A pregnant couple in Wisconsin is facing an unexpected nightmare after moving into what they believed would be their dream townhouse. After paying for the unit ahead of their scheduled move-in date, they instead opened the door to a home filled with broken appliances, stained floors, and a pervasive odor of dog urine.
The couple, who are expecting their baby soon, spotted the townhouse in May. It seemed perfect—affordable, located near parks and shops, and spacious enough for their growing family. They were eager to secure the rental, so they promptly paid the required deposit and adjusted rent price before the June 13 move-in date.
However, they were informed that they couldn’t enter the townhouse yet as it was still undergoing cleaning. They were told they could pick up the keys at 5 PM, coincidentally after the leasing office had closed for the weekend. Initially, they felt this small delay was manageable, as they had the entire weekend to move their belongings.
When they finally got inside, the reality hit them hard. The couple was greeted by a strong smell of dog urine right from the porch. Rather than the pristine white carpets they had seen in the model, they found stained faux wood flooring on the lower level and brown carpeting upstairs. Issues didn’t stop there; almost every appliance was either broken or heavily dented, and the unpleasant odor seemed to emanate strongest from one of the upstairs bedrooms.
Frustrated and unable to stay in a home they deemed unlivable, the couple attempted to contact the leasing office the very next day. They called repeatedly, only to be met with dead air as their calls were cut off without reaching voicemail. With no other option, they made a trip to the office in hopes of speaking with someone in person.
Once there, they were met by the leasing manager, who expressed disbelief about the couple’s complaints. They decided to take him to the townhouse to show him firsthand the concerning conditions. Even as they pointed out the odor and the state of disrepair, the manager, claiming to have a weak sense of smell, did not seem to grasp the severity of the situation. However, he promised to have the necessary repairs made within the week.
Days turned into a week, yet nothing changed in the townhouse. Desperate for action, the couple returned to the office, only to find the manager unavailable. They were told he would call them by the end of the day, but that call never came. Following that, they decided to check back every few days, only to be met with the same lack of progress and an increasingly familiar lack of engagement from the staff.
As more time passed, the couple found themselves in a precarious financial situation. They still had not moved out of their previous residence, which meant they were being charged a month-to-month rate there as well. The financial strain of paying rent on two places, coupled with the prospect of having a newborn soon, left them feeling trapped.
The couple began to consider their options, including potential legal action against the rental company. They had documented the deplorable condition of the townhouse with photos, which they felt could provide evidence of their claims. But they were unsure of the next steps to take, especially regarding seeking compensation or a refund for a unit they could not occupy.
As they weighed their options, they took to Reddit for advice, where they shared their plight and sought guidance on how to navigate the situation. One reader suggested reaching out to local tenant rights organizations for support, while another emphasized the importance of keeping a detailed record of all communication with the leasing office.
Despite the advice received, the couple still faced a decision on whether to pursue legal action or hope that the rental company would eventually rectify the issues with the townhouse. With each passing day, they felt the pressure mounting as their due date approached and the clock ticked on the mounting costs.
The couple’s experience sheds light on the complications of renting, especially when circumstances shift unexpectedly, like preparing for a newborn. The lack of action from the leasing office only compounds their frustrations, leaving them feeling helpless and questioning their next steps.
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