prospective • Visited 2013
Let me start out by saying that I know three people who live here and are happy with the place. However, I don't recommend it and want to ensure potential residents are aware of my experience.
I applied for residence in November 2013 and paid a $64 application fee along with a $97 holding fee. My application was approved and I was then given a copy of the lease to review before signing. Here's where the problems started and why I recommend against Four Seasons.
First, I am in the military and protected by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. However, management would not allow residence without my waiving multiple legal rights I have under the SCRA. Their "Stay of Action and Eviction Under the SCRA" lease addendum included a clause that would have me waive my right to appointment of an attorney under Section 201. No thanks! I have rented three properties in Virginia and never before had management asked me to waive my legal rights.
Second, the "Pest Management Addendum" includes the statement that "Lessor [management] is not responsible for any damage done to Lessee's [tenant] personal items during pest control inspections or treatments." In other words, they can enter your apartment and either intentionally or accidentally destroy everything you own and you have no recourse if you agreed to this addendum by signing it.
Third, and minor, the main rental agreement had two formatting errors and, when I pointed them out to the leasing representative (Ryan), he said the lease had been reviewed by Drucker & Falk attorneys and was fine. To his credit, he was willing to modify these to fix the errors. However, he would not budge on the first two problems I mentioned. Thus, I did not proceed with signing the lease and ended up living elsewhere.
Finally, when I decided against living there, I asked for a refund of my $97 holding fee. They refused to give it to me. I did not expect the $64 application fee to be returned because I had applied and been approved. But I did not move in so there was no need to hold the apartment.
-Ken Sheide
