ComplaintsforJerusalem Management, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  08/10/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My son and I contacted Jerusalem Managment looking for student housing. They showed us a unit which my son and his roommates were interested in. We (my son and his roommates 2) completed an application. After two weeks of no response we were told we took too long and the apartment may no longer be available. Then we were told by someone else the application was approved and that we needed to sign the lease and give a deposit. I am a real estate paralegal and I have been working at a law firm for 20+ years. I reviewed the lease and had questions/concerns about certain things. Their lease is not a standard lease according to NYS Landlord Tenant and RPL. They told me to call them to discuss which I did and they said in order to hold the apartment, we had to give them a deposit. We all paid the deposit totaling $1,800.00 ($600/each). They did not get back to me regarding the changes of the lease. One of my sons' roommates decided he was not going back to school this semester. I again contacted Jim and Asaf regarding my corrections and no one got back to me. They finally responded and asked that we list an add on campus or on ******** looking for a roommate. I told them that we did not feel comfortable doing that and that they still have not addressed my lease concerns. I drove to Albany from NYC to see another unit with my son. I passed by the apartment (*** ******* ******* **) to find someone already living there. We never signed the lease and they never got back to me regarding my concerns. I have asked for them to return my security deposit and they refuse to because they said the deposit is non refundable. It does not state that anywhere in their application or their lease. A security deposit is returned at the end of your lease if there is no damage. We never moved in nor did we sign the lease. They suggested that we find another listing of theirs and apply the deposit there. I don't want to rent from them. It's obvious they're unprofessional and scamming people. 

  

  Business response

  09/21/2022

  Both myself and my leasing manager, James D****, were dealing with ******* *******. She continuously tried to play both myself and James against each other. Trying to negotiate a deal. And being very shady and non-transparent while doing so.  I initially agreed to have the apartment lease start on June 15th. Then we accommodated her for a July 5th start date instead. They placed the deposits to hold and lease the unit. Then she tried a week later to back out and we told her we can use her deposit on another unit. She was very sneaky and evasive and did not want to make any sort of offer we made her work. Because they lost a roommate or had some other issues with the roommates.  They signed off on the attached application form that deposits are non refundable once approved. Which they were.  We took the property off the market, lost all of June rent and July as well.  We lost Over $5000 in rents because of her deceptive behavior.  To settle this matter we will offer her $200. And move on from this matter.  We repeatedly tried to work with the applicants mother and bent over backwards to try and accommodate her and her son. But she was nothing but unreasonable and deceptive.  Feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns and we will gladly assist you in any further issue.  

  Customer response

  09/26/2022

  Better Business Bureau:  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. While the business attached their response to my complaint which was also submitted to the AG's office they fail to realize security deposits in NYS are refundable. I never signed a lease. Photo #5 clearly states that what I paid was not an ordinary deposit but a security deposit. If I did not sign the lease and therefore my deposit should be refunded.   Regards,  ******* ******* 

• Initial Complaint

  05/19/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On Wednesday, May 18, 2022 11:32 AM, I received an email that on that same day there would be a showing for my apartment unit at 3:30 pm. First off to begin with that is only a couple hours notice and way less than the usual 24 hour notice that landlords are supposed to give to enter your home, especially if they are entering your home with complete strangers. However in spite of this fact I canceled my plans and made sure to be home at that time for the showing as I have a 1 year old Siberian husky. My dog is friendly and sweet to everyone including strangers. She has no history of aggression or biting and is frequently socialized at dog parks and daycare. Management entered my home around 3:30 pm and I sat with my dog in the living room away from the new prospective tenants as I know not everyone is comfortable around dogs. After the showing was over and management left, I got ready for work like I would any other day as I was not notified that there would be any more showings today as I do not like to leave my dog alone with complete strangers. Dogs cannot talk or recount to their owners any possible abuse. I left through the back door for work like I do almost every day and it is impossible to lock the back door from the outside it can only be locked from the outside please keep this key detail in mind. Upon returning home I decided to enter my apartment through the front door today to check if I had received any mail. When I went to turn the handle it was locked which I did not do as I sometimes mistakenly leave my house keys in my room or in my car. I dug in my bag for my keys and opened the door and my dog did not come running to greet me which was super weird. Upon entering I found her enclosed in my bedroom with no access to food or water which is something I would never do. I check the kitchen back door which was locked , which I did not do since it can't be locked from the outside with my keys. This means management entered my home without notice while I came home to my dog closed in my room with no food or water for God knows how long as I left the house around 3:40 and came home around 10:00 pm. She was clearly anxious as she had tore up bags and chewed on boxes and anything she could get her mouth on. I know it was management because they were able to lock my front door and to do this you would need a key. I immediately contacted Asalf, Jim and Dan with no response from Jim the landlord or Dan. I finally called Asalf and he said he had no idea who was in my apartment but would find out but has never contacted me back even after I reached out again which is to no surprise. I have no idea who was in my apartment and why and it was definitely not a robbery as no electronics or expensive shoes or clothing items were stolen. My main concern is who locked my dog in a bedroom or why? I have no idea if she was touched, kicked, punched or hurt. She has no way of telling me anything and was probably scared and confused as to why someone would lock her up like that. Wednesday was a hot day. What if my window wasn't open. She is a husky and was bred for cold winters they can get overheated pretty quickly. I have informed management that they have broken the privacy agreement and I no longer feel safe living here. I am an 18 year old female. If anyone with that key can just walk into my apartment without permission or notice than I am afraid I can no longer reside here safely and will have to break the lease. No one has responded to me about this issue which is completely ridiculous as whoever did it could be charged with breaking and entering. 

  

  Business response

  06/14/2022

  BBB spoke to Asaf at business and the following was relayed:

  The tenant had been attempting to get out of the lease for a while. We have let her out of the lease and she has moved out.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