Kimberly Roberts

Review of United Apartment Group

One star is too many! I am disgusted by the behavi...

One star is too many! I am disgusted by the behavior exhibited by staff at Vantage apartments in Panama City Beach! I returned home from a mandatory evacuation for Hurricane Michael to find my apartment had been flooded with water and was now growing mold on many surfaces of my personal belonging with a smell so pungent that the apartment is uninhabitable due to serious health concerns. Not only was I look at crazy for asking what I was supposed to do for housing and about rent, but was told sorry we already filled all our other one bedrooms and rent isn t due for two weeks. I was also lied to and told the reason they had not walked the apartments and assessed them, was because they were unable to until their own insurance adjusters entered the apartments first....I had called 2 days prior and informed management of my concerns about probable water in my apartment due to having water damaged baseboards at move in which were reported on initial move in inspection paperwork yet never remedied, having multiple doors with poor seals and openings at the bottom door frame, and a strong pungent odor for months that was also reported but dismissed and not remedied by management either. I know this to be a blatant lie because immediately after I left the office, the maintanence manager came to my apartment and wanted to assess it, took pictures and stated he needed to get in immediately to clean it....this being after initially telling me less than 10 minutes earlier that they could not do this until an adjuster was their first????? The staff told me that they would clean and air out my apartment by pulling carpet back and using fans. One member of the staff, I think a new manager, who was so extremely rude without an ounce of empathy or caring about a current residents needs, told my boyfriend who was assisting me over the phone at one point, that my apartment WAS livable (she had NOT EVEN ENTERED IT) and that they could clean it and have me back in it the next day if I would just cooperate and let them clean it. Talk about blame shifting!! I have never experienced something like this in my life. It was sickening. I came back after complete devastation in the area and to the community as a whole, to my home being uninhabitable and instead of being taken care of and feeling secure about my options regarding my living situation, I was mocked by the management who are there to care for my needs, all tenants needs and concerns! And maybe also throw in a little decency and human concern for someone else just for simply being affected by this devastating event as well. I do know the staff was working to get housing for others in the area displaced by the hurricane and I am grateful and appreciative of that for others!!! The point of the matter is that this apartment staff and company did not see it necessary to take care of their current residents (being that I am also displaced now, even if there is a physical structure does not mean its inhabitable), but only to work on filling their vacate apartments (this is a newer apartment complex and they had not filled up yet). Due to Hurricane Michael, Vantage is able to fill up their complex and increase profit. And helping others, although I m unsure this was the top motivating factor considering they are not concerned about helping their current tenants. For everyone moving in, I am grateful that Vantage has been able to place a roof over your head and security in this trying time!!! Be aware of the management, record everything and do not let them take advantage of you or ignore your concerns, because their track record is poor! I do not know how this will turn out still. I attempted to send the management a formal letter yesterday regarding water, mold and uninhabitable conditions although got an automated email back that offices were closed. They had not updated their email in 5 days or their phone systems to communicate with current tenants regarding office operation and assistance. Today my email was received. Only time will tell at this point!