FirstKey Homes

Upon move in day, the house was dirty with multiple broken features. First Key would not repair and wanted me to pay. It is impossible to get in touch with anyone. My lease came up and they increased rent by $200. They will not negotiate. Any other option is better.

I’ve been a First key home resident since 2019 dec 2022 I get a email with a notice to vacate no call nothing just 60 days to vacate the property manager finally emailed me back and said it was not my fault they’re just selling the house so I tried calling because that’s 3 months before my lease is up but she wouldn’t talk to me I look around and ig I found the guy who responds to negative reviews on google telling him about the property manager she calls me obviously irritated and very short and basically told me to fill out a application it’s no one to work with and she’ll talk to someone about if I couldn’t be completely out before the 60 days I received two tickets from the village the next day for a total of 1500 tried to call/email her back no response so I filled out the application found a Hse paid 110 for a application fee and was DENIED a faithful unproblematic tenant who’s rent was paid on time every month for four years… I filed bankruptcy last year before I new I was getting put out because I woke up one morning and couldn’t walk I had blood clots in both my legs and still do applied for disability fell behind on bills and filed to get a new start with a new income so now I have 30 days to move 4 children, disabled and a company that I once loved TRUSTED has completely betrayed me they don’t even really want to talk to me this has been the worst experience of my life I know I’m grown and I guess you supposed to expect the unexpected but wow I’m hurt with this one

First Key Homes out of Charlotte, North Carolina are a scam. Long story short I was being pressured to sign a lease and pay a deposit on a home that I had not seen. I am military so I cannot up and leave at the drop of a dime to go view homes. I designated a day to go view the home and when I got there, no key to enter the home to view it. After finally reaching a person over 48 hours later, they were not too remorseful about the key not being in the keylock and refused to FaceTime me to view the home. A few days later, I sent my Boss to view the home, received a code to get into the key box and yet again, the key to enter the home was not in there. I called Brianna, Tianna Cunningham, and Kelly numerous of times to ask why AGAIN there was no key in the lockbox, but no one answered. More than a hour later Kelly offered to try to get the key in the box again I told her no thank you. I will not be going with this home you all have wasted enough of my time. THIS PLACE IS A SCAM! DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THEM!

Also, I did not see this article until after the incidents above, but it is a must read before you decide to rent from them.
Rental scam swindling families out of homes, money | wcnc.com

They didn't pay the gas bill for over a year. It got shut off. Then the nightmare began. An unimaginable chain of calls from one department to the next. Took over a week for them to get the gas turned back on. I have a 1 year old, it was unacceptable. I told them I was moving out, filled out there paperwork, had the place professionally cleaned. Now they tell me they are keeping my deposits AND charging me an additional $3300 for termination of contract. There is a special place in hell for predators like these guys.

PLEASE CONSIDER GETTING TOGETHER AND FILING A LAWSUIT! We are not moving into their raggedy garbage home, they violated the lease with not providing hot water upon move in...I will not stop until we get our money back! They have messed with the wrong family!

Email sent to FirstKey "I have been trying to reach Angela Knight, her calls go straight to voice mail. I have also sent two unanswered emails. I need a return call TODAY to resolve this issue. We will NOT be moving forward with the lease at this property. Your business practices are fraudulent and deceptive. On the inspection report on 11/29 it stated “the water wasn’t getting hot” We arrived at the property on 12/3…the water was ice cold, not to mention yellow in tint. No hot water is an emergency maintenance issue that should’ve been taken care of within 24 hrs. Nothing has was done to fix up this property, the window screens in the “sun room’ were gone, the shed was falling apart…it didn’t look like that when we viewed the property. You have violated and breached the lease according to Indiana law to provide “sanitary plumbing and hot water” You had two days to address the cold water and you did not! Your idea of a walk through is fraud in itself, that’s how you trap people in these raggedy homes, you want them to write down maintenance issues, but then decide whether you’re going to fix them or not, and charge a fee on top of that! Welp, they signed the lease so they’re stuck. We want our money back, the FULL amount. You will mutually terminate this lease and we will go on about our lives. If you choose not to do the right thing, not only will we pursue this legally, but we will also contact our local news station, if you want to be like American Homes 4 Rent, plastered all over tv for your terrible and neglectful business practices. I’ve read the nightmare reviews. You have until the end of today."

DO NOT RENT FROM FIRST KEY HOMES!

We are being charged $2800 a month for rent and we are also getting charged $100 extra for pool service? And not to mention the maintenance request I put in (online and called a couple days later as there was no response to the request) for the smoke detector not functioning properly! I put in that request over month ago explaining the issues with our smoke detectors and they are still not working (I would fix myself but the ceilings are 15' tall and it is the responsibility of the management company). The man I talked to said it would take 4-5 days to get somebody out to our place, maybe he meant 4-5 months? Seems like a bit of a safety hazard as well as a lot of neglect from first key.

When we initially moved in I emailed first key and tried calling our "agent" assigned to us numerous times (did not get a response until I contacted his manager) about the many things that were either broken or missing on the property. We moved in early September, I am still waiting for these issues to be resolved and its November 5th.

