YORK REALTY

We found a house to rent via an internet classified ad service. We contacted the person's responsible. We asked about the pertinent information. Some of that information was provided to us. We made arrangements to see the property. We arrive at the property and its condition is awful, but we see potential. The house has been empty for a number of years. Ivy was growing through one of the windows, the toilets were stained horribly, the tub had a hole through the porcelein, etc etc. We asked if they were willing to fix these things. They said yes. We went through the process of getting things approved. Then we show up to sign the lease on the first. The work that was listed as needing to be done, we find was only begun 4 days prior to our arrival. The gas and electricity have not been tested. The bathroom is unusable due to the repairs to the tub. Unfinished painting was not completed. The house that we were told would be cleaned had cobwebs, spiders, and very thick dust on all the window sills and trim. Carpets stains had been scrubbed at - I think - at least we were told they were to no avail. We installed satellite service, because we had gotten permission to do so - found that putting it in the backyard was impossible due to trees, satellite company put the dish in the front yard. We didn't tell him to put it in the front, he didn't ask - but that's an issue with the provider. Wait - not entirely - two days later we get served with a notice telling us that we are in violation of borough rules about the dish. York Realty (who functions within this borough for their business as well as many properties) did not get permission from the borough for the property to have a dish - anywhere! The homeowner of the property did not get this permission either. So we are told that we'll have to move it, but where came second to getting permission to have it on the property in the first place. 6 months later - permission has been granted - to leave it where it is because it is the only place service can be provided on the property since the homeowner will not allow it to be attached to the house. But during that six months - we were told that we would have to take care of this (by York Realty), yet when we spoke with the borough, they wouldn't deal with us because we were not the homeowners or property managers. The problem was York's, yet they repeatedly tried to make us deal with it. We even complied to give the half fees to the borough for getting the permission for the dish, even though this gives the homeowner permission for every renter after us as well. But we wanted the dish, so we agreed to help get to keep it there. Through out these six months simple things have been nightmares. The excuse always is - "we have to get permission from the homeowner" to do anything. I understand that - but they are communicating via email, who takes six weeks to respond to anything when they are in perpetual contact? Also , when the dish issue came up, the borough realized that the house had been put up for rent - yet neither the homeowner nor York acting on their behalf had bothered to pay the necessary fees to allow the house to be a rental within the borough. Issue after issue comes up due to their neglect of something, yet they ask that we help make it easier for them to deal with it. We were asked to respond on the satellite dish in a timely manner so that no more fines would be imposed. How about fixing the items in the house that I asked be fixed not days, but MONTHS ago? We have been upfront, diligent to seek out what we needed to do on our part, have paid money for repairs that were technically the fault of soddy workmanship in the house rather go through the fight of proving that it wasn't my appliance that malfunctioned, it was the drainage system, etc etc. At every turn we have been met with indifference, attitude, rudeness, and unprofessional office practices. No service is actually offered by this company. They will do only what is necessary to keep out of trouble with the local authorities. Beyond that, they want your money and the homeowner's money. In eight years of renting due to job placement for my husband, we have never been late with a rent check, we have excellent "don't want to see them go" references from every landlord that we have dealt with - until now. Our credit and our reputations will stand up against the blame game if it arises. I suspect York Realty would not. If you are looking for somewhere to rent in the Washington area - if you can help it, do NOT rent from York Realty. I would not purchase a house through them or from them. Their business practices are NOT above board. They barely skim the surface.