I asked my property manager Debbie Wolf at Caldwell Banker about a hotel and she said “save your receipts and the condo associations insurance will reimburse you”. I inquired about a max daily limit and pre-approved amount of days and she said to ask Global maintenance. Brendan at global maintenance confirmed what Debbie said .
Once it was clear it would be months of repairs and we inquired about reimbursement for the months rent our property manager ignored us and had the town condemned our unit. Just our unit and that's crazy considering the damage.
Paul Davis restoration came in with no respect for our personal belongings. They used some of our items and we now have some items missing. Our property Manager emailed us on the 16th saying we had to be out by the 18th at 5 PM. She claimed to send us a letter but have no proof and we received no such letter. We felt pressured and harassed. We got out and found a new place so we didn’t have to deal with these jokers.
We still have not received our rent money back for January, our security deposit and the landlord can no longer provide us housing so the lease is constructively broken. We also have paid over a thousand dollars on moving supplies, u-haul , hotel, and food since we were in a hotel and needed to move.
Publishers Notes: It's been reported they couldn't turn the water flow off immediately because they needed access to the attic. They called to get a responder to come and allow them access. It took 45 minutes to get someone over there and whoever showed up still couldn't get into the attic. Apparently, the place has switched properly management companies a couple of times and nobody knew who's responsibility it was to show up.
Publishers Notes: It's been reported they couldn't turn the water flow off immediately because they needed access to the attic. They called to get a responder to come and allow them access. It took 45 minutes to get someone over there and whoever showed up still couldn't get into the attic. Apparently, the place has switched properly management companies a couple of times and nobody knew who's responsibility it was to show up.
Where is this? Give a hint please so this story makes more sense to us!
ReplyDeleteIs it just me that feels like I am walking in a room in the middle of a conversation ?
ReplyDeleteI read this story and have no idea who, what, why or when. The pictures shown are very small and can barely read and the headline tells nothing about the story.
Don't get me wrong I know SBY News has amazing stories that are written very well it's just in this case I think something was missing.
I read the whole story and still had little idea as to what was going on.
This is a follow up on the condo damage on Riverside Drive on the River.
ReplyDeleteForgive me if I wasn't clear enough as this was a major story yesterday, still being ignored by the rest of the local media.
If you'd like to see yesterday's story it is on the top left hand side, one of the top 5 posts of the week.
wouldn't want that city water bill!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't the fire department or who ever go to the curb and turn off the water at the meter?
ReplyDeleteAppears as though this tenant rented the unit through Coldwell Banker.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you are having to deal with this, but the best advice I can give, is to find another place to rent. I would hope CB is assisting you with not only finding another rental but also with getting partial Jan rent back and security deposit. As far as any missing items, I don't think there is much you can do about that.
Who is Global Maintenance? Never heard of them?
ReplyDelete10:30 I believe the missing items fall under THEFT. And he should file a claim with the PD for that.
ReplyDeleteSo to tell him there is nothing he can do about it is simply wrong.
The condo association has a responsibility to protect the tenants belongings in situations such as this. They hired the contractors, therefore they are both liable.
He can also file a claim with his insurance company for the missing belongings.
There is a lot he can do about it.
It is very sad to see how he has been treated thru this whole situation.
The only thing he needs to worry about at this point (and it looks like he has) is himself, family and belongings. Because no one else is going to.
These are the luxury condos at 530 Riverside?????
ReplyDeleteThey could not have turned off the water main as it is a huge fine if public works does not personally do it.
ReplyDeleteThey could file a police report for items missing but realistically nothing will come of it.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the condo association being responsible, no they are not. The individual unit owner is responsible for their tenants and that responsibility is limited. What you are now in need of is not alternative accommodations but permanent housing since lease has been terminated. Landlord would only be responsible for relocation costs if tenant was still paying rent. Example being a minor repair which requires tenant to vacate premises on a short term basis usually 2 wks or less while they are still paying rent.
As far as any personal items damaged landlord has no liability. This is stipulated in every lease, everywhere, regardless of whose fault it is or the circumstances surrounding the damage. This is where renters insurance would kick in as homeowners is what it states a policy for home owners, so it would pay for what they own but not tenants.
This place was a dump from day of construction.
ReplyDeleteThe original contractors probably made many shortcuts to make up for the lack of interest in those condos. Place should be inspected thoroughly before anyone is allowed back. Watch them get bulldozed just like the condos on the other side of the river.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the water lines for the sprinklers were installed in the attic of the building. I wonder which idiot decided that would be a good idea. Maybe the person that designed the building or the company that installed the lines should be held accountable also.
ReplyDeleteGlobal Property Management and Brendan Johnson and his wife Kim Johnson SUCK as the local employees of this company. Just ask the people who live at the Wood Creek housing development in Delmar, MD and have them as the reps for their HOA management company.
