I recommend to parents (and of course, anyone) considering Pomona West Apartments, so you can see how Pomona West Apartments treats their tenants.
On August 5, 2022, we moved out, thoroughly cleaned all day, and hired a professional to clean the carpets in apartment 8A at Pomona West Apartments. We took video of the apartment to have a record of the cleaned apartment. A Pomona West Apartments Management Office Associate stated that they will have the carpet cleaned unless we have them professional cleaned. This same associate further stated that we would have to provide a receipt if we had carpet professionally cleaned. Before we returned the keys, Paul another Pomona West Apartments Management Office Associate walked the apartment. Paul made the comment that the apartment smelled clean, no negative remarks, and no checkout sheet. After the walk-thru we returned the keys and a receipt showing the carpet was professionally cleaned.
On August 25, 2022, Pomona West Apartments provided an itemized list of deductions from our security deposit. Pomona West Apartments originally showed a deducted total of $890.00 (for carpet cleaning, 8 hours of kitchen cleaning, and replaced blinds) from our $2,700.00 security deposit. After these deductions of $890.00 from our $2,700.00 security deposit, the itemized statement showed the original security deposit return total of $1,810.00.
On August 25, 2022, we emailed the Pomona West Apartments to dispute the carpet cleaning ($200.00) and eight (8) hours of kitchen cleaning ($400.00) deductions from our security deposit. Later, we also questioned the kitchen blinds ($40.00) as our video shows the blinds intact and appeared unbroken. We also requested receipts of actual costs incurred but none have been provided. California Civil Code Section 1950.5(g)(2) states along with the itemized statement, the landlord shall also include copies of documents showing charges incurred and deducted by the landlords to repair or clean the premises. The "documents" should include the hourly rate, specific work performed, hours spent, and documentation of expenses invoices, bill, or receipt. The landlord must prove that the hourly rate, time, spent, and work done was all "reasonable."
We have emailed the video on several occasions to the Pomona West Apartments Management Office to show how cleaned we left the apartment. If you clean your own apartment, we recommend that you take a video and ensure you get a checkout sheet showing results of cleanliness and anything that needs fixing. Because based on emails received, Pomona West Apartments will blame their lack of communications for any misunderstanding.
Initially, the Management Office agreed to reimburse the cleaning carpet charge ($200.00) and they requested that we change our review on Yelp.
On August 31, 2022, Jason another Pomona West Apartments Management Office Associate proposed a counteroffer to mine for the reimbursement of the carpet cleaning ($200.00) and a portion for the kitchen cleaning ($100.00 out of the $400.00).
On September 1, 2022, we agreed to the above-mentioned counteroffer for the carpet cleaning ($200.00) and a portion for the kitchen cleaning ($100.00 out of the $400.00).
On September 8, 2022, I emailed Pomona West Apartments to remind them that they had not returned our security deposit. And that according to California Civil Code Section 1950.5 which states that after tenancy is terminated, a landlord has 21 days to return the tenant's security deposit.
On September 16, 2022, Pomona West Apartments returned $1,860.00 out of $2,700.00 of our security deposit. I want to make clear this was over the 21 days from August 5, 2022, the day we moved out. So, not only did Pomona West Apartments violate California Civil Code 1950.5, they also did not live up to their counteroffer in reimbursing the carpet cleaning ($200.00) and a portion for the kitchen cleaning ($100.00 out of the $400.00). The security deposit return should have been $1,810.00 (original return on itemized statement) and the $300.00 (counteroffer by Pomona West Apartments) for a total of $2,110.00, but instead Pomona West Apartments return was $1,860.00 with no explanation and no receipts for actual costs incurred.
We have reported Pomona West Apartments with the Better Business Bureau Sacramento and the CA Attorney General's Office. Next step is to file in small claims court for their California Civil Code violations and breach of agreement to reimburse the carpet cleaning ($200.00) and a portion for the kitchen cleaning ($100.00 out of the $400.00).
I stongly don't recommend Pomona West Apartments to any parent (for their student), student, or anyone for that matter. Look elsewhere. read more