The automated gate openers do not have a safety switch and damaged my brand new Tesla, causing $3k in damage and $9k in diminished value. AIMCO and their insurer, Great Prairie Risk Solutions are refusing to take any responsibility.
DO NOT EVER RENT FROM AN AIMCO PROPERTY. This is my second experience with them and they are complete scum bags.
One of my life’s regrets is moving into the Flamingo. I am writing this to help others avoid an extremely unpleasant living experience at the Flamingo. Here is a short list of issues I have had endure living in the Flamingo.
The 2nd week we moved in we had a leak in our walk-in closet from the air condition in the celling this water damage drenched most of our clothing and they had drying equipment installed for 3 days. To add insult to injury the same issue occurred again 6 weeks later. My main concern is mold and its health issues that it can create
6 months after we moved there was a fire in the apt above flooding the entire apartment again with damage to the drywall and paint. And again, the mold issue.
Our appliances were very old and after took 6 maintenance requests in 5 months for replacement they gave us a new Washer/Dryer.
The in-unit washer/dryer takes 8 hours for one small load and do not dry properly the clothing.
On 6 different occasions between 1am and 3 am we were awoken the flamingo security staff at the door. The staff gave us a noise violations and eviction warnings for being too loud. Since we do not own a stereo and after the first warring I used a decibel meter and tested out the proper legal level for our TV volume. They continued to wake us up in the middle of the night with warnings. One explanation was that we were talking to loud during a dinner party with 6 guests that ended at 9 pm on a Friday night.
The fire alarms at the Flamingo are constantly going off all times of day and night. When I counted, there is an average of 4 per week both night and day. Several instances the alarm went on for over 40 minutes. So, the question I have is there a fire or not? How can tenants feel safe?
To add to the fire alarms there was a constant presents of fire trucks on a month basis you can expect to be woken up by a minimum of 3 visits from the Miami Dade fire department
The safety is also in question since we witnessed a constant stream of Police cars coming in and out of the Flamingo from our patio and bedroom windows twice a day or night.
At two different occasions, there were “Police Crime Scene Investigation” vans parked outside the both the entrance to our building and the management office. This would imply something very bad happened in the complex.
3 weeks before we moved out we witnessed a “Miami Crime Scene Cleaning” van at the front entrance. These services are hired to clean up the aftermath of a trauma.
There is a constant marijuana smell as you walk down the halls of the Flamingo and when I was discussing this issue at dinner with friends they stated that the Flamingo is a well know destination for drug sales. Later I confirmed this when on several occasions while I was waiting for an Uber at the main entrance, I witnessed different people handing cash and being handed items from cars that were driving by. As well as 2 times I was asked by if I was looking for moly outside the front gate. The person selling drugs eventually walked back in the Flamingo gate.
Is very hard to be dropped off or picked up by Uber since the Flamingo has not provided the proper space and zoning for its tenant’s transportation. Also get ready to be harassed by the security staff while getting in or out of any type of transportation at the front gate.
There is a constant flow of “Escorts” both day/night in and out of the Flamingo which brings a bad element to the residence.
We could not keep up with the pool closings for construction. And at one point the area we enjoyed the most the grills and volley ball courts were permanently closed. I love to grill and by my calculations there are 2 grills for 3,200 tenants. This was a very passive aggressive move on the Flamingo’s management team.
2 months after we moved in I was grilling at 7:30 and security asked me to stop grilling and to leave. At the time, I was quietly listing to my headphone and grilling food to take back to my apartment. I said that I would finish in 10 minutes and the security guard left only to return with a local police officer in an attempt to have me arrested. The police officer checked to see if I lived at the Flamingo an upon confirming that I was a resident, he told the Flamingo security staff I quote “to stop wasting his time” and left me to my grilling.
I spend time in the lobby and the management in an attempt to keep the wrong element from loitering the thought it was a good idea to turn off all the electrical outlets so resident could no longer can charge their laptops. Again, another passive aggressive move on the Flamingo managements part.
It is common knowledge that the elevator have been in repair for several years and at point the work is paused for months begging the question when if very will this project be completed.
The resort passes (not a good name for this item since the Flamingo is far from a resort) are constantly fail to work and can only be updated during the daytime. So 3 times I have had to take off work get this issue fixed.
The common area doors to our main entrance do not work for weeks on end.
There is mold and water damage in all hallways and a constant smell of urine in the stairwells thought the entire complex again a big health issue.
I was charged $319 for “paint and cleaning” move out charges after I painted the walls and had my place professionally cleaned. This is a very common way for the Flamingo to make extra money.
We had our service animal certified by a well-known legally certified “PhD Psychiatrist”. The Flamingo management team started putting threating letters under our door at 2 am waking us up on 4 different occasions. Were constantly threatened by management we would be evicted and charged a surprise $350 per month for damage fee. This fee we were never made aware of. After a meeting with the General Manager of the property she forced one of us to move out with the dogs in order to stop this harassment. This was an illegal act and a violation of our rights based on the actions of the Flamingo management.