I have contacted first key about 8 times over the course of the last month and a half. Our pool has been green, disgusting and unusable for nearly two months. Every time I contact them they come up with an excuse and a way to make the pool being dirty my fault and they claim that they have been servicing it. This does not look like a serviced pool to me, it looks more like Shrek's swamp. pictures were taken over the course of the last month

My advice to you is to stay far away from this company. We will be leaving the residence soon as it is unsafe (no smoke detectors) and we are being neglected by management.

an hour ago
NEW
Horrible! Been in the house for 3.5 months already had to call maintenance many times for a fence and gate that was broken before we even moved in and told them 3.5 months ago about it, leaking faucet(not just leaking, we can’t even use the kitchen sink at all or water shoots out to the ceiling and pours out of the cabinet, tonight’s issue is a garage door that is just hanging and been waiting on them to get someone out for 3.5 hours now. It’s 10:44 pm and our home is not only not secure but there is a huge safety issue with the door falling on someone and I’m just getting the run around still. Been told now that the have 2 calls into techs and waiting to hear back from them. It’s now 11:24 pm. Call center is just the run around. I’m really scared for the lease term on what else could happen and not get fixed. Hoping no one just walks in our home tonight since it’s just wide open or the door falls on us. Maintenance manager James lives 2 hours away from us and now being ghosted by him. I call his number and it says Heating and air company on his voicemail. I’ve given them the names and numbers of several companies that could come out in 20 min just to secure the door, our home and our safety but they won’t call them. Needless to say they have our money and our safety is in no way of concern or a priority. I think I see an attorney getting involved in the near future. People trust the reviews!

I put in an application in June of 2022 and was excepted. I paid a $2500 deposit on top of application fee. I go through section 8 and my inspection passed September 12,2022. They required renters insurance which was $400 a year and paid as well. I then paid my first months rent 48hours to move in as requested. A week before move in I emailed and called about when I could get keys on October 2nd. I had No reply’s except an automated message saying they were out of the office. The day before my move in a Latavier Wilson called and said they were canceling the move. When I asked why she said she didn’t know but it was canceled. My current property has sold to new owners which were expected to move in on the 3rd of October. Now we are without a home and $4000 in the hole. They said they would return the money but haven’t seen anything yet! I’ve called the customer service number requesting to speak to a supervisor and 5 days later still no call even though I have requested a call back over 50 times! Save your money time and frustration from this fraudulent company.

We own a rental that butts up to a first key rental. For over one year I have tried to get someone to answer my complaints. the two story siding is completely rotten and is allowing water (on heavy rains) to leak into my unit. The grounds are trashed and uncut, there is standing water causing many kinds of critters, and there is no renter. The last renter left owing them money and they sued her and said nothing could be done without the lawsuit being over. The lawsuit is now over but then first key said a budget had to be done. The budget has now been done and I was told the work would be completed by September 1. Today is September 13th and NO ONE has every come to look at the damage. This company and nancy nelson are very difficult to get in contact with. I do not know how to proceed? Any help or comments would be appreciated.

The application process is an unmitigated disaster. The web page barely functions, not allowing input in many areas and kicking you back to the beginning repeatedly. After finally getting through that and paying the application fees, the demand for an unbelievable amount of additional documentation is sent. Documentation that is needlessly intrusive and well beyond anything reasonable or customary. Send them all emails and email threads from my company relating to my transfer? Really? Like I'm going to send them privileged internal company communications? Provide copies of 1040's for my wife who doesn't work, and my son who is a student and doesn't work? Provide "2 BS"? I don't even know what that is. Emails follow from 5 different people requesting that I send them the exact same information I already uploaded on the website? Multiple telephone calls from me, messages left, and not a single return call. The lack of coordination, communication, and ridiculous requests for unnecessary and unneeded documentation to simply rent a house makes me seriously wonder if this isn't a fraud or identity theft operation. Trust me...look elsewhere.

Your company is a joke, been having an emergency maintenance issue since 8/21/22. This house is inhabitable, dealing with sewage backing up into my kitchen sink. This whole house is effected…. Been calling repeatedly, multiple times a day. Even spoke with a manager after 5 days and guess what….. we’re in the same situation. This has been beyond disappointing and disgusting. Pretty much inhumane. When it rains guess what…. Right in my kitchen sink.

650 credit score. 6600/mo income which is more than 3x the rent. Rental price 1750.00 my debt to income is under 20% and I've been in the same rental 3 years and not been late on rent. My background check is clean, IM A REALTOR! Got denied on my application. I've heard they just collect application fees. Bullet dodged.

Horrible un-able to reach the right person, never answer return phone calls or e-mails, no one gives the right information and if you get lucky and someone answers they will transfer the call at the end you can't get a response.

Day moved in, garage door fell on my truck. AC did not work for 3 months. Had fire in attic due to their workman messing up the AC that almost burnt house down. And... they charge fees to pay rent and utilities. An extra 30.00 a month they do not tell ya about until after you sign the lease. FIRSTKEY HOMES ARE CROOKS AND SCAMMERS.

