Recently I rented a home from Tinker Realty.
Quickly this decision became my nightmare.
The previous tenants informed me of a leaking roof, and commented that the landlord, Judy Park, had acknowledged the problem but had neglected to have it repaired.
It became apparent to me that a leaking roof was the least of the problems I would encounter.
The house is infested with bed bugs; I’ve seen them hiking up the kitchen walls late at night. There is blood streaks down the bedroom walls, their molted ‘skins’ left all around the electrical outlets, even in empty, unused rooms, indicating that the infestation is quite well established, and has been for quite sometime.
My girlfriend woke up every morning covered in bites, until she couldn’t take it anymore and left. We still speak, but she refuses to come anywhere near the house we once called home. All my new furniture has been contaminated.
When I brought the issue up with Tinker Realty I was met with absolute disregard. When I first informed Judy of the bed bug problem she told me “No, it must be fleas” and that she would give me some insecticide.
It was not until weeks later, when i brought in a “trap” with the carcass of a bed bug that she finally came by and dropped off the insecticide, for fleas. It is actually against the law for a landlord to apply insecticides themselves, i am not sure about the legalities of providing insecticides… but either way, it was flea spray. The problem was clearly bed bugs.
When I returned to the office of Tinker Realty because the situation had still not been dealt with, I was calm and collected. I did not raise my voice or cause a scene. I was there merely to voice my concerns. Still, I was told by her assistant that I had to leave the office. They had no interest in hearing my concerns or offering any help. I pay my rent, and in return this is the treatment I have received.
The total disregard for my health and well-being was made very apparent. When I commented that the new furniture that I had purchased was now infested with bugs, Judy’s assistant implied that it was my fault for buying new furniture in the first place.
I have rented many homes before, and never have I ever encountered this degree of negligence.