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Business Profile

Property Management

The Lawrence Community Management Group, Inc.

Complaints

This profile includes complaints for The Lawrence Community Management Group, Inc.'s headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 9 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 1 complaint closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:01/11/2024

      Type:Customer Service Issues
      Status:
      ResolvedMore info

      Complaint statuses

      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I have contacted both by email and telephone Lawrence Community Management Group for approval on a shed to be placed onto my propert. They have neglected on returning my phone calls and emails. I pay them annually to manage my property along with 50 other properties in my community and have heard similar story's. I have all the requirements of paper work filed and approved for a permit to build my shed all I need at this point is approval from them.

      Business Response

      Date: 01/24/2024

      I reviewed this complaint with our manager for that property.  It is the developer of the community who has to approve any alteration requests, and this request was forwarded to the developer a few months ago.  My manager has since received approval from the developer and emailed the owner to let him know, so the matter is resolved.  

      Customer Answer

      Date: 01/24/2024

      [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]



      Better Business Bureau:



      I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 



      Regards,



      ***** ******




    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/23/2023

      Type:Customer Service Issues
      Status:
      AnsweredMore info

      Complaint statuses

      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      For the second time in 5 yrs y bedroom got flooded because of a outside drain this time my carpet is ruined with mold I contacted Lawrence management 3 times by email and I sent pics of the damage with ZERO response Lawrence management should be ashamed of themselves

      Business Response

      Date: 10/02/2023

      RECEIVED VIA EMAIL BY BBB STAFF MEMBER:

      Hi ******-

      I had responded to *** ********* prior to his complaint, so his allegation of me not responding is false.  I have attached my email response to him and his insurance adjuster so you can see that I did respond.  He emailed me again last week after his complaint, and I again responded explaining that the interior damage is his responsibility.

      This is a condo association and not an apartment, so we have to follow the condo association’s governing documents that are recorded with the county.  Should you need any further explanation, please feel free to reach out to me.


      Thanks,

      ******

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/23/2023

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      AnsweredMore info

      Complaint statuses

      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      The gutters on the rear of the house are overflowing they must be plugged

      Business Response

      Date: 09/07/2023

      This complaint is a routine maintenance request.  With the extremely heavy rains we have experienced recently, we have received numerous calls about gutters overflowing.  Some of the overflow is due to blocked gutters and a good part of the problem is due to the heavy rainfall simply overwhelming the installed gutter and downspouts.  In this case a service request to our Maintenance Department or to her Community Manager would have resulted in the gutters being checked and cleaned as needed. Based on this complaint the Community Manager has issued a work order to have the gutters checked and cleared as needed.  The gutters on this building were cleaned in June and during the recent roof replacement, the gutters were replaced with a 5 inch commercial sized gutter.  Our records show her last email contact with our office was in August 2022 for a leaking hose bib/spigot.  This matter has been resolved.
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/13/2023

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      ResolvedMore info

      Complaint statuses

      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I received a statement from Lawrence Community Management regarding my annual HOA dues for **** **** ********* ***********. I mailed a check for the full amount on March 28th, 2023. The payment due date was April 15th. The check was cashed and cleared by my bank on April 28th. In May, my neighbors started to receive their season pool passes. When I did not receive my passes, I tried contacting Lawrence Management. The company never answers the phone. Instead you get a recording saying that they will try to return your call within 72 hours. I left at least three voice messages on June 24th, June 26th and June 29th. Finally, on June 29th, Sue Simonic, from Accounts Receivable called me back. She explained that I did not receive my pool passes because I did not pay the dues. When I explained that I had a cancelled check, she asked me to email a copy to her, which I did. She then requested a copy of my bank statement showing that the money had been withdrawn from my account, which I also did. On July 11th, I received an email from Sue that read "Received, thank you. I have forwarded the information along for further review." Since then my calls and emails have been ignored. Lawrence continues to send me invoices with added late penalties of $25.00 per month. My original bill of $375. is now up to $450.
      Summer is almost over and I have not been able to take advantage of the community pool. I have requested a statement showing my account "paid and full" with no response from Lawrence Community Management.

      Business Response

      Date: 08/15/2023

      We investigated *** *****s complaint about his payment and found that the bank's lockbox processing center credited his payment to another owner's account.  We don't know how or why this occurred but it was a processing error on the bank's end.  The check was posted to the wrong account in late April 2023 which is in line with *** *****s comments that it cleared his bank in late April.

      Once this was brought to light we began investigating and sent the issue to the bank who also investigated.  Once we knew where the funds were misapplied, we were able to transfer the payment to *** *****s account.  The late fees are automatically applied to owner accounts by the accounting software.  We have credited the late fees and *** *****s account balance is now zero.

