CHAPMAN PROPERTIES

My daughter rented a property from this company from 09/10 to 09/2011. Aside from their poor behavior over the year, their performance at the end of the lease is truly remarkable. This company has found a way to legally manipulate the renter and withhold as much of the renters deposit as they possibly can get away with, Prior to vacating the property my daughter asked for a final walk through and was told they did not do walk throughs with tenants, the property would be inspected privately and the tenant would be notified of the results within 30 days after the vacancy. After contacting the Idaho Attorney General my daughter was told it was her right to insist on a walkthrough and she should take pictures and video tape the process. When presented to Chapman they reluctantly agreed. The property was thouroughly cleaned, the yard mowed and trimmed and accepted by Chapmans representative following the walkthrough. Three weeks later she received a check from Chapman withholding almost $600 and a detailed letter explaing all the charges for additional cleaning expense they had to bear. Such charges included cleaning of the ceiling fan in the master bedroom, replacement of all light bulbs, a new flapper in the toilet and new batteries for all smoke detectors as well as the replacement of a damaged window blind. The blind was duly noted as damaged and accepted as damaged by Chapman when the property was originally leased. According to the Attorney General, the light bulbs, batteries and toilet flapper are all wear and tear items to be borne by the landlord, not the tenant! As to the ceiling fan in the bedroom... it doesn't exist! When confronted Chapman was unresponsive and told us we had to conform to a contractual written procedure in which they would review and " at their discretion would determine the validity of the complaint". We did this and were told (in writing) they would not return the balance of the deposit. They also sent us a CD with a staple driven through it as proof of their claim. We asked for a readable disk and surprisingly received one a few days later. The disk however tells a different story... To illustrate the damage to the blind they held it up against the sliding door to the deck. In the background was a fenced yard and a hot tub visibly present. On our property there was no hot tub and NO FENCED YARD! The property adjoined a huge common area open to the entire subdivision. At the suggestion of the Attorney General's office we took this company to small claims court and presented our case. Chapman was represented by "PJ" Chapman. Prior to the hearing however we were required to attempt arbitration as a way to settle. Mr. Chapman would not discuss any of the details of the complaint but insisted on citing "contractural" obligations. Later, in court, he again would not discuss any of the details and held to his "contractural" obligations. When confronted with such things as a video taped walkthrough, a bogus ceiling fan, a damaged blind that was not ours and the use of pictures taken at a different property the judge stated that it was fair to presume the whole claim was bogus (which it was).Ultimately the judge denied the case on a technicality. Chapman included an obscure clause at the bottom of the check which read "RE: ACCORD AND SATISFACTION". Bottom line: Chapman has his legal ducks in a row and unless you are an attorney you will pay his price.