Roanoke Terrace Apartments, Phoenix, AZ

By
Services for Real Estate Pros

Arizona Slumlord, George MatterFor the past 7.5 months, I have lived at Roanoke Terrace apartments, in Phoenix. I chose this apartment because it's only about 3 blocks away from the law firm that I do most of my consulting for. However, it is my opinion that my apartment is a health hazard, and my landlord (George Matter of Seattle, Washington)-- does not want to resolve it like a gentleman. Instead, he is attempting to have me evicted. 

Roanoke Terrace Apartments

My landlord, the genius that he is, would rather evict me than fix my plumbing. He thinks he is making the less expensive choice. But Mr. George Matter, you are making a far more costly choice.

In the age of the internet, what business owner is foolish enough to blatantly swindle somebody? Heck, even if you're not a swindler, you still need to be a little more cautious about your reputation in today's age of information. 

Warning, this get's a little gross:

Human feces and condoms have bubbled up from my tub many times. In the first two - three weeks I lived there, it happened every single day. I had to move in with a friend for a very legitimate fear of hepatitis.

I did not have air conditioning in my apartment for the past three months. They made one half-assed attempt to fix it and then declared it was as cold as it was going to get. The landlord-tenant act in Arizona strongly favors the landlord and many of them like to push around tenants. If you are poor, you can't hire a lawyer, and you don't get one appointed in court. Tough luck tenants.

If your landlord does terrible disgusting things, there is often very little relief that you can get. However, I am going to fight this guy in court and online. He's going to think twice the next time he disregards the health and safety of his tenants. Most tenants never show up and the landlord just gets a judgment and calls the constable three days later.

Not me.

When I showed up for court the other day, his attorney was probably shocked. About 99 out of 100 people don't show up and the judge enters a default judgment.

So why am I being evicted? It is in retaliation for me daring to ask for working plumbing. What is this? The slums of Mexico? I just want plumbing that works.

Rather than settle with me, bearing in mind that I paid rent for weeks of non-occupancy, he would rather evict me and find another sucker.

George Matter just messed with the wrong guy. I will make sure any searches for "Roanoke Terrace apartments" in Phoenix are dominated by me. I'm also going to find other complexes he may own and make sure all of his tenants are aware of the way he conducts business. I will knock on doors if I have to. I am starting a tenant's association website, just for his tenants at RoanokeTerrace.com

On August 21st, I will go to court to fight my eviction.

In the meanwhile, I am going to set up a Google maps location for him, so other tenants can leave honest reviews of his property.

Please "like" and "share" this post so that it can remain on top in Google- at least until I get my new tenant association website up.

If you don't see the video on this page (below), just click refresh.

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Comments (28)

Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Michael I think I would have taken the option to get out of the unit the first time something unhealthy bubbled up out of my tub.  Make sure you document everything and if you have stuff coming up in your tub don't other people too?

Aug 17, 2012 09:29 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, MD
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Wow!  That is nasty, Michael.  I applaud your use of the Internet and its power to put this slumlord on notice that it is time to treat his tenants with dignity and respect.  Good for you! 

Aug 17, 2012 09:32 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Michael, You have been so patient and your landlord is a jerk. I'd move.

Aug 17, 2012 10:31 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

That is, probably, the most nastiest thing I've witnessed coming UP from the plumbing.  Why the owner/landlord George Matter doesn't get a plumber out, shame on him.  Maybe his property will be condemned by the Health Dept. for the health risk!?!  George "Fecal" Matter . . . somehow that seems to befitting, no?!?

Aug 17, 2012 12:21 PM
Janis Borgueta
Key Properties of the Hudson Valley - Newburgh, NY
LIC RE Salesperson

Michael.. I am hoping that once you settle finances with this jerk that you get out of there! Terminate that lease.... and find somewhere to go that is safer! How could you possibly stay in that ?? YUCK!  I will go over and google + you etc too.. Sounds like we will be hearing an update on the 21st.

