Students question CEV’s charging practices after receiving additional cleaning fees months after moving out.
Some former residents of CEV expressed frustration after the apartment complex charged them with a cleaning fee occasionally months after moving out of their apartments. The News spoke to two former residents of CEV, both of whom expressed frustration with CEV’s lack of transparency and unclear cleaning requirements.
Both students requested to stay anonymous to avoid repercussions from CEV. For their anonymity, the students will be refered to as they and them.
Student A said CEV charged them $65 for cleaning their apartment two months after his move-out. Upon contacting management about the charge, Student A received an email from property manager Onyx Rickard stating that all dorms required professional cleaning prior to move-out.
“They didn’t give me a report but said I needed professional cleaning for the room,” Student A said. “Their argument was that all rooms required it and they said if I showed I purchased professional cleaning already, they would remove the fee.”
Student A provided a copy of their lease agreement, which did not include any mention that rooms must be professionally cleaned prior to move-out. The lease does state that students must thoroughly clean their rooms prior to move-out, and that residents who don’t are liable to a reasonable cleaning fee.
Rickard said in his email that upon an inspection by professional vendors, Student A’s apartment was deemed in need of professional cleaning, including carpet cleaning. Student A said he had cleaned his room as adequately as possible before move-out. When Student A requested a copy of the vendor’s report, CEV declined and said they did not receive a detailed written report from vendors.
CEV declined to comment regarding their cleaning requirements or fees.
Student B moved out of their apartment in mid-August, later, CEV charged them and their roommates $95 in cleaning fees. The property manager said they were charging what the cleaning company had requested, however, CEV declined Student B’s attempt to get an itemized list of the charges.
“I wanted to see the breakdown of these charges because nearly $400 for our apartment alone seems like a lot so I went to speak to the manager for an itemized statement,” Student B said. “They were dismissive and seemed annoyed I asked.”
Student B said they had trouble with CEV before regarding transparency over electricity bills. CEV refused to provide itemized statements for the apartment’s electric bill after Student B inquired about fluctuating prices. They said it was hard to anticipate month-to-month expenses because bill prices fluctuate.
Student B said the additional fee has put a strain on them and their family. Their mother was furloughed during the government shutdown, and has still not received a paycheck.
“An extra $95 on top of rent and electricity is difficult right now,” Student B said. “If they showed me a statement, I would say okay and just pay it, but I’m even more upset because of the lack of transparency.”
