the details of the problem and what they would like to see as the resolution. Your management company claims they had never been notified of your issues and claims if they had it would have been repaired. They also produced letters they claim to have sent you concerning numerous lease violations on your end. If you do send a letter make sure you keep a copy for your records. Take photographs when you can. This way tenants have proof that they contacted management with their concerns and tried to work it out. Landlords and tenants both have responsibilities and a lease usually address how it needs to be handled. We are sorry we have been unable to help you but please contact us for our Landlord/tenant guide or visit our website at www.buckscounty.org and go to the Consumer protection page under tips and brochures and landlord /tenant . We think tenants and landlords will benefit with this booklet.
