[shcisamax]

There I said it.

The Villages rentals are totally dishonest. They trumped up "charges" which were ridiculous. When they said there were marks in the cutting board, we knew we were in big trouble. They did retract that later after we explained as simply as possible that if you don't use the carving board, you end up with cuts in the granite. Kind of the purpose of a carving board. Then they said there was dog hair...Well...hmmn....that is what the nonrefundable pet security deposit of $150 was ostensibly to cover, no? Then later they said we took 1 towel and 2 pillowcases and 3 wash cloths for a total of $92. . Wow. Never thought I would be accused of taking a pillowcase or towel that didn't at least say Hotel Danieli or Plaza Athenee.. Really ridiculous. Not to be ostentatious but to make the point, we just built a very stretched lantana on the golf course with a very large pool...I think we can afford our own wash cloths.

So after being gracious and allow inspectors and workmen in for several different days because the owner's one year warranty was up while we were there (and we could have easily refused but were doing them a favor)

After being screamed at "You have no business being here" at by a maid that was angry when we returned after our check out time to return a cable cord that was mixed with ours as we were moving in to our new home) yelling the place has "dog hair" over and over, ( I suspect she just didn't want to have to actually clean since it was a Saturday and had hoped to do a light dusting)


After then meeting with the power man, Joe Cozensa, and being told there would be no problem, three weeks later (after the date by which they need to return your security deposit) we get a registered letter saying they are taking an additional $160 (which they had already done after the legal date) from the main deposit of $500 and we should refer to section blah blah blah of Florida statute. Typical of a sneaky mentality, they try to make you think they are in the right by throwing out a statute but, if you actually refer to that statute, what they did was illegal.

It says clearly that they cannot just take your security deposit (which they did) but they need to inform you of the discrepancy and you have 15 days to dispute it.

We rented through them because it was TV. Oh wait. Actually, we discovered through this it isn't ..exactly... TV. TV franchised it to these guys two years ago. You get your contract on TV letterhead, you pick up and return your keys to the sales office in Lake Sumter...it certainly quacks like a duck. I still don't understand TV pretending and supporting kindasorta it being a Village operation. It is really quite disappointing to us The Villages plays into this shenanigan. It isn't something we, and probably everyone else, would have expected.

So here is what we suggest for those who are going to engage these dishonest people. DON'T! You are better off going with a home owner where you build an honest relationship. If for some crazy reason, you feel you still want to rent through TV Hometown Management, absolutely make them do a walkthrough with you when you take the house and make sure they give you an itemized inventory which you sign off on. Otherwise, you end up with charges that are ...bologna.

And as for the incidents above, I have left out details that would make your jaw drop in the interest of trying to make this a concise and germaine post.

[lovesports]

I have heard others that are not happy with the rental program of the Villages. Often it is the home owner who is not happy.

[shcisamax]

Originally Posted by lovesports

I have heard others that are not happy with the rental program of the Villages. Often it is the home owner who is not happy.

Most like they are playing both sides of the game.

[asianthree]

mmmm maid yelled at you..this won't help you now, but our home had things missing and come to find out it was the housecleaner that removed our things. when you spend this much money on renting a house what do you need a wash cloth for..we let her go and now have someone who takes care of our house like we would. sorry you found out the hard way...some do not want to rent from thevillages4rent.com but this gives a good reason to deal with the owner direct.

[shcisamax]

Yes, we wonder about the maid. In fact, while my daughter and I were there, I went to write thank you and invite to our new home in the welcome book which we had been remiss in doing. The maid started screaming something and called her superior to say we were writing nasty things in the book about her. My daughter was a bit apprehensive with the erratic behavior. We left totally rattled by this very peculiar person. When we got in to the meeting with "owner" Joe Cozensa (sp?), he said the maid told him my daughter shoved her niece. We were speechless...for about 3 seconds. My daughter is demure, stands 5'2" and is a 0-2. At this point, nothing was surprising us anymore. We do wonder if she took those things and, to bolster her position, she invented that story. Or she was so angry about cleaning, she wanted to make us pay for it? We don't know but the response "Joe" had was, "That's why we don't like clients to be there when the cleaning people are there."
We didn't rent from thevillages4rent.com because we thought we had a relationship with TV and they were building our house. We were looking for a seamless move. We had rented one house for two weeks (BTW: the sheets were dirty and had to be washed when we moved in and we got a big ...aww that's too bad from the company about that) and then moved for two months to this one. It seemed logical to go with a company that was operated by TV. Had we known it really isn't TV standing behind this ...although they pretend it is them...we would have rented directly with a home owner. I hope others, after reading this, will recognize the benefit to rent directly. Chances are if someone owns a house in TV, they are a relatively nice person because TV attracts nice residents. This franchise Villages Hometown Property Management is apparently trumping up charges on both renters and home owners. Not nice.

[thekeithfan]

I am a homeowner that has rented in the past. But not through them. At the time they got 20% of everything! including 20% of the cost of rebuying the stuff they alleged YOU BROKE. And if you are so unfortunate to have your A/C go or Washer they take care of it and pocket 20%! the homeowner is left with less than the rental agency!!!

[janmcn]

The OP should give their salesperson a copy of these complaints with a cc to Jennifer Parr. If The Villages gets enough complaints that effect their customer service, perhaps they will end their franchisees contract.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by janmcn

The OP should give their salesperson a copy of these complaints with a cc to Jennifer Parr. If The Villages gets enough complaints that effect their customer service, perhaps they will end their franchisees contract.

This is good advice.
Would like to hear Jennifer Parr's response.

[golf4me]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

This is good advice.
Would like to hear Jennifer Parr's response.

I agree.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

This is good advice.
Would like to hear Jennifer Parr's response.

Good luck with that

[batman911]

We are staying in one of their rental homes now for a week. I will let you know how it turns out. So far, we could not not be happier with the home (a Bridgeport on the golf course and large pond on Inner Circle in Amelia) or service. Home was spotless on arrival and everything works. Better than expectations.

[goodgrief]

I think the big thing is folks need to know is that the company is owned by Blackhawk something or other. No longer owned by the villages and hasn't been for a couple of years.

We looked at a home we were told had a "newly remodeled kitchen" one year and walked out never ever thinking to do business with them. The kitchen showed signs of severe water damage. Stained linoleum and very very stained carpet into the dining room from the linoleum. I was thinking possibly mold versus stain. How can they call this a remodel??? Hubby had opened the fridge and said he was glad I hadn't because it would not have been walk but run out of that house.

I guess by saying this you might want to think twice before allowing them to rent out your property as well as being weary of renting through them. Didn't look like good upkeep at all

[shcisamax]

Originally Posted by janmcn

The OP should give their salesperson a copy of these complaints with a cc to Jennifer Parr. If The Villages gets enough complaints that effect their customer service, perhaps they will end their franchisees contract.

Why do you think the salesperson will care? How does one send it to Jennifer Parr. Wonder if she would care since they are not the "real" owners...just the sortakinda pretend owners

[shcisamax]

Originally Posted by goodgrief

I think the big thing is folks need to know is that the company is owned by Blackhawk something or other. No longer owned by the villages and hasn't been for a couple of years.

Actually we believe TV does still have an interest. From our understanding from the hospitality manager at the sales office, TV franchised it to these two guys. What is "Blackhawk"?

Regardless, it is very bad form to have people working off a Villages contract, picking up and returning the keys to The Villages offices and then say it isn't a Village business. Or responsibility. I think that is the part that is the most unexpected part of this disappointing and dismal experience.

[justjim]

Wow! Good information to know in this thread. We have friends who just ask for rental suggestions in TV.