I don't even know where to start. I called First key homes about a home I would like to rent. I talked to a property manager that was absolutely wonderful, she helped me with the application as well as approval for building a fence. She walked me through every step. Then I got a letter for Saferentsolutions about my denial saying my credit did not meet their requirements. Mind you I have 100 points over what they are requesting. I then called this property manager and firstkeyhomes leasing agents and could not talk to somebody that actually knew what they were talking about. I left countless voicemails and messages for both the property manager and to speak to a supervisor. Finally, today I got to talk to a woman who didn't disclose her name probably on purpose because she was the rudest most unprofessional person I have ever talked to. She told me that they can't see any information as to why I was denied, she couldn't help me anymore and that basically the property manager I was talking to is no longer with the company because she made a mistake. How unprofessional to tell a costumer that? This property manager was supposed to refund me my application because of all my trouble and this lady told me she could not do that it was against company policy. They basically just want your money for application fee and will deny your application and you are out of money at the end of the day. I am dumbfounded by them and will never ever speak to them again.

Have been in contact with an agent trying to move from out of state. In the first two days my fiancé and I had amazing customer service, we were called less than 10 hours after submitting an application and in contact with the agent multiple times over the next two days. On the third day our agent had told us there was one more form that had to go through after giving him more than what was previously asked for in the application, and we were told it would take two hours. Six hours go by and we send an email and a phone call, no response. We eventually get a response back later that night saying we needed another form of documentation that they had already had for DAYS now. We told him exactly where it was in the application and said that was “great information to know” even though it was in the application from day one! Then said he will get us approved “ASAP” and in “less than an hour.” Given that the housing market is busy right now we had been very understanding of this process until the last day when we realized they acted like they cared and then didn’t. It has now been a day and we cannot get in contact through email or over the phone, just keep getting sent to voicemail. Given that we already had our uhaul and flights booked ready for a home he said we would be APPROVED for in a very short amount of time and assured us of so, we had to cancel the truck and flights to get our stuff to move out because we are now stuck with no house when we were told a specific date it was supposed to be completed. Given that the application fee is 50 dollars per person, I am starting to believe that is all that they care about. The house is still up for rent no sign of being under contract even though we were told that this house was basically ready for us. Disappointing to say the least, these people do not care about your time or personal lives at all.

I submitted two service requests to Firstkey on Monday 6/13
Service Number: 383155 and Service Number: 383144 The first
one is more severe due to it being a health concern of black
mold in my child's bathroom. The second is regarding the ceiling
in my child's room that still hasn't been repaired from 3 weeks
prior when thy serviceman came out to repair a water leak they
cut out a piece of the ceiling and do not properly finish painting
back over upon completion. The original scheduling for the
service request submitted on Monday 6/13 were for someone to
come out that following Friday 6/17 and no one called or showed
up. I called and spoke with the maintenance request customer
service agent monday 6/20 at 8:32 AM and the agent stated that
he spoke with the 3rd party company that was supposed to come
out and they would be calling me back and they didn't. So I called
the offices again at 3:07 PM on Monday 6/20 and spoke with
Cesar who put in a request for a member of management to call
me the ticket request # 392510 and of course I did not get a call
back. Afterwards I may numerous calls and each time I was
informed I would receive I call back from management and I
never did. I then starting email the property manager Ms. Kent
from 6/21 - 6/23 and didn't hear anything back until 6/24 and that
was just that someone would reach out. Again this is a health
concern and it is unacceptable for this to be ignored.

UPDATE: FILED WITH BBB
Management had emailed me on 6/24 saying that Erica with Maintenance would be reaching out..
As of 6/29 I have still not been contacted by ANY member/3rd party rep contracted by Firstkey

FirstKey uses SafeRent to determine whether an application is approved or denied. SafeRent states that they do not make the approval or denial decision. Contacted FirstKey to get an explanation why I was denied having good credit. I was told underwriting doesn't speak to customers. What? FirstKey told me to wait for a letter from SafeRent who is the same company that doesn't make the approval or denial decision! I am beyond pissed and will be reporting both companies for the application fee scam. Also, SafeRent is currently going through a Federal lawsuit for discrimination and violating the Fair Housing Act.

We rented from first key homes in las vegas, we had a multi-year lease with them. Our utilities were in thier name and use a third party to pay for them. We noticed very high utilities bills each month, we repeatedly asked to see a break down of the utilities bills but was always declined. Once our lease ended I contacted the utilities companies directly and got access just find out they were ripping us off each month. When our lease was up, we cleaned and did maintenance to insure we would recieve our deposit back. Took video and pictures as proof and sent in an email to them. No word for over 30 days on our deposit, then we recieve a bill for $3500 in cost fees including keeping our $4500 deposit. We challenged it per fair housing laws, and they refused to give us our deposit back. Now we are having to sue they in court to get our deposit back, one of the worst companies to deal with.