My family and I have lived in "Bye the Green" condominiums since February, 2015. We are renters, currently renting from the owner of our individual unit.
It came to our attention that our landlord had fallen behind in his association dues approximately three months after moving in. I understand that this is an agreement with the owners and the association; however, please continue reading to understand my relationship with Targa.
I contacted my landlord, and he informed me he'd pay his dues.
Back in October of 2014, I received a notice in my door. The notice was a "10 Day" notice, stating that the association dues were substantially past due, in excess of $1,000.
The association informed me that I would lose utility services to my unit if the funds were not paid by the end of the 10 day period. I informed them that I would be glad to give them the funds for the following month (November) in lieu of paying rent to the landlord, and would deduct that from my rent.
Briefly after this discussion, I had gone through a temporary lay off with my employer, and had fallen behind on rent. My landlord and I were cordial about resolving the situation, and he gave us the option to move out a few months early, at the end of December, as oppose to staying throughout the lease, and had agreed to accept a re-payment plan upon moving out. However, he had fallen behind on his association dues (prior to my layoff).
I had informed the association of this, and they served me with another 10 day notice on November 17th. I informed them that my family would be vacating the property by the end of December, but Mark Perovich, the property manager and Targa employee, informed me that he would be going through with the utility shut off, and insisted that it was within their rights.
I had done some research on the legalities of the matter, and discovered that this action would be a violation of a state statute. They insisted that they could shut off our electricity; however, I am a paying customer of Puget Sound Energy -- and the association is not responsible for providing me with electricity. In the association's own printed letter, it specifically said that they would be shuttin off "assocation-paid utilities", which are water, garbage and sewer.
On December 2nd, they went ahead and shut off our electricity. My wife and I took our kids down to the Targa office to speak with Mark, but he wasn't available. We ended up speaking with one of his colleagues (never obtained her name), and she virtually told us that their decision was final, and they would not be turning back on electricity unless there was a full payment of the association dues owed by my landlord (not by myself, the renter). We even informed them that we'd be vacating the property by the end of December, and that my wife was expecting our next child at any day. Again, they didn't care. They completely blew us off.
I contacted an attorney's office, Dimension Law Group, who provided me with a phone consult -- who confirmed that we had a claim against the association.
RCW 59.18.300
"Termination of tenant's utility services—Tenant causing loss of landlord provided utility services.
It shall be unlawful for a landlord to intentionally cause termination of any of his or her tenant's utility services, including water, heat, electricity, or gas, except for an interruption of utility services for a reasonable time in order to make necessary repairs. Any landlord who violates this section may be liable to such tenant for his or her actual damages sustained by him or her, and up to one hundred dollars for each day or part thereof the tenant is thereby deprived of any utility service, and the prevailing party may recover his or her costs of suit or arbitration and a reasonable attorney's fee. It shall be unlawful for a tenant to intentionally cause the loss of utility services provided by the landlord, including water, heat, electricity, or gas, excepting as resulting from the normal occupancy of the premises."
However, the Targa representatives claimed that they were exempt from the law, because they're not our landlord; however, the law has specifically stated that when an association interferes with a tenant's living circumstances, that they are acting on behalf of the landlord, and therefore, meet the definition of a "landlord", furthemore, being required to abide by the same laws as a landlord.
Ultimately, our landlord pulled through and made a partial payment toward his arrears, and our electricity was restored, but the dealings with these individuals have been nothing short of shady and unethical, at best, and illegal at worst.
I would highly avoid doing any business with this organization, or doing business with any property under their ownership or management.
We will be vacating this place at the end of the month, and will certainly not be patronizing any Targa establishment in the future.
Targa Real Estate Services Reviews
My family and I have lived in "Bye the Green" condominiums since February, 2015. We are renters, currently renting from the owner of our individual unit.
It came to our attention that our landlord had fallen behind in his association dues approximately three months after moving in. I understand that this is an agreement with the owners and the association; however, please continue reading to understand my relationship with Targa.
I contacted my landlord, and he informed me he'd pay his dues.
Back in October of 2014, I received a notice in my door. The notice was a "10 Day" notice, stating that the association dues were substantially past due, in excess of $1,000.
The association informed me that I would lose utility services to my unit if the funds were not paid by the end of the 10 day period. I informed them that I would be glad to give them the funds for the following month (November) in lieu of paying rent to the landlord, and would deduct that from my rent.
Briefly after this discussion, I had gone through a temporary lay off with my employer, and had fallen behind on rent. My landlord and I were cordial about resolving the situation, and he gave us the option to move out a few months early, at the end of December, as oppose to staying throughout the lease, and had agreed to accept a re-payment plan upon moving out. However, he had fallen behind on his association dues (prior to my layoff).
I had informed the association of this, and they served me with another 10 day notice on November 17th. I informed them that my family would be vacating the property by the end of December, but Mark Perovich, the property manager and Targa employee, informed me that he would be going through with the utility shut off, and insisted that it was within their rights.
I had done some research on the legalities of the matter, and discovered that this action would be a violation of a state statute. They insisted that they could shut off our electricity; however, I am a paying customer of Puget Sound Energy -- and the association is not responsible for providing me with electricity. In the association's own printed letter, it specifically said that they would be shuttin off "assocation-paid utilities", which are water, garbage and sewer.
On December 2nd, they went ahead and shut off our electricity. My wife and I took our kids down to the Targa office to speak with Mark, but he wasn't available. We ended up speaking with one of his colleagues (never obtained her name), and she virtually told us that their decision was final, and they would not be turning back on electricity unless there was a full payment of the association dues owed by my landlord (not by myself, the renter). We even informed them that we'd be vacating the property by the end of December, and that my wife was expecting our next child at any day. Again, they didn't care. They completely blew us off.
I contacted an attorney's office, Dimension Law Group, who provided me with a phone consult -- who confirmed that we had a claim against the association.
RCW 59.18.300
"Termination of tenant's utility services—Tenant causing loss of landlord provided utility services.
It shall be unlawful for a landlord to intentionally cause termination of any of his or her tenant's utility services, including water, heat, electricity, or gas, except for an interruption of utility services for a reasonable time in order to make necessary repairs. Any landlord who violates this section may be liable to such tenant for his or her actual damages sustained by him or her, and up to one hundred dollars for each day or part thereof the tenant is thereby deprived of any utility service, and the prevailing party may recover his or her costs of suit or arbitration and a reasonable attorney's fee. It shall be unlawful for a tenant to intentionally cause the loss of utility services provided by the landlord, including water, heat, electricity, or gas, excepting as resulting from the normal occupancy of the premises."
However, the Targa representatives claimed that they were exempt from the law, because they're not our landlord; however, the law has specifically stated that when an association interferes with a tenant's living circumstances, that they are acting on behalf of the landlord, and therefore, meet the definition of a "landlord", furthemore, being required to abide by the same laws as a landlord.
Ultimately, our landlord pulled through and made a partial payment toward his arrears, and our electricity was restored, but the dealings with these individuals have been nothing short of shady and unethical, at best, and illegal at worst.
I would highly avoid doing any business with this organization, or doing business with any property under their ownership or management.
We will be vacating this place at the end of the month, and will certainly not be patronizing any Targa establishment in the future.