      We do not have the authority to provide any type of adjustment to the actual assessment.  That is a request that *** **** will have to submit directly to the Echo Lake Board of Directors for any consideration.. We apologize for the bank's error but had no control over their processing of the check.  Now that *** *****s account is noted as paid and the late fees removed, we are considering this matter resolved and closed.

      Customer Answer

      Date: 08/16/2023

      Better Business Bureau:



      I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

      I appreciate the assistance of the Better Business Bureau in
      resolving this issue and my account being settled. However, I do not accept
      Lawrence Managements attempt to place all the blame on the bank. Anyone with
      basic consumer finance experience would realize that when a customer has a
      cancelled check, yet their account has not been credited, the funds must have
      been credited to another account. Why did it take almost three months and a
      notice from the Better Business Bureau for Lawrence Management to discover
      these “misapplied” funds. They write, “We apologize for the bank’s error.” Placing
      all the blame on the bank is absurd. Why doesn’t Lawrence Management admit
      their responsibility for ignoring my calls and emails? In their reply to the
      BBB, representatives of Lawrence Management write that “we are considering this
      matter resolved and closed”. It is not. As a representative of our Home Owners
      Association, Lawrence Management cannot treat people with such total lack of
      respect without admitting that they failed in their responsibility to properly
      manage our funds.




      [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]




      Regards,



      ******* ****









       

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/26/2023

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      AnsweredMore info

      Complaint statuses

      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      ******** Management is at it again, this time trying to scam me out of money despite not fixing the roof still. They've randomly decided to up "maintenance fees" but never sent out any correspondence documenting the increase. I received notice recently of late fees now being added since "You haven't paid the correct amount" Contacted their office and was sent a random list with this being the first time I've seen any sort of increase despite their website still only taking out the original agreed upon fee. This feels like shady business practice.

      Business Response

      Date: 07/05/2023

      Here is the response email sent to *** ******** today, July 5m 2023.  We believe that this email will resolve and close out this matter.  I have also attached all relevant documents.

       

      *** ******** –

      I have enclosed an account
      ledger from your last zero balance.  I have also attached a copy of the
      2023 Budget letter, 2023 Budget Summary and 2023 Maintenance fee Schedule by
      Unit.  The 2023 budget letter, summary and fee schedule were mailed to all
      ********** owners in December 2022.

      As you will see on the
      ledger, you are continuing to pay the old 2022 fee.  This has caused the
      shortfall on your account.  In addition, late fees have been added by the
      system as a balance remained on the account.  If you can adjust your
      monthly payment amount and remit the shortfall less the late fees by the 15th of this month, we will waive the late fees on the account.

      Should you have any
      additional questions, please contact Denise Lababidi, your Community Manager,
      or our Accounts Receivable Supervisor, **** ********.

      Thanks, ***

      Ian
      ("***") ********, CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM®
      ********
      Management Group
      1507
      Lear Industrial Pkwy. Suite 1
      Avon,
      OH 44011
      440-937-2800
      440-937-2808
      fax



      an
      AAMC® accredited company celebrating 26 years of
      serving the northern Ohio condominium and homeowner
      association community.

      Customer Answer

      Date: 07/07/2023

      Better Business Bureau:



      I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 20236358, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.




      They included in this email now a letter saying they did a price increase. I never received it however so how was I supposed to know they had changed things?


      Regards,



      Roy Mcintyre









       
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/09/2023

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      AnsweredMore info

      Complaint statuses

      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      The condo my brother lived in has wall damage due to the aluminum outside downspout was not connected. He lived in basement unit. Several yrs ago (not sure of date) his 2 walls and carpet were saturated with water. At the time the mgmt. Company said they would repair the walls. At the time he worked nights (12 hrs/6days)so he put off having it repaired. Sleeps during the day. My brother had since passed away. I’ve emptied the condo and removed the carpet. They replaced aluminum with ocv pipe. 4/19/23 I called Nick property maintenance mgr. emailed pictures. Informed him again downspout not connected. 2 days later screws put into downspout to hold it together. 4/25/23 Steve worker in maintenance looked at walls took pictures said had a work order. 5/17/23 called inquiring when were they going to start work, told needed to find a helper for work to be done. 5/31/23 told start work next week 6/5/23. On 6/7/23 while paying association fee asked when are they going to start work?? At that time mgr nick comes out of office says not going to repair it. Not their responsibility. They had a tree fall on building last night and don’t have funds to repair the walls??not my problem. Told me they’d repair it, dragged this out for 2 months lying to me then claim it’s not their responsibility.

      This is clearly their responsibility!!

