Lack of Transparency and Poor Communication from City Property

I’m writing this as a frustrated potential tenant who has recently experienced poor communication, lack of transparency, and unprofessional treatment while trying to secure a unit in Arcadia managed by City Property.

I app**** in good faith, submitted the required documents, and was then issued a fee proposal without ever being informed of critical information. Including that the term would be set at 12 months. This was never mentioned in writing or even discussed verbally beforehand. I only found out after I personally followed up via phone, which raises serious concerns about transparency and fair dealing.

When I questioned the lease term, I was told that it was based on the assumption that because my internship contract is 24 months long, I should automatically be given a 12-month lease. However, there is no policy or clause - at least not one publicly available on their website that justifies locking someone into a fixed term without disclosure or mutual agreement. Even if such reasoning were valid, it does not excuse the failure to communicate it beforehand or offer alternative options.

What’s worse is that this 12-month lease decision was made based on assumptions about my employment, apparently drawn from my supporting documents — not from any direct conversation. There was no effort to consult with me, understand my needs, or confirm whether I could even commit to such a term. As someone on a fixed-term internship, the decision to impose a 12-month lease was not only inconsiderate but also entirely impractical. I was instructed to provide a letter from my employer confirming that I may relocate after six months — a request that disregards the nature of an internship, which is by definition a non-permanent contract. Being eligible to apply for a transfer does not equate to guaranteed approval, and it is unreasonable to expect formal confirmation of something that is not contractually assured.

At every stage, it felt like important information would only be shared if I made the effort to ask. The lease duration wasn’t reflected in any of the documents I received - the fee proposal simply listed a start date. There was no proactive communication from the agent, no transparency, and certainly no professional courtesy. I was treated as though I should accept whatever was decided on my behalf, without any opportunity for discussion.

City Property’s own policies speak of fairness, mutual agreement, and clear communication - none of which I experienced here. Instead, I was met with a disinterested attitude and zero accountability for the oversight.

I have not signed anything yet, and based on how this process has unfolded, I am extremely frustrated and disappointed. If this is how prospective tenants are treated before signing, I worry about how actual tenants are supported once bound to a lease.

Honestly very disappointing service from my agent and a company that claims to be “people-focused.” And an actual pity too because the apartment complex I wished to stay is quite decent and the staff there are friendly and professional.