There were several surprise charges on our monthly statements for additional common area electrical “air-conditioning”. Since we were not made aware of the additional charges at the time we paid the rent the Flamingo charged a late fee of $150 three separate times.
We canceled our parking and they still had us on a reoccurring payment plan which again we received the bill for the parking plus a $150 late fee.
The court yard has a standing water in the planters and communal areas for the mosquitos to ignoring the Zika virus issues in Miami. Also, the pet owners are constantly battling the major flea infestation that the untreated lawn contains.
I have to questing the security of our hallway since numerous occasions drunk people banged on our door and tried to force their way in to our apartment.
Our patio will consistently have burning cigarette butts thrown down from above. And the common balcony’s have underwear, towels, used condoms, and clothing laying there that have been blown off resident’s balconies and left for months with no cleaning done by the Flamingo management.
We have a pest infestation for a month that I had to spray for since management had no response to my request.
I witnessed 3 evection notices in my hallway in one week. This could be from the poor screening process offered by the Flamingo management
Constant exterior construction interrupted my sleep and daytime activities.
There is no way to receive large mail items, the Flamingo does not have a receiving room capable of handling these items. The Flamingo management solution is to just drop them unsecured in front of your door with no way to keep the item safe.
Residents leave their garbage in the common hall way because they cannot find the trash shoot. The shoot was poorly labeled and then the removed the signage after 8 months. Also the trash shoot constantly backs up to the 3rd floor due to the Flamingo Management not having enough pickup’s scheduled.
There were several vandalism incident’s including in the parking garage. Cars were vandalized with spray paint. Here is the email from Management.
Aimco does not pay contractors who do work for them. We had a contract with them to complete a large project for one of their San Diego locations. We did the work as specified in the contract, we submitted invoices for progress payments. The job was approximately 60% complete and no progress payments. The representitive told us to keep working and that they would wire money to our bank account. They asked for the account information which I provided through a blank voided check. I also told them that we already do work for them and our information is already in their system.
They sent me an email stating that the funds were sent via ACH. I informed them that the funds were not sent to my bank account. They sent me an email showing a forged check of the exact check that I had sent to them, with my name on it but all of the routing numbers and checking account numbers altered.
They are now refusing to pay us what they owe us and canceled the contract stating breach of contract. They are accusing us of forging our own check, why would we do this if the money was already coming to us. Also they already had all of our information on file. They should be held accountable for their actions and non payment to contrators who have performed work for them. We are owed over $200,000. Contractors beware, they will unilaterally change the contract without your consent and they will find ways to not pay you. It is hard to believe that they are one of the largest publicly traded Real Estate Reits. I can only imagine how they treat their tenants. Their actions have caused us financial hardship and severe emotional distress.
We were contracted to perform work on 5 properties that AIMCO manages or owns. We spent considerable time coming up with a complete scope for AIMCO and then modifying it to fit within their budget. This included multiple site visits in and out of state. Once the bids were approved and schedules were made the work started.
The first project started and we were under way when a large portion of the job was cancelled. This was not a big deal as this was the last part of the job. The sub-contractor for this part was notified and he filled the scheduled time with other jobs. Approximately a week and a half later we were notified that the portion of the job that was cancelled, AIMCO now wanted to reinstate. Due to the cancellation the sub-contractor filled his schedule and they were no longer a good option for the project. We found another sub-contractor and had them do the project. The project ran long due to the change of sub-contractors and City planning. We finished the job with a zero item punch list and we still have not been paid for the work that finished 60 day ago.
The next 4 projects were turned out to much more challenging. Our sub-contractor that had agreed to do the job disappeared the day before the job was to start. We scrambled to get new sub-contractors. During the search we had a lot of sub-contractors go to the properties and then wouldn’t get back to us. Come to find out later that one of AIMCOs own employees were telling the subcontractors who were bidding the job that they were not going to get paid. We found this out much later in the project.
The 4 projects had mostly the same scope items, which we were to complete one item at one property and then move that trade to the next property. We then could bill for the item that was completed at the first property. The payout would come to our company and we would pay the subcontractor. This was how it was planned out, only the pay outs did not work that way. We completed portions of the scope and did not receive the payouts from them. This put us in a financial bind. We couldn't collect and we couldn’t pay the subs. AIMCO asked what we needed, and we responded with payouts for the work that had been completed and billed. AIMCO did not respond to our request. Instead they ignored it and the job went badly. We are still waiting on payment on work that was completed 60 day ago.
If you are a contractor be aware of working with AIMCO, they will find a way not to pay you. If they do it will be a long drawn out process.