      Business Response

      Date: 06/30/2023

      June 29, 2023

      Response to BBB Complaint # ********

      The complaint is regarding water
      damage inside of the condominium unit F-2 at Smugglers Cove Condominium No.
      1.  The condominium is governed by the
      Declaration of Condominium Ownership that was recorded in Lorain County in 1972
      at Volume 1042 Page 814 et. seq.  and as
      amended.

      The Community Manager, **** *********, was notified of a water problem in an April 10, 2023 voicemail
      message.  An investigation showed a
      problem with a leaking scupper box at the building roofline.  The scupper box problem was repaired along
      with some exterior siding as the investigation showed some water infiltration
      inside of the building siding.  When the
      siding was repaired a downspout was removed and reinstalled.  It turns out that the base of the downspout
      became separated and caused water to leak on the exterior of the building.  The leaking downspout was subsequently repaired
      on April 20, 2023.


      The complaint states that the
      manager and management company office were advised of the leak causing damage
      to the interior of the unit.  A review of
      management company records shows that the former owner, James King, never
      contacted the office regarding any interior damage to his unit.  We did find correspondence from him in
      regards to other items but nothing regarding the interior wall damage.
      When viewing the pictures of the
      interior wall damage, it is evident that this damage did not just occur in the
      past few weeks.  The photos show damage
      that has occurred over a considerable length of time and was neglected by the
      former unit owner Mr. ****.


      In reviewing the Declaration for
      the condominium, Section 13 (B) of the Declaration states that the Unit Owner
      is responsible for all repairs to the Unit. 
      Section 5 (C) of the Declaration defines the Unit and the Unit
      definition includes the plaster board and concrete floor of the Unit in
      addition to any wall or flooring finishes.


      Based on the Declaration, the
      Unit owner is responsible for interior repairs. 
      The condominium made the exterior repairs in a timely basis and the
      owner never informed the management company or the Association of the interior
      damage.
      In summary, the interior damage
      is the owner’s responsibility and the Association will not be performing any
      repairs to the interior of the Unit.  The
      Association met its obligation by promptly repairing the exterior of the
      condominium building.

      ********* ** ******** ********* ********** ****** ****
      *** ********* *********

      Customer Answer

      Date: 07/06/2023

      Better Business Bureau:



      I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.




      [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]

      RECEIVED VIA EMAIL BY BBB STAFF MEMBER:

      Originally they had disconnected aluminum downspouts. After this happened they put pcv pipe in its place. As you see in photo that this is disconnected as well. This is a basement condo so all the water off of a three story building came running down the walls inside basement condo!! Now how is that the tenants responsibility much less the repairs!!!

      Responding to Lawrence mgmt. Response for interior damage do to faulty installation/maintenance of exterior downspouts. I do not agree with their response.  Yes interior is the owner/tenants responsibility however this was not the owners fault!!! And it doesn’t matter when the damage was done Period. The damage happened because of mgmt. Company poor installation/maintenance. It’s the same as if the roof caved in would it be the tenant’s responsibility to make repairs….NO 

      Thank you
      **** *** ********** **** **

      Business Response

      Date: 07/24/2023

      July 24, 2023

      This is a response to the *** ****** rejection of our original response to the complaint about the water damage in condominium unit F2.

      As stated in our initial response, the damage to the unit was not from a single incident of water infiltration.  The damage is indicative of a long term leak that was not noted by the former owner/resident and never brought to the Condominium Board's attention or to the Management Company's attention until recently.  Also as previously noted, the Association did repair the exterior scupper box, siding and the downspout.

      As previously noted in our response to the original complaint, the *********** ** *********** ********* *** ********* **** *********** No. 1, Section 5C, clearly defines the unit as including the interior plasterboard and the concrete floor of the unit.  Section 12B spells out the condominium owner's responsibility for maintenance repairs in the unit.  Ms. Rush commented that if the roof caved in that the Association would repair it and not the owner. This statement is incorrect. The Association would repair the damaged common roof structure (shingles, trusses and structural elements) but the owner (or their insurance) would be responsible for the interior drywall walls and ceiling.  We can have the Association's legal counsel review.  Unless informed otherwise by the Association's counsel, the Association's position stands as previously stated.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:03/27/2023

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      AnsweredMore info

      Complaint statuses

      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I build a home in a Drees's Redfern Development in June of 2021. I paid my homeowners dues of 300 during closing and last summer. We do not have community poor or any type of maintenance for our individual homes. The only green space that is maintained is located at the entrance of the development and the hill along side Redfern road behind my home. It currently has trees planted. Once a week the grass is mowed. The trees have not been trimmed and it was not mulched last year. One tree died last spring and it was not replaced. The Lawrence group wants to increase our dues to 330. They will not provide me with the invoice from the past two years, nor will they provide me with the quotes from the landscaping companies that they took bid from. I think that they should not raise the dues because the services that they provided the past two years have been minimal and I want to see the documentation for that. I am an entitled as a paying homeowner in that development to see the budgets for my association. I will not pay the increase.