ReplyDeleteDELAWARE CONCOS FLOODED and made the news all evening. NOTHING reported on RIVERSDE CONDOS yet.
ReplyDeleteFor those who are making assumptions. The water that night was out of control. I was there the night it happened. I was called by a friend who needed a locksmith ( I am a locksmith)to get into his inside storage closet that he had lost a key for. He did not have visable damage in his unit but wanted to check the closet to make sure it was dry since he had rekeyed it and misplaced the key. I came in after the water had been shut down and saw only a handful of workers walking around the units around 9 oclock that night. I noticed a child walking out with a lady and two other kids carrying bags and suitcases, the little girl had stuffed toys in her hand. I asked them what happened and was told a pipe had frozen and they believe the fire sprinkler had been spraying for quite some time. She said her unit was severely damaged and that they had to leave. I asked if they had family or where they would go.Then asked if she needed help loading things in her car with the kids and where all the other tenants were. She said she assumed back in their units and that some of the workers and landlord were in her place. I shook my head and said nice neighbors you have. I was surprised to see everyone back inside and nobody in sight helping out tenants who were put out of their homes. What a shame to see all the water pouring in the garage after everything was turned off. I went to unlock my friend's closet which was soaked on one wall, then we checked out some of the other floors. Apparently some unit on the sixth floor was the initiating site and was empty at the time. I went into the two units next to it and saw rugs soaked, furniture soaked and kids puzzles and toys in puddles of water. Made me think of the little girl I had seen just before coming upstairs. Again, what a shame to see this place in shambles. The ice was all over the floors of the hallways and workers were walking all over everyones personal property. Water was floating on every floor and freezing as time was passing. I could see water and ice up until the time I left that night.
ReplyDeleteSo read the story and details above people. Insurance is not the only issue, some of the people living there had kids and lost their personal stuff and some lost their homes.. I talked to another guy in a badly damaged unit who said maintancence showed up with a shop vac to try to dry up his floors...How do you dry up a floor from a system that according to google most of these things put out over 45 gallons a minute.
My parents had a fire a few years back and what a mess it was, unless you have been through it you don't know. I could tell that night everyone was trying to cover their asses hearing them talk by putting blame on the faulty equipment. Hopefully the people who were put out of their home found a place to go, sounds like that is not anyones problem sadly
11:59
ReplyDeleteYou are not correct. Condo associations are entirely different. To make a blanket statement that they are not liable is just plain stupid. Just because they break the lease does not mean it is legally terminated.
Nice try but it is not as simple as you are trying to make it out to be.
They can't cause damage to others property and walk away free from any liability. Nice try.
Thank you 4:48, this area and world needs more people like you. Seems compasion is a lost quality in people these days. You have restored my faith if just a little.
ReplyDeleteAlways a good idea to pick up a renters insurance policy to cover any personal property damage from events like this. Most renters don't think to do this or don't think they can afford it but it really is not that expensive. Otherwise, renters really don't have much recourse. Same for condo owners. The association insurance will pay to repair building damage but NOT personal property and interior damage. Condo owners should always have additional insurance to cover personal property and temporary housing. Again, not that expensive but well worth it,
ReplyDeleteEven with renters insurance you are put out of your home at no fault of your own. Look at the pictures, the problem was there waiting to happen..An alarm and system sounding off means trouble..it was obviously ignored. Sure the renters may or may not have had insurance, but will it cover a place to live..According to the article, there is nobody to guide anyone where to seek help. Someone needs to call the city, the health inspector and have the place shut down until it is deemed safe of mold and the sprinkler system checked out if this is the case. If this happened two weeks ago, why are we now just hearing about it? This is a huge deal, that amount of water flowing in any part of the city is a concern, a huge one...Can anyone else smell a cover up here?
ReplyDeleteSounds a lot like what some landlords with Sandy-damage did to their tenants.No hotel offers,even though the rent is paid.No attempt at cleaning up.
ReplyDeletebottom line is there are condo associations and insurance on the units for a reason. The President of the Condo Association should be the one showing others where to turn and being a guiding force. If for no other reason but to help out others who just want a heads up on what to do. Why bother having an association if you aren't going to look out for the best interest of everyone involved. Sad but true that people look out for number one.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know who the President of the Condo Association of this complex?
ReplyDelete11:31-That is not the role (which is very defined in the MD Condo Act)of a Condo Association. The purpose of an Association is basically fiduciary-to collect and see that the Unit of Council Owners (the owners of the individual condos)money is spent wisely. The other purpose is to enact or repeal bylaws for the betterment of the Condominium.
ReplyDeleteOne thing the president of a condo association should not ever do is get in the middle of a tenant's dispute. That responsibility lies exclusively between the tenant and the owner of the condo in which they rent unless the tenant is doing something which is prevent other unit owners/renters right to quiet enjoyment.
9:57-yes some renters policies do cover a temporary place to live as well as the expenses incurred in moving to the temp dwelling.
ReplyDelete