05/02/08

Average bar with overpriced drinks

by DR18

The title of this review is what I think of the bar. What I'm actually reviewing is the owners, who are also landlords for the apartments in the same building. If they are anywhere near as awful at being bar owners as they are at landlords, this place doesn't deserve your business.

I am writing this review to warn potential tenants not to rent from landlords Dirk and Adriana Nebbeling, owners of a three-unit building at 2957 N. California in Chicago. In my dealings with them as landlords, I have found them to be dishonest and incompetent. They severely overcharged me for cleaning and damages when I vacated the apartment in good condition. They illegally refused to supply me with a receipt for my security deposit, in violation of the Chicago Landlord and Tenants Ordinance, despite repeated requests. Then they had the gall to tell me that my security deposit was not fully paid, though I have email documentation from them informing me that my balance was met months before the end of the lease. The refused to acknowledge this fact, daring me to provide "proof" otherwise. They consistently did not make required and requested repairs

They also disappeared from contact for a solid week surrounding the end of my lease, and did not give me a walkthrough of the apartment or a receipt for my security deposit despite repeated requests. When I met with them (only after repeated requests) to discuss these issues, they were extremely hostile, hurling profanities at me and at one point threatening violence if I crossed them.

In summary, the Nebbelings acted illegally, deceitfully, and incompetently in my dealings with them as landlords. I recommend not renting from them under any circumstances, and if you do then get every possible detail in writing. Luckily, I have several of the above contentions documented, and am preparing to take them to court to rectify the situation. I would advise other tenants to avoid the hassle and avoid these landlords.