FA
Felicia Alcaraz
Sep 20, 2026
On 8/17/26, I had intended to renew my lease; however, I was dealing with significant family medical concerns that could potentially require me to relocate. I informed Rita that same day that, given the circumstances, I would need to wait until closer to my lease expiration date of 9/18 before making a final decision. Rita indicated that this was fine.
On 8/24, I received an email from Rita stating that I needed to sign my renewal lease by 5:00 p.m. that same day. At the time, I was at work dealing with ongoing family health concerns, and the sudden deadline caused significant stress, particularly because I had previously been told that I could wait until closer to my lease expiration date. I contacted Rita, and she clarified that I could hold off but would need to sign before the end of August.
Then, on 8/27, I received another voicemail from Rita stating that I needed to sign the lease by 5:00 p.m. that day. I contacted her again to ask why the lease needed to be signed so far in advance of the expiration date and to clarify the conflicting deadlines I had been given. Unfortunately, I did not receive a clear explanation. I repeatedly asked where in the lease agreement it stated that I was required to sign the renewal in advance, but that question was not directly answered. Instead, I was repeatedly told that the lease was needed “ASAP.”
I expressed my concerns regarding the inconsistent communication and the level of customer service I had experienced. I also explained that I felt I was being pressured to sign something that, based on my understanding of the lease terms, was not required by the deadline I was being given. Rather than receiving an apology for the conflicting information or the way the situation had been handled, I was given an apology for the fact that the lease was needed “ASAP,” which did not address my underlying concerns.
At that point, I was seriously reconsidering whether I wanted to renew my lease. However, Regina happened to see me getting mail and approached me to say hi and I explained what had occurred. Her response was completely different. She was apologetic, compassionate, and genuinely concerned about what I was experiencing with my family. Her professionalism and understanding, combined with my family's circumstances, ultimately played a significant role in my decision to remain and renew my lease.
I am sharing this experience because clear and consistent communication is extremely important, particularly when residents are dealing with significant personal or family circumstances. My experience with Rita left me feeling unnecessarily pressured and frustrated, while my interaction with Regina demonstrated how much of a difference empathy, professionalism, and effective communication can make.
I encourage other residents to carefully review their lease agreements, understand their rights and responsibilities, and ask questions when they receive conflicting information or feel pressured to make a decision.