Aug 17, 2012 01:16 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

It is great to see a tenant stick up for his rights. Be sure that you are acting within the law Michael.  :)

Aug 17, 2012 05:32 PM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Michael, this landlord needs to be hung out to dry for a long time...this is unbelievable but i know it happens ..off to help with shares!  Hopefully, the attorneys that you are working for have put you on a successful path for dealing with this landlord!

Aug 17, 2012 09:26 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

It looks like this landlord's bad day is just beginning---I am totally bummed he has to be from Seattle :)

Aug 18, 2012 03:59 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Michael - This is really horrible.  Third world stuff.  George Matter sounds like a sleazy, dishonest excuse for a landlord.  Good for you for fighting back.  Shame on Roanoke Terrace Apartments.

Aug 18, 2012 06:20 AM
Wayne Jackson
Lakeshore Realty 208-714-4109 - Hayden, ID
North Idaho Realtor, Serving Coeur dnullAlene and Hayden Lake

Michael, The world needs more people like you. It would have been much easier to move out. When you stay and fight this sleezeball you are making the world a better place.

Aug 20, 2012 05:08 AM
SEO Expert: Michael George
Phoenix, AZ
Real Estate and Law Firm SEO

Thank you for all of the support everyone. I have court in about 4 hours. I will report back and let you know what happens.

Already though, another tenant that lives here found my post and sent me an email saying that I was doing the right thing and that George Matter doesn't care about anything.

Of course, the other tenant didn't comment here, because as tenants-- you know-- we are supposed to live in fear of our landlord.

Thank you again everyone.

Aug 21, 2012 03:36 AM
Fred Carver Personal Real Estate Corporation
RE/MAX Camosun Victoria BC Real Estate - Victoria, BC
Accredited Real Estate Consultant

Hey Michael..I too Suggested your post, No Tenant should have to Pay Rent for unacceptable living Conditions...Time to Move again..You desireve better Michael.

Cheers, have a better week.

Aug 21, 2012 01:26 PM
Gail Robinson
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

Michael - This is terrible. I will cut and paste and reblog and direct others back to your site.  I cannot just reblog as it will go on my outside blog, no way to stop that, unfortunately, so I cut and pasted your blog post and directed viewers back to your post.  Can you contact your local Health Department?  You really need to break your lease and move.

Aug 23, 2012 09:47 AM
The Isaacs Team LLC | Compass
1313 14th St NW DC 20005 - Washington, DC
Compass

Oh wow. I must confess, I couldn't watch the video. I hope you get the relief (and working plumbing) you seek but agree with others... you need to move to a better place!  Let us know how it turns out. Good luck!

Aug 23, 2012 10:04 AM
Ed Silva
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

What a messy situation in so many ways. I've Liked and Tweeted, and being on ActiveRain is like going viral. Good Luck

Aug 23, 2012 12:14 PM
Hella Mitschke Rothwell
(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI
Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Do the other tenants have the same problems? But maybe they don't want to get involved. As you say, people are often so poor, they have few choices.

Aug 23, 2012 02:36 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

That's pretty disgusting, on several levels. I would do whatever you have to do to make this public and force this landlord to treat his tenants like people and not animals, or worse.

Keep good records and have lots of photos. It's a shame AZ seems to take the side of the landlord. CA is on the other side of that fence I think.

Aug 23, 2012 03:01 PM
David Popoff
DMK Real Estate - Darien, CT
Realtor®,SRS, Green ~ Fairfield County, Ct
Wow, that is a slumlord who takes no pride in his property. He is also a terrible business man spending money on the wrong items, keep us posted on what happens next, good luck.
Aug 24, 2012 02:44 AM
Steven Pahl
Keller Williams Tampa Properties - Tampa, FL
Real Estate Consultant Tampa, FL 813-319-6423

Hope everything has worked out for you, let us know the outcome!

Sep 06, 2012 01:29 PM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Michael, I would think the Health Department should be very interested to know what is bubbling up in the tub of your apartment! Yes, he definitely messed with the wrong guy! But good for you,you will help others who are not as capable as you are.

Sharon

Sep 10, 2012 03:03 PM

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