A lesson I learned from Berkshire.

A lesson I learned from Berkshire. Hopefully you can learn something from it too.



I had an agreement with the previous property manager Crystal in Berkshire (300 West Franklin Street, Richmond, Thalhimer real estate frim) that the last two months' (April & May, 2012) rent will be exempted for me as a special for my renewal lease with Berkshire in March, 2011 by email. When it's approaching the end of March 2012 (March 30), I sent out this exemption notice to the lease office and asked for the rate for the coming 12 months at the same time to see whether I'd like to renew the apartment again. No one replied (although I sent out two more emails regarding to my concern) until 5 days later (April 4) there was just a short message from the new property manager Ashley saying that she would look into the case. I waited for another 5 days and the lady finally get back to me (April 9), only asking if I'd received the renewal form and never mentioning any “confusion” about my exemption, not even a word. During this period, Ashley issued a to me on April 6, but I was too busy to check my mail box and I found out this noncompliance notice on April 13. Although I forwarded those emails between me and the former property manager Crystal to the new property manager Ashley as proof of my exemption, Ashley expressed her concern about the authenticity of these emails. When I asked to speak to Ashley’s superior, (according to Ashley) the latter refused to talk to me himself and told Ashley to pass on his words that “he has not amended or executed any two moth credits for any resident renew their lease and he would be the only one who is authorized to do so and Crystal didn’t have any authorization to offer such a credit to you”. Funny about this, on the exemption form I received for the first year I moved into Berkshire (April 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011), there was only one person’s signature, and that person is Crystal herself, not this supervisor who said he was the only one.

I was very upset by the whole thing (delayed reply, maliciously ignoring important message, doubting about the authenticity of the emails, and refusing talking in person) and I first thought about seeking legal help. But getting an attorney is way beyond what I can afford, not mention what waste of my time.

I was too naive to trust Crystal and her emails and not asking for a formal written document. I’ve learned my lessons. But I’m also thinking more beyond this. Since students are graduating from schools and start looking for jobs and relocating, and new students are coming, I’d like to point it out for them that they should be very careful when they decide to sign any contracts. They should ask the other part to put down everything they promised on paper as a solid proof, not words, not emails!