      Business Response

      Date: 04/02/2023

      Background information related to this homeowner's complaint.

       

      The Red Fern Trails Homeowners' Association was formed by the developer under the provisions of ORC 5312.  The developer developed the community and sell home building lots to Drees Homes, the home builder.  The developer was responsible for the creation of the HOA, the original land development including roads, utilities infrastructure and the common area elements including landscaping, cluster mailboxes, common signage, storm water management, etc.  The developer also drafted the Association's Declaration and Bylaws,  These are the recorded documents that define the community, provide the restrictions, and explain the operation, management and governance of the community.  At the present time the developer is also the Association's Board of Directors and makes all of the decisions for the Association including the hiring of the management company, the means of landscaping, the development of the annual budget, establishment of the annual homeowner assessments, and any other decisions necessary to operate the Association.  One of the actions taken by the developer was to hire Lawrence Management to handle the association's accounting and administrative needs, including mailing of budgets, collection and processing of owner assessment payments, processing and payment of association expenses, etc.  The 2023 association budget and homeowner assessment was established by the Board of Directors (developer), NOT Lawrence Management.,  The management company simply handles the correspondence (the two exhibits provided with the complaint submission) based on the decisions and approvals of the Board (developer).  The budget and assessments are developed and administered in accordance with the Association's Bylaws.

       

      Our Community manager who administers Red Fer stated that to his knowledge this
      homeowner (*** ******) has never reached out to him with any complaints or questions. The
      Board (developer) set the 2023 budget to $330 (not Lawrence) per Article 7
      Assessments of the Declaration which are below:

      7.1 Establishment of
      Assessments. There are hereby established
      for the benefit of the Association as a charge on each Lot, certain Assessments
      for Common Expenses and other expenses. Each Purchaser, by acceptance of a deed
      to a Lot, covenants and agrees to pay such Assessment.

      7.10 Computation and
      Payment of Annual General Assessment. The
      Annual General Assessment shall be computed and levied in accordance with the
      budget adopted by the Board pursuant to the terms of the Code Of Regulations.
      The Assessment shall be effective as to each Lot on the first day of the
      Association’s fiscal year. The initial Annual General Assessment as to each Lot
      shall be prorated (on an annualized basis) and shall commence on the first day
      of the month following the earlier of: (i) the delivery from Builder and signed
      by Purchaser of the warranty documents for the Dwelling, or (ii) occupation of
      the Dwelling Unit. The collection of the Annual General Assessment is to be
      prorated to the end of the month. So long as there has been no default in
      payment of the Assessment, it shall be payable in annual installments due on
      the first day of each fiscal year. The Board shall have the power from time to
      time to adopt such billing, collection and payment procedure, charges and other
      payment time schedules as it deems appropriate. Neither Declarant nor any
      Builder shall be subject to or required to pay such Annual General Assessment.

      7.11 Maximum Annual
      Assessment. Beginning with the
      recording of this Declaration and until December 31, 2021, the maximum Annual
      General Assessment shall be $300.00. Beginning with Assessments levied as of
      January 1, 2022, and annual thereafter, the Board, without a vote of the
      Owners, may increase or decrease the Annual General Assessment. If the Board
      increases the General Assessment by more than ten percent (10%) in any calendar
      year, then, within thirty (30) days of notice of such increase, Members in good
      standing exercising Twenty-five (25%) percent of the voting power of the
      Association, may petition the Board for a special meeting of the Association to
      reconsider such increase. At such meeting, the Members in good standing, in
      person or by proxy, exercising sixty-six and two thirds (66 2/3%) percent of
      voting power of the Association, may vote to reduce the increase by any amount
      therein proposed, but not lower than the previous year’s maximum amount. In no
      event shall the General Assessment be lowered to an amount less than the
      minimum necessary to meet the Association’s obligations contained in this
      Declaration.

      As you can see by the Budget
      Letter and Summary the Board (Developer) only raised the Annual General
      Assessment by ten (10%) percent and used $4,500.00 (Surplus Carryover) to
      balance the budget. The association is still under development and many new
      common areas are planned to be completed this year and will need to be
      maintained by the Association. The Board (Developer) has used their own inhouse
      landscaper in the past; however, the Board (Developer) created a bid spec and
      went to bid this year and has hired an outside company (Excel Management) to
      take over the lawn maintenance this year. The contract should be signed in the
      next week or so as the Board (Developer) wants to meet Excel onsite and walk
      the grounds. During this walk any dead trees or plant material will be noted
      and scheduled for replacement.

      Should there be any additional questions regarding this complaint, please submit them for a response.  We really urge *** ****** to contact her Community manager at Lawrence Management.

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