Aimco Reviews
The automated gate openers do not have a safety switch and damaged my brand new Tesla, causing $3k in damage and $9k in diminished value. AIMCO and their insurer, Great Prairie Risk Solutions are refusing to take any responsibility.
DO NOT EVER RENT FROM AN AIMCO PROPERTY. This is my second experience with them and they are complete scum bags.
One of my life’s regrets is moving into the Flamingo. I am writing this to help others avoid an extremely unpleasant living experience at the Flamingo. Here is a short list of issues I have had endure living in the Flamingo.
The 2nd week we moved in we had a leak in our walk-in closet from the air condition in the celling this water damage drenched most of our clothing and they had drying equipment installed for 3 days. To add insult to injury the same issue occurred again 6 weeks later. My main concern is mold and its health issues that it can create
6 months after we moved there was a fire in the apt above flooding the entire apartment again with damage to the drywall and paint. And again, the mold issue.
Our appliances were very old and after took 6 maintenance requests in 5 months for replacement they gave us a new Washer/Dryer.
The in-unit washer/dryer takes 8 hours for one small load and do not dry properly the clothing.
On 6 different occasions between 1am and 3 am we were awoken the flamingo security staff at the door. The staff gave us a noise violations and eviction warnings for being too loud. Since we do not own a stereo and after the first warring I used a decibel meter and tested out the proper legal level for our TV volume. They continued to wake us up in the middle of the night with warnings. One explanation was that we were talking to loud during a dinner party with 6 guests that ended at 9 pm on a Friday night.
The fire alarms at the Flamingo are constantly going off all times of day and night. When I counted, there is an average of 4 per week both night and day. Several instances the alarm went on for over 40 minutes. So, the question I have is there a fire or not? How can tenants feel safe?
To add to the fire alarms there was a constant presents of fire trucks on a month basis you can expect to be woken up by a minimum of 3 visits from the Miami Dade fire department
The safety is also in question since we witnessed a constant stream of Police cars coming in and out of the Flamingo from our patio and bedroom windows twice a day or night.
At two different occasions, there were “Police Crime Scene Investigation” vans parked outside the both the entrance to our building and the management office. This would imply something very bad happened in the complex.
3 weeks before we moved out we witnessed a “Miami Crime Scene Cleaning” van at the front entrance. These services are hired to clean up the aftermath of a trauma.
There is a constant marijuana smell as you walk down the halls of the Flamingo and when I was discussing this issue at dinner with friends they stated that the Flamingo is a well know destination for drug sales. Later I confirmed this when on several occasions while I was waiting for an Uber at the main entrance, I witnessed different people handing cash and being handed items from cars that were driving by. As well as 2 times I was asked by if I was looking for moly outside the front gate. The person selling drugs eventually walked back in the Flamingo gate.
Is very hard to be dropped off or picked up by Uber since the Flamingo has not provided the proper space and zoning for its tenant’s transportation. Also get ready to be harassed by the security staff while getting in or out of any type of transportation at the front gate.
There is a constant flow of “Escorts” both day/night in and out of the Flamingo which brings a bad element to the residence.
We could not keep up with the pool closings for construction. And at one point the area we enjoyed the most the grills and volley ball courts were permanently closed. I love to grill and by my calculations there are 2 grills for 3,200 tenants. This was a very passive aggressive move on the Flamingo’s management team.
2 months after we moved in I was grilling at 7:30 and security asked me to stop grilling and to leave. At the time, I was quietly listing to my headphone and grilling food to take back to my apartment. I said that I would finish in 10 minutes and the security guard left only to return with a local police officer in an attempt to have me arrested. The police officer checked to see if I lived at the Flamingo an upon confirming that I was a resident, he told the Flamingo security staff I quote “to stop wasting his time” and left me to my grilling.
I spend time in the lobby and the management in an attempt to keep the wrong element from loitering the thought it was a good idea to turn off all the electrical outlets so resident could no longer can charge their laptops. Again, another passive aggressive move on the Flamingo managements part.
It is common knowledge that the elevator have been in repair for several years and at point the work is paused for months begging the question when if very will this project be completed.
The resort passes (not a good name for this item since the Flamingo is far from a resort) are constantly fail to work and can only be updated during the daytime. So 3 times I have had to take off work get this issue fixed.
The common area doors to our main entrance do not work for weeks on end.
There is mold and water damage in all hallways and a constant smell of urine in the stairwells thought the entire complex again a big health issue.
I was charged $319 for “paint and cleaning” move out charges after I painted the walls and had my place professionally cleaned. This is a very common way for the Flamingo to make extra money.
We had our service animal certified by a well-known legally certified “PhD Psychiatrist”. The Flamingo management team started putting threating letters under our door at 2 am waking us up on 4 different occasions. Were constantly threatened by management we would be evicted and charged a surprise $350 per month for damage fee. This fee we were never made aware of. After a meeting with the General Manager of the property she forced one of us to move out with the dogs in order to stop this harassment. This was an illegal act and a violation of our rights based on the actions of the Flamingo management.
