ComplaintsforBarrington Group, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  04/12/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I moved into **** *** Dr *** * in August 2023. I was told that if I chose to move as long as I could find someone to take over the lease that would be fine. I smelled faint cigarette smoke and asked about it, they said it was residual because they are older apartments. I soon learned that the neighbor smokes inside his apartment and it carries into mine. There was also a stabbing in that same apartment and I woke up to police outside my door. I complained and was told that they never said the apartments were smoke free. In January I said the smoke created a health risk and that between that and the stabbing Raccoon creek was not providing a safe and habitable environment so I would be leaving. They claimed that they are not responsible for that and would be billing me for the entirety of my lease ending in August. Since I cannot afford legal representation I tried to work to find an applicant to take over the lease. They denied the first 2 with both of them claiming RCA was trying to charge them 800 to apply and the other they would not allow for another reason I can't remember. I left a bad review, at which point they stopped taking any applicants at all in retaliation for the review. After taking down the review, they said they would take applicants again, but after 6 more applicants they are still denying all of them for varying reasons. I cannot bring my child home because of the smoke and unsafe living conditions, I can't even live there myself for the same reason and am forced to live with my brother while paying rent.

  Business response

  04/12/2024

  The lease that you signed with us is a 12 month contract. We do not offer lease terminations or early buy outs. All applicants have to be qualified and meet our community requirements before they are approved. We have had a total of 2 people apply for your apartment. One was denied due to them having a criminal background. The other applicant that applied last week was approved and he has not responded to our 3 voicemails that we have left him. If you need to move out we understand. However, you will be obligated to pay for the rent until we re rent the apartment. If you would like our maintenance staff to enter your apartment to address any maintenance issues please contact us at ###-###-#### to put in a work order. 

  Customer response

  04/13/2024

  [If you do not say why you are rejecting the company's response, BBB must close your complaint.] 
  
  Complaint: 21558886
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I was misled during the walk through and was never made aware that smoking was permitted. In fact, I was told the "******" was there to allow smokers a place to smoke. Ohio law requires a safe and habitable living space and requires no retaliation to be made against the tenant. The smoke results in an unsafe living space, especially for my 4 month old child, and the retaliation against me for posting a review goes against both of these requirements. I have been patient, I have continued to bring you potential replacements, I have continued to pay rent despite all of these things and the damage it causes me. It is time to allow me to actually live with my daughter instead of needing to wash all my clothes before seeing her and taking her anywhere but "home."
  
  Regards,
  
  **** *****

• Initial Complaint

  03/16/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This is a Face Book post from the management of Carnaby Village Townhomes, " On March 12, 2022 there was a fire at the community and two of our residents are left with absolutely nothing. While we work to get them into a new home at Carnaby Village, we would also like to be able to offer some comforts." etc, etc, etc. I was one of direct neighbors to the actual fire. There could not have been any firewalls because my loss was so great you would have thought that the fire was in my unit. They relocated me to the sister complex, Sussex Square assuring me that my unit would be back habitable in a few months. After checking on the progress or lack of, Heather (manager) informs me that If I did not chose to wait for my former unit I could have first choice of units coming available. I've checked back several times over this year and Heather informs me that I would have to start from scratch by reapplying as a new tenant, but they currently don't have any vacancies.

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