As I See It

I live at the Grand Marais Apartments at 315 First Avenue East. As a single woman, I moved into an upstairs two-bedroom unit over 11 years ago. Because I have only my Social Security income, I receive assistance from the Federal government for a reduction in my rent, and I know that I’m very fortunate to have such a nice place in which to live. At the time I moved in, the complex was managed by a local board. A few years later, that board hired NETA, a North Dakota Property Management Company, to take over management of the apartments.

Our complex consists of two levels, no elevator. The lower level has four one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units. The upper level, accessed by four stairways, has 8 two-bedroom units. Most of the tenants have been single renters since I’ve lived here, except for one two-bedroom unit currently rented by a married couple. Previously, that unit was also rented by a couple. Most of our tenants have been, and are, single rentals.

I recently applied for a vacant downstairs two-bedroom unit. The stairs are becoming a hardship for me so I would like to be downstairs. That unit has never had more than one tenant living in it, and I didn’t expect a denial because I was asking to move from a two-bedroom upstairs unit to a two-bedroom downstairs unit. I was astonished to be told that occupancy rules have changed, and the new rules do not permit one person in a two-bedroom unit. When I explained the rental history of both my apartment and the downstairs apartment, I was told it didn’t matter; they are following new rules. When I asked about the recent rental of a two-bedroom apartment to a single tenant, NETA said that those circumstances didn’t apply to me. They also said that if I am labeled disabled, as determined by a doctor, they would place me on a waiting list for a downstairs one-bedroom apartment. At present there is a waiting list of 13 for those one-bedroom units, none of which will be available for the foreseeable future.

Part of this problem is aggravated by the fact that I don’t have a written lease. When I moved in, the local board was in the process of re-writing their existing lease. I never received a completed copy from them, and when they hired NETA, I never received one from them, either. Recently, when I asked the president of the local board for a copy of the current lease, she seemed surprised that I would think she would have a copy of it. Because policies have been so varied through the past few years, I don’t want to ask NETA for a copy because I simply don’t trust them.

I am really frustrated with this entire situation. I believe the change in occupancy rules can be attributed to financial considerations, due to the fact that two tenants pay more rent than one.

I also do not understand how NETA, a for-profit management company, can be expected to fairly manage a non-profit entity, such as Grand Marais Apartments. Since NETA took over, they have discontinued all recycling; outside windows used to be washed twice a year; cleaning of public areas and vacuuming of stairs used to be done, weekly. All that has been discontinued and I am certain their profits have increased for many of those reasons. Also, one of our residents is dealing with the effects of mold in her apartment, and NETA told her that it is a “common livable mold.”

When asking the local board for their help, the president told me that their only duty was to hire and/or fire the management company and they are sure that NETA is doing their best to follow appropriate rules.

We have four rental complexes in our town, and I have no idea of how the other three management companies operate. I hope they’re better than ours, and I’m also hoping someone can help solve our problems at Grand Marais Apartments.