S
sugarprincess
Guest
Michigan; apartment complex of major management/rental company (apartments across the country)
We currently have a washer and dryer in our apartment that we are paying $15/month for (included in our rent). This fact is included in our lease by a fill-in-the-blank line which looks something like this (with the dollar amounts typed in):
OPTIONAL ITEM(S):
( ) Cable ( 15 ) Washer/Dryer ( 10 ) Storage Unit
A few months ago we decided to buy our own appliances to save money (reducing our monthly rent by $15). We called the apartment complex management and told them what we planned to do, and specifically asked if we needed to do (or know) anything special or if we just needed to let them know when to come get the old appliances. We were told we just needed to let them know when to come get the things. We also reaffirmed that our rent would be reduced by $15. So we ordered our appliances.
A few days later, while conversing with management about an ongoing problem, I reaffirmed our rent reduction and this manager said, “Yes, your rent will be reduced by $15, but we will need to charge you a $12 water and sewage fee.” WHAT? I explained what the previous person had told me (no mention of a new fee) and she said “That’s just the way we do it.” I was so shocked I just hung up the phone. I then looked up our lease...and right in the lease it says “MANAGEMENT WILL PAY FOR GARBAGE, WATER/SEWER, [and something else].” It is not something typed in (like the dollar amounts in the Optional Items), but rather it is definitely a pre-printed part of the lease.
I called back and explained what was in the lease, and was told (again) that we would have to pay the fee for water/sewer. I asked how they could possibly charge that when it said RIGHT IN THE LEASE that management paid for it? Again, she said “That’s just the way we do it.” She said something about having had some option when we signed the lease ... and I assured her that when we signed the original lease (three years ago), no one ever said anything about any fees if we chose to use our own appliances.
So I called the statewide manager and discussed it with him. And I basically got major attitude from him, saying things to me like:
“This is just how we do it.“
“Well, no one has ever complained about this before.“
“The Attorney General accepted the lease as it is written.”
“Do you want to get in a legal fight about this? I have lots of lawyers.”
I was extremely shocked. He basically said that when we signed the lease, we agreed to use their appliances, and if we weren’t going to use their appliances, we would have to pay the fee. I said “Then that should be stated in the lease, or at least mentioned when we signed the original lease. You should tell that to your lawyers.” He also said that we could get rid of their appliances if we wanted (to get rid of the fee), but if it was discovered that we brought in our own, they would send someone up to put a lock on the gas/water valves.
So, since we didn’t see the point in trading a $12 fee (that was CLEARLY stated as paid-by-management in the lease) for a $15 fee PLUS paying for a new washer and dryer, we cancelled our order (incurring a restocking fee, but that’s another story!). I still think they’re in the wrong, but I lost the will to fight after this dragged on for three weeks. (To add just a bit more to the story, this is NOT the management that was here when we moved in. These yahoos had just arrived about three months priot to this incident, and we had four distinct problems with them within one month. We do not like them and don't speak to them unless absolutely necessary.)
Do I have any ground to stand on? I am willing to fight this if need be (even though I will be moving out within the next year).
We currently have a washer and dryer in our apartment that we are paying $15/month for (included in our rent). This fact is included in our lease by a fill-in-the-blank line which looks something like this (with the dollar amounts typed in):
OPTIONAL ITEM(S):
( ) Cable ( 15 ) Washer/Dryer ( 10 ) Storage Unit
A few months ago we decided to buy our own appliances to save money (reducing our monthly rent by $15). We called the apartment complex management and told them what we planned to do, and specifically asked if we needed to do (or know) anything special or if we just needed to let them know when to come get the old appliances. We were told we just needed to let them know when to come get the things. We also reaffirmed that our rent would be reduced by $15. So we ordered our appliances.
A few days later, while conversing with management about an ongoing problem, I reaffirmed our rent reduction and this manager said, “Yes, your rent will be reduced by $15, but we will need to charge you a $12 water and sewage fee.” WHAT? I explained what the previous person had told me (no mention of a new fee) and she said “That’s just the way we do it.” I was so shocked I just hung up the phone. I then looked up our lease...and right in the lease it says “MANAGEMENT WILL PAY FOR GARBAGE, WATER/SEWER, [and something else].” It is not something typed in (like the dollar amounts in the Optional Items), but rather it is definitely a pre-printed part of the lease.
I called back and explained what was in the lease, and was told (again) that we would have to pay the fee for water/sewer. I asked how they could possibly charge that when it said RIGHT IN THE LEASE that management paid for it? Again, she said “That’s just the way we do it.” She said something about having had some option when we signed the lease ... and I assured her that when we signed the original lease (three years ago), no one ever said anything about any fees if we chose to use our own appliances.
So I called the statewide manager and discussed it with him. And I basically got major attitude from him, saying things to me like:
“This is just how we do it.“
“Well, no one has ever complained about this before.“
“The Attorney General accepted the lease as it is written.”
“Do you want to get in a legal fight about this? I have lots of lawyers.”
I was extremely shocked. He basically said that when we signed the lease, we agreed to use their appliances, and if we weren’t going to use their appliances, we would have to pay the fee. I said “Then that should be stated in the lease, or at least mentioned when we signed the original lease. You should tell that to your lawyers.” He also said that we could get rid of their appliances if we wanted (to get rid of the fee), but if it was discovered that we brought in our own, they would send someone up to put a lock on the gas/water valves.
So, since we didn’t see the point in trading a $12 fee (that was CLEARLY stated as paid-by-management in the lease) for a $15 fee PLUS paying for a new washer and dryer, we cancelled our order (incurring a restocking fee, but that’s another story!). I still think they’re in the wrong, but I lost the will to fight after this dragged on for three weeks. (To add just a bit more to the story, this is NOT the management that was here when we moved in. These yahoos had just arrived about three months priot to this incident, and we had four distinct problems with them within one month. We do not like them and don't speak to them unless absolutely necessary.)
Do I have any ground to stand on? I am willing to fight this if need be (even though I will be moving out within the next year).