Landlord to avoid

[sna8]

Don't rent from Lou Powers or G&L Management. This made for one unhappy first year of med school.

[chubbyalex]

Can you elaborate on why they're bad landlords to rent from?

[iceman]

Concur with the OP on avoiding Lou Powers and would also add anything owned by John Schloss.

[downl50]

Definitely second AVOID John Schloss. I've rented a number of "college properties" over the last few years and he's hands down one of the sleaziest landlords I've ever run into.

[blankey79]

Avoid Alan Perlman (or is it Pearlman, I forget) and AGP realties. He owns the Boulevard View (2374 Euclid Heights, Cleveland Heights, OH 44106) and the Roosevelt (2450 Overlook Cleveland Heights, OH 44106). The Boulevard view has big suites. But the windows are VERY VERY drafty. This makes the apartment VERY HARD TO HEAT over the winter. At the Boulevard view, the heat is from floorboard electric heaters and electricity is not covered. So utilities over the winter gets very very expernsive. The water from the shower is unbalanced where you turn off cold and the water gets colder. The garage leaks this weird mineral goo that I can't get off my car. Alan himself does the minimal as a landlord. I asked him to inform both me and my roomate when he wants to show the apartment to prospectives and he refused even though its just sending the email to 2 people as opposed to 1. The laundry room in the Boulevard view is freezing even during the winter. The dryers don't dry. If too many washers or dryers run at the same time, it trips the switch and all the power goes out and then there is NOT an emergency maintenance guy on call 24 hours so my clothes had to just sit in a pool of water until they decided to come and turn the power back on. Need I go on?

[jade]

Definitely do not rent at the waldorf "Waldorm" a lot of people do, but the fact is there are far CHEAPER and NICER apartments just a little further down Overlook who don't have to advertise on billboards to get tenants! Waldorf's prices are about $100-200 more than you would otherwise pay per month for the same number of bedrooms and the apartments themselves are mid-70s high-rise unimaginative architecture and less floor space than available nearby. Often the have carpeting with many stains from the previous occupants AND even though the walls look nicely painted when you move in I assure you after a year they will show you where all the leaky pipes are! Also, it is not secure because pretty much everyone around has a key to the front door which they haven't changed the lock in at least a decade. They will keep raising the rent on you to get you to move (many people move out anyway) and those bagels/donuts they leave out in the am (when they actually remember to) are nasty. Half the time they won't be out in time for you to make to class anyway.

Basically - it's a racket they run and do pretty good business preying on people from out of town who don't have enough time to look at the many wonderful other options there are out there!!!

[iceman]

Ahhh... the perennial Waldorf-no Waldorf debate. To read a little on last year's debate, visit casemed.proboards102.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=housing&thread=48&page=1#221

I currently live in the Waldorf and tend to disagree with jade. I haven't had any of the issues that jade mentioned, but my main complaint is that the neighbors across the hall are dental students (aka bumping loud music almost every night and the walls are relatively thin). I appreciate the free air conditioning (left it on non-stop from July to October), the free heat and indoor parking. It's not a bad fallback option if you're getting into CLE at the last possible moment and can't look around. However, I will be moving out this year to live with my girlfriend. If you have other specific questions, please feel free to send me a message.

[bmaughan]

Don't rent from Barb Ryan or Peter Menczer. They have a house on Hamphire Rd as well as some others. Very intrusive. Kept our entire security deposit for wear & tear (e.g., scratches on floor). Generally unpleasant.

[greenfields83]

DO NOT RENT FROM MONTLACK REALTY. Montlack management is totally different (one year with them and no real complaints (we were at the duke)).

We lived with MR for 2 yrs because, to be honest, it was dirt cheap and very convenient. Our apt was on N moreland, right off shaker square. Here is the list: break ins and no response by management to rest of tenants; no heat in 1 BR for 1.5 winters; mold resulting from massive humidity spewing out of radiator - "thats how radiators work" was what Jeff Netherton (repairs manager) told me; Poorly designed dishwasher draining system that caused rank water to reflux into the appliance - never fixed just tampered with; leaking ceiling/wall that took 1 yr to fix. While we didnt call for repairs weekly, this was not a case of calling once and forgetting about it until a month/year later. We called frequently and they repeatedly would come out with an attitude and make a minimal change. For instance - they put three of the SAME VENT on the radiator that was spewing water thinking that that would help. WOW. Thats all i can think about now, but im sure that wont be the end of my complaints when it comes time to actually move out. Jeff Zambie, the guy who shows the place is super nice - amazing guy. However, he is the only person that you want to deal with when it comes to these people.

If you have other questions, feel free to email [e-mail]

[vxp43]

I saw a few negative comments about John Schloss (from 4 years ago). Has anyone had any more/recent experience with him? Any specific problems you had with him or the apartment?

[esank]

I was prepared to Rent with G & L properties (Lou Powers) but upon further inspection and information provided from a previous tenant, I was made aware of the way he handles his business. Do not rent from this man. He is manipulative and will swindle you out of money. Once I figured this out, I decided not to rent from him. Before this, He insisted I have a cosigner even though my monthly income was well beyond the rent price. My mistake was writing giving him my deposit when I had not yet given him my cosigner contract. I signed the lease which was not supposed to be binding until I gave him a copy signed from my co-signer. When I found out the information regarding his unsavory practiced I immediately let him know I would not be renting with him and that I was sorry for the inconvenience. He then proceeded to threaten me with lawsuits and refused to refund my 710 dollar check. To this day I still have not received my money. He is very unprofessional and manipulative.