Owning a property that is part of an apartment complex or housing community can come with complications. One is that you need to rely on your property management company to take care of the grounds and other issues in the main building or complex. While some property management organizations can be great, it’s not uncommon for homeowners to find it hard to get through to those responsible for their apartment buildings or complexes, often finding themselves getting fed up with paying fees that don’t seem to be spent wisely. If you have been unhappy with how your building has been managed, here are some suggestions on how to deal with it.
Speak to Your Neighbors
It might feel awkward approaching your neighbors about this issue, particularly if you’re not very close. However, it can be a good idea to speak to others in your apartment building or complex to see if they are also dissatisfied with the property management’s service. The more people you can gather to make a joint complaint, the more impact you’ll have, particularly if you can all provide evidence of the problems you’re trying to get resolved.
Document Everything
When you are corresponding with your property management company, whether it’s through email, letter, or text messages, it’s wise to keep a record of these exchanges. Having a paper trail of your communications can make it easier if there is a dispute over what was discussed or if the company in denying its failure to deliver on promises it made to you. If these issues ever reach the courts, at least you will have evidence to support your claim against the management company.
Reach Out to Organizations That Can Assist You
If you and your neighbors don’t seem to be getting very far yourselves, the next step is to reach out to organizations that are a bit more experienced with handling these problems to help you. They can give you advice on how to best approach your property management company or even report them to the correct authorities if necessary. Alternatively, if you are part of a homeowner’s association that is struggling to keep on top of certain management tasks yourselves, consider reaching out to a property management company that can offer you advice on how to tackle these issues more effectively to keep everyone happy.
Consider Legal Action
Hopefully, things will not escalate to this point. Still, if you feel as though you have tried everything to get your property management company to address the issues you have raised, it might come to this. If you do have other neighbors involved, see if they would be willing to come forward as a group to make a claim against the management company and seek suitable legal representation. Your attorneys will be able to advise you further on how to take the next steps to take legal action against your property management company.
It’s always frustrating to deal with property management companies that seem to ignore your concerns or fail to deliver services, especially when they are taking large sums of money from you in fees each year. If you are fed up with dealing with a bad property manager, consider the tips above and see if they can help you get the results you want.