There were several surprise charges on our monthly statements for additional common area electrical “air-conditioning”. Since we were not made aware of the additional charges at the time we paid the rent the Flamingo charged a late fee of $150 three separate times.
We canceled our parking and they still had us on a reoccurring payment plan which again we received the bill for the parking plus a $150 late fee.
The court yard has a standing water in the planters and communal areas for the mosquitos to ignoring the Zika virus issues in Miami. Also, the pet owners are constantly battling the major flea infestation that the untreated lawn contains.
I have to questing the security of our hallway since numerous occasions drunk people banged on our door and tried to force their way in to our apartment.
Our patio will consistently have burning cigarette butts thrown down from above. And the common balcony’s have underwear, towels, used condoms, and clothing laying there that have been blown off resident’s balconies and left for months with no cleaning done by the Flamingo management.
We have a pest infestation for a month that I had to spray for since management had no response to my request.
I witnessed 3 evection notices in my hallway in one week. This could be from the poor screening process offered by the Flamingo management
Constant exterior construction interrupted my sleep and daytime activities.
There is no way to receive large mail items, the Flamingo does not have a receiving room capable of handling these items. The Flamingo management solution is to just drop them unsecured in front of your door with no way to keep the item safe.
Residents leave their garbage in the common hall way because they cannot find the trash shoot. The shoot was poorly labeled and then the removed the signage after 8 months. Also the trash shoot constantly backs up to the 3rd floor due to the Flamingo Management not having enough pickup’s scheduled.
There were several vandalism incident’s including in the parking garage. Cars were vandalized with spray paint. Here is the email from Management.
North Garage Vandalism Update
Aimco does not pay contractors who do work for them. We had a contract with them to complete a large project for one of their San Diego locations. We did the work as specified in the contract, we submitted invoices for progress payments. The job was approximately 60% complete and no progress payments. The representitive told us to keep working and that they would wire money to our bank account. They asked for the account information which I provided through a blank voided check. I also told them that we already do work for them and our information is already in their system.
They sent me an email stating that the funds were sent via ACH. I informed them that the funds were not sent to my bank account. They sent me an email showing a forged check of the exact check that I had sent to them, with my name on it but all of the routing numbers and checking account numbers altered.
They are now refusing to pay us what they owe us and canceled the contract stating breach of contract. They are accusing us of forging our own check, why would we do this if the money was already coming to us. Also they already had all of our information on file. They should be held accountable for their actions and non payment to contrators who have performed work for them. We are owed over $200,000. Contractors beware, they will unilaterally change the contract without your consent and they will find ways to not pay you. It is hard to believe that they are one of the largest publicly traded Real Estate Reits. I can only imagine how they treat their tenants. Their actions have caused us financial hardship and severe emotional distress.
We were contracted to perform work on 5 properties that AIMCO manages or owns. We spent considerable time coming up with a complete scope for AIMCO and then modifying it to fit within their budget. This included multiple site visits in and out of state. Once the bids were approved and schedules were made the work started.
The first project started and we were under way when a large portion of the job was cancelled. This was not a big deal as this was the last part of the job. The sub-contractor for this part was notified and he filled the scheduled time with other jobs. Approximately a week and a half later we were notified that the portion of the job that was cancelled, AIMCO now wanted to reinstate. Due to the cancellation the sub-contractor filled his schedule and they were no longer a good option for the project. We found another sub-contractor and had them do the project. The project ran long due to the change of sub-contractors and City planning. We finished the job with a zero item punch list and we still have not been paid for the work that finished 60 day ago.
The next 4 projects were turned out to much more challenging. Our sub-contractor that had agreed to do the job disappeared the day before the job was to start. We scrambled to get new sub-contractors. During the search we had a lot of sub-contractors go to the properties and then wouldn’t get back to us. Come to find out later that one of AIMCOs own employees were telling the subcontractors who were bidding the job that they were not going to get paid. We found this out much later in the project.
The 4 projects had mostly the same scope items, which we were to complete one item at one property and then move that trade to the next property. We then could bill for the item that was completed at the first property. The payout would come to our company and we would pay the subcontractor. This was how it was planned out, only the pay outs did not work that way. We completed portions of the scope and did not receive the payouts from them. This put us in a financial bind. We couldn't collect and we couldn’t pay the subs. AIMCO asked what we needed, and we responded with payouts for the work that had been completed and billed. AIMCO did not respond to our request. Instead they ignored it and the job went badly. We are still waiting on payment on work that was completed 60 day ago.
If you are a contractor be aware of working with AIMCO, they will find a way not to pay you. If they do it will be a long drawn out process.