[15-Sep-2016] I am not into unsupported bashing of landlords. I am one myself. But this critique is easily substantiated:
I leased this 3 bedroom single family house in a very nice neighborhood of Pasadena for almost 40 months, moving out in August of 2016. My rent was $4300/mo. which I realized both at the time I rented it and especially after I left was at least $300-500/month over market. Fine. I agreed to that. Future tenants beware. This house, although in a very nice neighborhood has some fundamental (most irreparable) issues not to mention a very cheap, unresponsive, passive-aggressive landlord.
Due to the inexpensive original construction (this is a house built in the late 60's/early 70's and now worth $750-1,000,000) and "infrastructure issues" this is probably not a residence you want to live in. At least not at this price and considering the issues. No yard and not kid friendly. The dysfunctional HVAC and lack of insulation in the house make it almost uninhabitable (which may explain why the landlord moved his family out and into another house). The temperature differential between the upstairs and downstairs is anywhere from 5-12 degrees due to restricted airflow and venting and a lack of insulation (no attic and no insulation below the exposed roof). This results in either the party upstairs (hot) or downstairs (cold) being miserable all but fringe seasons when the HVAC is not needed. After constant complaints for 2.5 years that the AC compressor and air intake (I was told this by the landlord's own HVAC contractors) was inadequate and having to literally move into a hotel for between 8 and 10 days because temps in the upstairs bedrooms exceeded 85-90 degrees and the AC did not work at all, the LL finally made a partial repair a few months before my lease term was due to expire. This helped slightly. The electric bills are through the roof due to the HVAC issues. I traveled a lot and the bills were still outrageous for a house this size and with one person living in it. To boot, the air flow through the vents is so loud you cannot easily have a conversation nor listen to music or television downstairs when the heat or AC is on. Extremely annoying. Especially for $4300/mo. There is a nursery school immediately adjacent and although the neighborhood in general is quiet and peaceful, that aspect is not. Perhaps the worst aspect of the house is how dark and dreary the downstairs is.
There are beautiful mature trees surrounding the house but it is approx 20 feet below street level so the downstairs, although cool temperature wise (cold in the winter), is VERY dark and depressing. Also, presumably because the house is below grade I had frequent plumbing issues. There is a sump pump but it doesnt always work and as a result the house (downstairs at least) has a cold, musty, "mildewish" environment. The toilets and sinks upstairs and kitchen sink were constantly stopping up and overflowing (both bathrooms although I very rarely had guests so the guest bathroom was rarely used). The plumbing throughout the house is a disaster. In June of 2016 the upstairs guest toilet clogged and overflowed throughout the upstairs and into the kitchen area downstairs. The landlord tried to blame me for the stoppage (as he did for EVERY issue). Due to that "flood" the house should be checked for mold but I am sure it was not. I was calling the plumber directly constantly (did I mention there was no property manger) because the landlord would wait days or weeks (if ever) to respond to most issues.
The landlord is one of the cheapest I can imagine for a property getting $4300/mo. Even his contractors and vendors complained privately to me that he was cheap and would, both during my tenancy and after, try to stick me with the cost of repairs and replacements of normal wear and tear or tack on to repairs costs which were not my responsibility. Because there isn't really a property manager (only a broker who assists him in renting and who is not compensated for any property management nor leasing provided)......nothing gets done. No walk thru (beginning or leaving even though requested multiple times in writing). And the LL had the gall to tell me I had agreed to a 60 day termination notice which I knew I had not and adamantly refuted (and at first I couldnt find an executed copy of the lease). Only after threats back and forth and my finding an executed copy of the lease indicating a 30 day notice did he back off. But not entirely. He tried to make the argument that because I accidentally left a few items in a closet in the garage that I had not moved out and therefore even though I had given written notice and turned over the keys and possession as legally required, I had not really turned over possession and therefore owed more than the last thirty days of rent. Beware of this landlord. He owns other properties in the San Gabriel Valley. Put everything in writing with this Landlord and document everything with pictures.
And btw, there have been multiple burglaries (during the day) to the house immediately adjacent and several others on Wellington. The most recent next door in approximately May of 2016.
If you want to know more about this property ask the immediate neighbors and they can fill you in on the neighborhood and my contact information.
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