ComplaintsforValdok Associates

• Initial Complaint

  04/01/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The Valdok apartments has failed to provide habitable housing under local and state codes and for all practical purposes the unit is unsafe per ********** health and safety codes.In addition, Ive documented multiple occasions of harassment both inside and outside the building, particularly the garage and back alleyway where there has been encampments, violence, and illegal drug use since the day I moved in. I have had property stolen and needed to contact ******* police on numerous occasions of theft and loitering strangers in the halls. Management raised my rent from $1,600 to $2,300 in December 2021 after one year of occupancy, clearly price gouging its own tenants. Cars in the garage are broken into and bikes are stolen on a daily basis. The management staff even sends mass emails to residents threatening eviction though a rent moratorium is in place. Even after repeated requests pleading for increased security by me and numerous tenants, nothing was done to address chronic lack of security in a premium apartment building (+$2,500 monthly rent) and my safety is threatened on a daily basis. Management has shown wanton disregard for mental and physical safety of residents.This building is not safe for anyone, let alone a single woman. Please investigate this residence for mismanagement as it is a stain on the ******* housing market. A quick look at Yelp tells you everything and I suspect complaints have been filed already.

  Business response

  04/04/2022

  To whom it *** concern:

  
  I am e-mailing to reply to the complaint submitted on 04/02/2022 (ID ******** by our current resident *****************************.

  
  The resident is contesting a two-month termination fee that is clearly listed on the lease signed by both ***************************** and Valdok.

  
  We have been communicating with the resident and have explained to her in great detail why they are being charged a termination fee.We have also explained that although we have seen an uptick in property crime not only in the ******* area but in the greater Seattle area, we are not liable for any stolen personal property. That being said, we not only have a security patrol company, but we also have a courtesy patrol officer that walks the community between the hours of 8pm-6am. We purchased additional door reinforcements as well as sent continuous communication to our community regarding best practices to avoid being targeted.

  
  After the resident sent us an e-mail that her package was missing, we reviewed our security footage and did not see any suspicious activity and advised the resident to reach out to the carrier to see if they can send a replacement and file a police report if the resident wanted to document the incident. Subsequently, since it was purchased from Amazon, the missing item was replaced by them.
  The resident was sent a proper 60-day notice of rent increase in October 2021. The resident was paying $1643 previously and her rental rate went up to $2,146 a month which is in line with the ******* market and have since seen the market rates continue to increase.

  
  The resident has refused to pay a portion of their rent due to the break-ins that we have had in the community. She has not had her vehicle targeted during these. The notices sent to the resident offered payment options. We did remind the resident that once the eviction moratorium expired,that if rent was not paid, we could send her a 14-day notice as required by ******* tenant law.

  
  Again, we provided documentation, payment plan options,and offered to send the resident information regarding different organizations that *** assist her with rent payments. Based on this, we cannot waive the termination fee required per the lease.
  If there is any additional information that you need me to provide, please feel free to reach out to us.

  
  Thank you,

  *********************

  Customer response

  04/05/2022

   
  Complaint: 16974235
  
  I am rejecting this response because the business has failed to provide habitable housing under local and state codes and for all practical purposes the unit is unsafe per ********** health and safety codes. It has falsely advertised that the property is secure and safe. I moved into the apartment under the assumption that the building would be safe per 'on-site security team' which is obviously inefficient and unable to offer adequate surveillance for the building and garage. As a single woman under 30 who must provide for her own personal safety and well-being, this is inexcusable. As such, living in the Valdok I have had thousands of dollars worth of property stolen, included a laptop and ski equipment among other valuables which were documented with the ******* ****************** I have lived in fear at the Valdok for my bodily safety with non-residents regularly sited breaking in to the property and wandering the halls. Management deflects and obfuscates any real remediation over email and ignores all requests to secure the building. 

  I work for a non-profit, the **** and ************************* Foundation where each day I work to address inequities and egregious failings in public health for vulnerable populations. That the Valdok would attempt to then collect exorbitant fees during a pandemic from a single young person is truly immoral and reprehensible. Even on a non-for-profit salary, I barely make ends meet but initially justified the overinflated prices of the Valdok because of assumed security. In fact proper steps to secure the building have gone unaddressed for years now as per a truly overwhelming number of documented cases by current and former residents who have been victimized. The Valdok has taken every cost-cutting measure available to the detriment of resident safety and human health. Their feet dragging with 'increased security patrol' is too little too late and remains inadequate for the property which it boldly advertises as a 'luxury' accommodation. The Valdok gave a short 60-days notice with request to nearly double my rent during a pandemic after I had already settled into my 'home' and moving costs made leaving a financial burden, obviously something the Valdok takes advantage of. When I finally said 'enough' from the break-ins and on-site vandalism, I was assigned nearly $4,300 in move-out fees for early termination with 10-days to pay in addition to my rent of $2,172 (see attached photo). The onus is on the Valdok to justify the move-out costs during a pandemic. 

  Simply put, the Valdok has failed to provide the goods and services advertised as a business per RCW 59.18.115

  Substandard and dangerous conditions: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18.115

  In addition, my apartment heating was never functional leading to freezing winter conditions; this summer without AC or central cooling, the living conditions were unbearable. My water and plumbing were regularly backed-up and posed a health hazard. The rooftop fireplaces were never repaired as management said they would. Basic carpet cleaning in the hallways and common areas was never conducted. The same stain has been present on the 5th floor hallway floor for over a year and as well as unidentifiable smears on the hallway walls. I can smell cigarette smoke in this non-smoking building constantly through ventilation giving second-hand exposure to carcinogens. Dog f**** and garbage throughout common areas is a daily hazard to human health that management fails to moderate. There were no updates to residents on Covid or safety measure enforced. During several fire alarms the garage door was broken, leaving my car was locked in the garage thus posing a safety issue when needing to evacuate the property. On several other occasions without a fire alarm, the garage door was broken and I was unable to either exit or enter the garage. Keep in mind I paid $195 a month to store my car in what I later learned was an extremely unsafe and targeted garage. 

  I request that the Valdok management team submit every police and incident report over the course of its operation as a business to show the Better Business Bureau the extent of on-site crime. Valdok is an LMC ****************** property and I suggest the BBB investigates all LMC properties around ******* for similar misleading conduct with full recourse. 

  I'm including links to several review platforms which corroborate these statements and would be happy to gather addition first hand complaints from current and former residents. 

  https://www.yelp.com/biz/valdok-*******

  https://www.apartments.com/valdok-**********/q2wzw5x/

  https://www.apartmentratings.com/**/*******/valdok_9199332346275178235/u-4748378/

  What scares me the most is that the Valdok attempts to cover up and bury the fact that the building is so unsafe and hazardous to human health and experiences regular break-ins. New residents to the building should beware of the management and the danger of living here. It is clearly the case of a big, faceless corporation taking advantage of ordinary and unsuspecting people. I reject to paying the early termination fee and request the BBB to hold the Valdok accountable for myself and all other residents so basic standards of health and human safety may be enjoyed at the Valdok. 

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

*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. ↩