A US citizen has accused a condominium rental company in Lapu-Lapu City of charging excessive fees and misrepresenting the appearance of the units in online advertisements.
However, the company management denied these allegations.
Steven Carter, whose real name is withheld, an American who claimed to be a retired police officer, contacted SunStar Cebu by phone on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
Carter, who requested a personal interview, claimed that EJB Property Management Services tricked him into paying P15,000 in addition to the rent already agreed upon.
Carter said the condominium management initially quoted a monthly rental price of P25,000 for short-term rentals, which included all utilities. Long-term rentals could be for a period of one month to one year.
However, when it came to signing the contract, the price had risen to P45,000 plus incidentals, he added.
Carter said that when he inquired about the P45,000 rent, management gave him an explanation from a “sales perspective” that he himself found difficult to understand.
Carter also noted that at least three employees and the manager had previously confirmed that a studio apartment costs P25,000 while a one-bedroom unit costs P35,000, including all utilities.
Carter’s wife, a Filipina who wishes to remain anonymous, said they rented a studio apartment, but when they toured the apartment before moving in, they were only allowed to see limited parts of the apartment.
In a text message to SunStar Cebu on Tuesday, EJB Property Management Services explained that a contract with a minimum term of six to 12 months costs P25,000. The total price also varies depending on the type of unit.
For short-term contracts of less than six months, monthly fees range between P30,000 and P35,000, according to management.
Management stated that the complainant had a copy of the short-term contract, which listed all inclusions and exclusions. However, the opposing party countered by claiming that they had only received a single page with their signature.
“I didn’t get a copy. (Management) gave me a piece of paper with my signature on it. I had to give them P53,000 in cash on (June 29),” Carter said.
Defective facilities, bed bug infestation
In addition to concerns about rising rents, Carter also claimed that there were several issues with amenities in the condominium.
Photos provided by Carter SunStar Cebu show that the balcony railings are missing and rusted, while some cabinets are broken.
In addition, Carter discovered mold and stains, including traces of blood and feces, on the walls at the far end and in the cabinets. To confirm, these areas were tested with a cotton swab.
He claimed that bed bugs had also laid eggs on the mattress and under the bed.
The administration said it had not received any complaints from tenants about bed bugs as of Tuesday.
“We have not received any complaints from them about bed bugs. If you have any concerns, you can contact us immediately or come directly to our office, Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” part of the text message from EJB reads.
However, Carter said he plans to press charges if necessary. Management, in turn, said it would discuss the matter confidentially with its attorney.
City measures
Meanwhile, Garry Lao, chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Office (CTO), said in a separate interview with SunStar Cebu that he had not heard of the issue and that his office had not received any formal complaints.
“The CTO will look into the details of the incident so that we can take appropriate measures to prevent or avoid similar incidents in the future,” Lao said.
Lao also noted that the tourism industry has placed great emphasis on not booking online, especially with non-accredited agencies. / DPC
