Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/01/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Dear authorized person,
  
  I am writing to formally express my grievance regarding the treatment I have received from Woodland Management at Clemson, my former landlord. I am an international student pursuing a master's degree at Clemson University. My complaint revolves around the mishandling of my security deposit and various lease agreement violations that have occurred during my tenancy.
  On August 28th, I received a disposition letter from Woodland Management stating that my balance is zero, which is in stark contrast to the $520 I paid as a deposit before moving into the property. This letter did not provide any breakdown of how they utilized my deposit. Despite numerous attempts to contact them via phone and email, I received an unhelpful response, claiming they used my deposit as March rent without any prior agreement or notice.
  My safety was compromised during my stay due to a roommate's unprovoked attack. Despite my pleas, Woodland Management showed no interest in addressing this issue, prompting me to seek temporary housing provided by the university. During this time, they pressured other tenants to sign a lease addendum and pay my share of the rent.
  However, after a phone conversation with the landlord of the Woodland Management property, I agreed to move out, not pay the remaining rent, and receive my deposit back at the end of the lease. I promptly documented this agreement via email on February 9, 2023, but received no response, confirming my suspicion of their lack of professionalism.
  On 19 February 2023, after partially moving out, I returned home on 22 February 2023 with one of my friends to clean the room and take back my remaining belongings, but I discovered that Woodland Management had broken into my room, discarded my belongings, and assigned it to my previous roommates. Their response was both rude and uncooperative when I confronted them. The police were called by me, but they cited it as a civil matter. Subsequently, the landlord provided me a receipt that they took the keys on 22 February, but they put a false key return date, which was 21 February.
  Despite my repeated attempts to contact them through email, my correspondence was blocked. Only after filing a maintenance request did they update my resident app to reflect no outstanding balance. I vacated the premises without further incident.
  After I received my disposition letter, I noticed that my security deposit had been treated as a rent payment on March 15, 2023, from the account ledger, which I believe to be illegal, as we had a lease addendum in place, and my previous roommates had agreed to cover the remaining rent.
  In summary, Woodland Management at Clemson has unjustly withheld my security deposit, violated our lease addendum, and illegally assigned my room to others before I returned the keys, making it impossible for me to document the room's condition. I am not liable for March rent, as agreed upon, and their disposition letter lacks proper documentation for the whereabouts of my security deposit.
  I kindly request your assistance in resolving this matter and reclaiming my security deposit. Attached are documents supporting my claims, including the lease addendum, police report, proof of payment, and email correspondence.
  
  Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
  
  Sincerely,

  Business Response

  Date: 09/11/2023

  Tell us why here...Unfortunately this former tenant, ***** ****** *****, has filed an erroneous complaint filled with false information and intentionally omitting the crucial and material facts.  ***** ****** ***** entered into a joint and several lease, attached.  The management company did not select her roommates, she did.  We are not responsible for the disputes that arose between the tenants.  Each having contacted law enforcement, specifically the Clemson city police, attempting to file charges on each other.  Further we never locked or unlocked interior doors that access bedrooms.  Lastly management did NOT dispose of any personal belongings of any resident during the lease.  
  The lease termination that was signed by all parties at the request of ***** ****** ***** allowing her to vacate and not pay for the lease term that she was obligated to is clearly dated Feb 9th 2023 and not signed until the 10th.  Her security deposit was applied to March rent as the notice to vacate occurred in February and not by January 31st. Thus, allowing for a 30 notice per the SC Landlord Tenant Act is proper.  Please note that ***** ****** ***** requested to break her lease and both the management company and the other tenants agreed. ***** ****** ***** was not charged any monies for damages, painting, cleaning etc.  Her deposit was simply applied to March rent.  She is not entitled to any return of her security deposit under these circumstances.  Again, she was charged $0 for breaking her lease, damages that occurred during the lease, multiple lockouts that management had to visit the unit to allow her access etc.  
  We consider the matter closed.