Photo in main office: White family of three sitting on driveway rock wall in front of nice looking house states: "We abide by a code of ethics: Integrity"
I just went to the Greene Realty office to pickup my security deposit from my old rental which I received 100% back. I took this photo in their lobby and a receptionist asked what I liked about the picture. I told her the irony of it. She looked at me like a deer in head lights and asked, you didn't have a good experience? I told her no, and mentioned the property manager's name. She recommended I speak with the owner. I told her that he and I have a very close relationship for a tenant and the owner of a real estate company. I would not have had such a close relationship with him if a good friend had not told me about the Washington State Tenant's Union months ago when the behavior and threats of the manager started to weigh upon my shoulders. Upon speaking with the Union, I learned what my legal rights were, and as I was moving out and the property manager and secretary were trying to make things difficult for me once again, I spoke with the owner about the property manager's and secretary's unethical, if not illegal, behavior towards me.
If I had been in my 20's I would not have had the life experience necessary to stand up for my rights, and it would have been a battle of egos that I would have lost because of my reactionary and rebellious nature. But, having owned a house for 16 years, and being a 46 years old, a professional teacher, a parent of two, and a human being who knows the difference between right and wrong, this experience allowed me to learn what my legal rights are and stand up for them in a way that I have never had to before. At first my voice shook. Now, it's calm demeanor had people telling me there is no way you'll get 100% back. That was very irritating because there was legally no reason why I should not have gotten my complete deposit back.
Which brings me to my point: QUESTION AUTHORITY! When your gut and instincts tell you something is wrong, trust that! But learn what your rights are or you might get taken advantage of like I almost did.
Now that my move is complete (except for unpacking), I feel a lot of relief. And I am so happy in my new pink house!
So far, Hometown Property Management has been wonderful. Exactly what I told Greene Realty: If you had wanted me to maintain a quality baseline for the home and yard, then, that is how you should have presented it to me. Threatening to evict me if I did not do work on the yard that should have been done prior to lease signing, (that is what baseline presentation means, the presentation of the house and yard upon lease signing) is not only wrong, but laws protect me (the tenant) from being taken advantage of by property managers. I chose to do the work anyways, because he was going to hire a crew to do it and make me pay for it.
It was after I did all the work that I actually called the tenant's union and they told me that I have ZERO responsibility to IMPROVE the baseline.
The property manager offered to pay me for my work if I maintained the new baseline, taking advantage of my ignorance of my rights. (unethical for sure, and most certainly illegal). Once I discovered this, I called the owner of the realty company and he met me and the property manager at the house and we went through the whole story I just went through with you.
At some points the owner tried to do the same thing, saying I was responsible for making sure the moss doesn't get worse. I told him that the moss was there, and half the grass is dead, and the expansion of moss is not to be attributed by my refusal to accept responsibility for that, but to be attributed to the fact that upon lease signing, half the grass was dead and covered in moss.
BASELINE: do not forget this term if you rent. Take lots of photos.
In the end, the owner told the property manager to do his job and stop blaming me for his lack of care and attention to the property he is contracted to manage.
When I moved in, the lawn was 6 inches high. I told them, as far as I'm concerned, I have no legal obligation to even mow the lawn before I leave (which I did not) . They said, "will you maintain at this level?" (the baseline I improved). I told them we'll see.
Thank you Washington State Tenants Union!
If you are having problems with your landlord, call the Washington State Tenants Union. They will help you navigate your lease and your legal responsibilities and will also help you understand your legal rights!
"Tenants Rights Counseling
The Tenant Education Program helps tenants get the knowledge and skills to keep themselves and their families safely housed. The TU provides empowerment-based tenant counseling, education and assistance to help tenants learn their rights and take action to resolve housing problems. Trained non-attorney Tenant Counselors offer free phone and walk-in tenant counseling services to assist people with question read more
