Unresponsive Property Management Company

[Heidi Saelee]

Hi everyone,

I have been with this management company since I first obtained the duplex. They were great at first with onboarding, communication, payments. Over the last year and half they been sporadic with answering emails/calls and not on time with their scheduled owner payments and not getting monthly statements that show funds collected/expenses paid. I have not been paid in a month and a half now and have not seen a statement since February. I have not received an email response in 4-5 weeks. Every time I call the office, I get "we are working on it" or "you should get the funds by tomorrow" but 3 weeks later still nothing. The person who is supposed to be in charge of our specific unit does not answer texts, and when I call it goes straight to voicemail. I finally got in touch with the owner of the company and he says that we can expect the payments at the next scheduled disbursement date which is 2 weeks from now. When I ask to have it immediately since it is already 3 weeks late, he responds with how he can't do that because it will "severely affect his accounting." Has anyone dealt this is? I am wondering what kind of legal action I can take? 

Thanks in advance.

*Note, I called the board of licensing and will be filing a complaint but this does not assure I will get funds owed.

[Theresa Harris]

I'd leave a message and tell them since they have not responded to your multiple inquiries and you have not received the rent they collected in a timely manner, that you will be contacting your lawyer as well as the licensing board to file a complaint. When are you normally paid (ie I get paid 2-3 weeks after rent is due from my PM)?  the lack of a statement in over 3 months and not being paid rent for 6 weeks makes me thing that there are troubles (either personnel or financial) with the PM.  His accounting is already messed up because he hasn't paid you the rent he collected.

I'd also call around and interview other PM and ask if they take over from existing PM.  You have bills to pay and if they promise you your money by a certain time each month, then you should be getting it.

[Drew Sygit]

@Heidi Saelee there's no logical reason for you not to get your monthly statements timely.

Whether those statements show you're owed money or not is a separate issue.

So, unfortunately, it's probably time to find another PMC.

Be careful about WHEN you report your current PMC to their RE Board, state AG, etc., as they may not cooperate with the transfer of your property to the new PMC:(

[Adam Bartomeo]

It all sounds very strange and fishy... The lack of communication from poor agents or PM's is nothing new in this industry. The lack of payment can be due to the tenant not paying or paying late.

Legally, I don't see that you have any evidence of anything but lack of communication (from what you posted) and/or a late payment by a few weeks. I doubt that you are going to get anywhere with any of the boards after you are paid. I would recommend that you try and get out of your agreement and find another PMC ONLY AFTER you get paid.

[Heidi Saelee]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I  really appreciate it.

-I have an online portal that is updated most of the time showing rents paid so the tenants are not the issues.

-I did tell them that we expect payments by next week or we will be filing a complaint. I am supposed to receive funds on the 24th of each month as stated in the contract but that has not been the case at all.

-I have been in contact with a new PMC already thankfully and will be switching over as soon as I get paid. I will probably transfer first before reporting to avoid issues with transferring.