More Applied Housing Rants!
03
December
12/3/2008:
Another Hoboken411 reader frustrated with Applied Housing:
Zapped with fees at Applied!
I recently moved out of an apartment in the Shipyard complex. I received my security deposit back with a deduction for $208.65 for “parquet floor damage”. I lived in that apartment for 3+ years and never had a pet. I have no idea how I could possibly have done that much damage. I felt like I was probably being charged for existing damage (when I moved in I noted there were several cracked tiles and scratches and even thought I asked repeatedly for them to be replaced they weren’t). I called the Shipyard’s management office and got no response to my voicemail. I then sent an email enumerating the reasons I felt the charge was unfair (ex: I thought I was being charged for existing pet damage and I never owned a pet, and when I moved out I asked to do a final walk thought was told “that’s not necessary.”)
Today I received an email back saying that the charges are not for the damages I described in the living area, but to the entryway. They attached this photo showing the so-called damages. I don’t see anything. I blew it up to a very large size and still see nothing. Do you? I called the office and was told that the photo shows discolored tiles and the building’s contractor assessed the charge at $208.65. I was also told that the contractor charges that amount as the minimum and that they refuse to give me a refund. So FYI if you move out of the Shipyard and the contractor finds even a single cracked or discolored floor tile, expect a charge of $208.65. I really find this charge ridiculous and I still really can’t even understand what is wrong with the floor. It was probably like that when I moved in and it never would have occurred to me to note it as existing damage. Doesn’t wood just have natural color variations?
New Jersey, Hoboken, Applied Management
21. jpl | December 3rd, 2008 at 6:11 pm
That looks like a foam backed parquet floor made my Armstrong/Hartco. Popular in lots of rentals throughout Hoboken.
Because they are foam-backed, they pop right up with a small pry bar, especially after being water damaged.
Labor to fix that is realistically ~30 minutes, and the tiles are about 4.50/sq ft. But you’d need to buy 25sq ft minimum.
So to fix this on your own, it would have cost you $110, plus tools and some basic DIY skills.
Seems like 208 was fair.
22. MidnightRacer | December 3rd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
If they are pop-ups, then yeah wuicker. But those traditional parquet floors come in strips where you have to lay in each, or buy it as a block and remove the old one piece by piece.
Regardless, I don’t think the tenant was ripped off. Goes with the territory of renting.
23. quiggins | December 3rd, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Applied housing is the worst. My boyfriend lived in one of their buildings for a year and when he moved out they took half of his security deposit to replace the carpeting due to “pet stains.” He vaccuumed that carpet every week an used Resolve on every spot there was. I have actually never seen a cleaner carpet upon move-out. He made sure everything was spotless. He didn’t bother to fight it.
For some reason, we decided that we would like to live in one of their buildings again. I filled out a rental application but since I was living in Boston and was only down for the weekend, I had forgotten some things that they needed to complete the application.
The rep told me that he would not process the application or cash the $75 check until it was complete. Well, we changed our mind and decided that we did not want to live in the building and so I called and told him that I would not be completing the application. He was nice enough about it. But then he cashed my check for the application fee (even though the application hadn’t yet been processed). After angry emails back and forth, I got no where. I may be $75 poorer but I thank god everyday that I didn’t move into that building. Who knows what other headaches I would have had to deal with.
Good luck. I hope you get your money back. Someone has to sooner or later.
24. Easy-E | December 3rd, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I lived lived in the Vanguard and my apt now has these, I’ve had some come loose, and they’re easy to pop out and replace. That’s why I thought MR was being sarcastic.
For that whole section, I would imagine it wouldn’t take more than 30 minutes, not 30 per block.
25. CalGard | December 3rd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Applied Housing owns the buildings on Hudson St from 12th to 14th. They rent about 200 apartments and the commercial properties (e.g. Kings). They pay Hoboken about $320,000 per year in city taxes at the new tax rate. If $50,000 of that is for the store units, then each apartment contributes on average $1350 per year in taxes.
26. elainetyger | December 3rd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
You know, anything under $500 damage to an apartment we own, we have always chalked up to normal wear and tear and have refunded the full deposit. You have to expect to paint the place in between tenants, and the contractor doesn’t charge that much more to tighten things that got loose or replace a tile or two. Like almost all the small-time landlords I’ve met, we give the hairy eyeball in person to all new tenants and this has been a very effective tool along with credit checks and/or references. (One guy I know also gives his new tenants a lecture on how not to be an a-hole; terrifying, but funny if it’s not directed at you.) Thus, we have had basically all good tenants and are not out to rip anyone off.
