Rent hikes, missing management leave Glendale apartment residents fearing displacement
Renters report massive fees, price hikes under new apartment management
Buenas Apartments tenants in Glendale describe sudden, unexplained balance increases after new management took over. FOX 10's Andrew Christiansen reports.
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Management at Buenas Apartments did not kick residents out on Oct. 6, but one person was seen voluntarily moving away while a lot of neighbors out on the property advised her not to.
Off camera, she explained that she simply didn't want to risk any future fees she might face.
What they're saying:
"It hurt me to see my friend that emotional, that scared," said Autumn Toms, a resident at Buenas Apartments.
Toms was talking about her friend who moved out after receiving a notice that her rent had increased by more than $1,000.
"I feel guilty in a sense because I brought her here, and now she has to go through this," Toms said.
Residents report that even more people have moved out, but Toms, a single mother of two, is choosing to stay.
"When a lot of us get displaced we will be homeless," Toms said.
"When you call someone family, that has meaning, it's valuable, so you don't leave family," said Shannon Price, another resident at Buenas Apartments.
Glendale residents say their rent balances unexpectedly skyrocketed by thousands of dollars after a payment portal switch.
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'We're not going to stop':
Price's lease runs through May 2027 at $1,068 a month. Now, she received a notice demanding $5,065, which is $4,000 more than her typical agreement. She met with management to review her payment history, but said they only offered excuses.
"You can’t get us off your back that way because we're not going to stop until everybody here has what they pay for," Price said.
Resident Jamir Ogman says issues started when new management switched portals in August. Despite paying on time, his balance skyrocketed to over $6,000.
"I went to the office. They were closing. Come back tomorrow, I said OK. I had to take off work just to come back tomorrow and no one was there," Ogman said.
Glendale tenants face eviction warnings after rent hikes
Tenants at a Glendale apartment complex are facing massive rent increases and tight eviction deadlines while dealing with severe maintenance issues. FOX 10's Andrew Christiansen learns more about the impact on the residents, alongside the severe maintenance issues.
Dig deeper:
An investigation into the address Buenas Communities LLC has listed on the Arizona Corporation Commission's website revealed that the location belongs to a UPS Store P.O. Box.
Calls were also placed to Apartment Management Consultants, the property managers, leaving messages on Oct. 5 and Oct. 6.
Residents say continuous FOX 10 coverage is making a difference.
"The more of us speaking out loud about this, and educating society on what's happening, then the more that's going to happen. Things are going to change," Price said.
Glendale residents speak out on rent hikes
Residents at Buenas Apartments in Glendale report thousands in illegal fee increases following a management payment portal switch, as Arizona's Attorney General investigates. FOX 10's Andrew Christiansen has the details.
What's next:
It has been days with no response from Buenas Communities LLC or Apartment Management Consultants.
An attorney explained that even under new management, property owners are required to honor a tenant's current lease. If tenants are on a month-to-month agreement, management still needs to provide a 30-day notice.
The Source: Information in this report was gathered from Autumn Toms, a resident at Buenas Apartments; Shannon Price, a resident at Buenas Apartments; Jamir Ogman, a resident at Buenas Apartments; an unnamed attorney; the Arizona Corporation Commission's public records; and prior FOX news coverage.