These big companies, though, are scam artists. I have known them to charge premium prices for everything from scratches/dents in the walls (which will be fixed in under 5 minutes when the painter puts a little plaster in there first) to failing to replace burned-out light bulbs. This is the trade-off you get as a tenant for your landlord not living underneath you and caring how you walk up and down the stairs.
27. MidnightRacer | December 3rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Easy-E wrote:
Two types of parquet; one like yours (pop up blocks), and another in which per block you actually have to remove each of ~7 strips that make up the block, clean/prep the surface, then replace with a new block laying in each of 7 strips. Should only take about 15-20 minutes, but some charge about half an hour for that type. But the whole point is that ~$200 isn’t a bad figure. And that’s not color variation, it’s damage to answer the writer’s question. If that were a condo instead of rental, I’d rip out all that parquet and lay down some planks; brazilian cherry, textured bamboo, or distressed wide planks. I hate parquet, but to each their own.
28. FMTVENG | December 3rd, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Gee, water damage by the front door- perhaps if you had a mat outside the door to wipe your feet dry on before entering that wouldn’t occur…oh, but wait, door matts in the hallways are banned by Applied and are actually confiscated if you have them- guess that rules out that option
29. panicmule | December 4th, 2008 at 6:34 am
Stop whining, it’s clear from the picture that you habitually drop your wet umbrellas in the entryway, shut up an pay it.
30. panicmule | December 4th, 2008 at 6:36 am
“Another Hoboken411 reader frustrated with….” – hey 411, I bet you could fill an entire week of posts that start off with this phrase.
31. MidnightRacer | December 4th, 2008 at 9:54 am
This thread is interesting in that it reveals that people might not be prepared to move from renting to buying. Doesn’t matter if you’re buying a old or new property for your first home, you’re gonna have to pay the piper for fixes now and then. And if something big happens, you might even have to take out a small loan. Can’t escape it.
If you rent, it’s a lot easier. You don’t have to pay for a new heater/AC, water heater, plumbing repairs, roof/basement leaks, windows, electrical, etc. No headaches. And at times when I’ve had to make an emergency call for something big and shell out 4 figures, it almost makes you wish you had not bought. But, equity is an interesting concept. Anyhow, renting is a lot easier than owning. FYI for those thinking of making that first purchase.
32. BklynHobo | December 4th, 2008 at 10:02 am
MidnightRacer wrote:
Thanks I close in 2 weeks!
But of course I’ve taken all those things into consideration..
33. Tiger | December 4th, 2008 at 11:27 am
BklynHobo wrote:
Congratulations! I hope you had a great deal! With rates low and a lot of condos there, I don’t see a reason why not. Yea people can argue that it’s renting from the bank or whatever, but there’s a certain joy in owning, enjoy!
34. BklynHobo | December 4th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Tiger wrote:
Thanks Tiger! Yes I think I got a good deal, and you can’t beat the rates right now at all. I am excited about it.
35. Easy-E | December 5th, 2008 at 7:45 am
MidnightRacer wrote:
So very true. I’ve always been suspicious of the way that people see home ownership being anything other than a place to live and sometimes it can be a worthwhile investment. Cost of ownership and time spent on maintenance can be significant.
I have a friend who grew up in Manhattan and he’s dead set on getting a house, but he’s not quite prepared for all the general work that comes along with it. I suggested he wait until his kid can manage a rake and push a vacuum, and shovel some snow.
36. strand tramp | December 5th, 2008 at 9:02 am
anytime conditions are less than attractive for buying the rental market gets stronger. doh! in the mid 90’s this town was all rental agents. they had 10 appointments a night from 6pm to 10pm…cute 25yr old couples looking for an apt together, walking distance to the path. then 5yrs later she convinces him to buy the cow because that clock is ticking! mtg rates were dropping and the condo rush was on! agents switched to mostly condo sales and rents dropped or languished for years! then the apt owners did renovations and were able to attract more well heeled renters, who also eventually bought. not now…no reason to buy. the rental market will firm and we should see rents rise on average as nicer condos dont sell and become rentals. this is the 3rd cycle i’ve watched.