ComplaintsforSeaScape Property Management, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  04/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My mother who is 99 years old owns a villa on the first floor of a 2-story villa in Hearthstone Manor built by Country Life Homes by **** ****** and managed by SeaScape Property Management. **** ******* manages Hearthstone Manor on behalf of SeaScape. On 1/28/24, a hot water pipe burst from the upstairs unit hot water heater. This is the third pipe burst in the last 3 years that did not come from her unit or caused by any pipes that belong to her. Over half of her villa has been demolished because of the flood and there are other units in Hearthstone Manor that currently have pipes bursting as well. Before the construction company can repair the villa, we need to make sure no further pipes will burst. Therefore, a plumbing pressure test must be done and can only be accessed through the unit above my mother’s villa. I have spoken with and emailed **** ******* and left several messages at his office since 2/15 requesting to have a plumber test all the pipes to ensure there will be no more pipes bursting since. I also requested **** have someone look at the fissure in the kitchen and laundry room wall because this could be causing the pipes to burst if the foundation is settling and pulling apart these bursting pipes. The unit next door and connected to my mother’s unit has the same exact fissure on the same exact walls. They continue to crack. My construction company has also tried to contact **** via email and phone calls. **** has not responded to anyone’s requests. I emailed ****, **** ******** *** ***** ******* about the foundation and the plumbing pressure test on 4/10 and 4/15. My request is that SeaScape contact the unit owner above my mother’s villa to let in the constructions company’s plumber to perform a pipe pressure test and that they send out a structural engineer to ascertain any issues with the foundation.

  

  Business response

  04/16/2024

  Hello,

  SeaScape has been in touch with the upstairs owner.  They refuse to allow entry into their unit.  Access will require intervention by legal means.  SeaScape has been in contact with the construction company restoring the unit.  SeaScape has been in touch with the complainant.  All water pipes are part of the unit and are owned by the unit owners.  The request for inspection of the foundation is a new complaint from the unit owner.  SeaScape will contact a professional for this service.  

• Initial Complaint

  04/01/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In 2020 our crawl space had a mold problem. Seascape Property Management sent Sussex Environmental out to evaluate and perform inspection of the property. The recommendations and pictures are attached. Seascape would not fix the problem because they said it was caused by our heating system, which was inspected and found to be working properly. We then had to have the crawl space treated, ducts replaced and crawl space encapsulated and a dehumidifier installed at our own expense. My companion had cancer and it was necessary to remove the mold. Now, 4 years later, a pipe burst in the unit next to us and due to the excessive water damage in that unit, their crawl space is causing extremely high levels of mold in my crawl space. I now have to have my crawl space treated again and the HVAC vents cleaned to lower the mold levels in my crawl space. The crawl spaces in the buildings in this community are supposed to be maintained by the property management however, they refuse to do anything about the water/mold problems in all the Villa's. Most of the Villa's in this development have water and mold in the crawl space and now several of the units have pipes between the upper and lower units that are bursting, thus causing more water damage. In one case, Seascape received the money from the insurance company over 2 months ago but has not released the funds to the owner, who is over 95 years old and not able to live in her house. They have consistently mismanaged the community and do not return calls or address any issues or complaints. We pay extremely high HOA and COA fees but do not receive regular mainenance nor do we have any say as we do not have any representation in the HOA or COA . These issues need to be addressed and the property management be responsible to maintain the property as per their contract.

  

  Business response

  04/04/2024

  Regarding this complaint:

  1.  Crawl Spaces are common element areas.  However, individual utility service lines (such as water, HVAC, and drains) are the responsibility of the individual unit owners that those lines service.  This mean the HVAC ducts would be the responsibility of the unit owner and if an individual service line is leaking, that line would need to be repaired by that owner as that line services their unit only (Hearthstone Owners are billed by the City of Milford for utilities). 

  2.  ***** ****** did not become the owner of the unit till around October of 2023, and it appears the report is dated prior to.

  3.  We have had vendors in the crawl space doing inspections and are working with the Board to address issues throughout the community (including this crawl space)

  4. In an effort to resolve this issue we will contact Sussex Environmental to re-evaluate this crawl space and then take their recommendations to the Board for consideration and action.

  Please note SeaScape Property Management is not authorized to just take action without Board authorization.  We are a vendor of the Board and take our directions from them.

  Respectfully Submitted

  Customer response

  04/09/2024

  Better Business Bureau: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my complaint and have determined that this does not resolve my  issue.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. **In order for the bureau to continue to assist you, you MUST provide your view on the matter or your complaint will be closed as answered. The inspection report they provided was done in 2020.  We then had the crawl space repaired.  Since that time the unit next to me had a pipe between the upper unit and lower unit burst and the lower unit was partially destroyed and is under construction to rebuild.  She is 99 years old and unable to live in her unit.  The damage to her crawl space has resulted to high levels of mold in my unit, over 800,00 per Prism Enterprises, who I had to have come in and respray and treat the HVAC vents to decrease the mold levels.  I have lived in this unit for over 13 years and only became the owner in October 2023 when the original owner Robert ****** passed away and left me the unit.  Seascape Property is aware of the fact that this unit was owned by Mr. ****** prior to his death and all the previous problems were addressed by Mr. ******.  No one has been out to inspect my crawl space and according to information received from other owners in the community, there  have been over 4 over units that have had pipes burst.  Seascape always promises that they are working to resolve issues that we have however, rarely is anything done to alleviate the problems.  Since we do not know when and if the Board meets, we don't even know if the "Board" is aware of the situation and problems. Regards, Complaint ID: 21515279      

  

  Business response

  04/10/2024

  Hello,

  Sussex Environmental is onsite today doing a re-evaluation of the crawl space in questions.  Upon receiving this updated evaluation, SeaScape Property Management will provide the results to the Board and suggest that we take the appropriate actions to correct any issues in the crawl spaces.
  
  Again, individual service pipes, such as a water supply lines, are the individual owner’s responsibility, not the Associations and not managements.  If an owner has a pipe break, they are responsible for the repair to the pipe and damages the break of their pipe caused.
  
  We have had members of the property care division with SeaScape in and under the crawl spaces in the last 12 months, along with crawl space companies throughout the community.  Again, we will wait for Sussex Environmental to provide an updated report and then take appropriate action.  This issue has not been ignored in any manner.

  Board meetings are held according to current regulations.

• Initial Complaint

  03/20/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On Feb 8, 2024 we put an offer in on a home with a HOA. The HOA then and now was ran by a developer who used SeaScape as their processing department. On Feb 8, 2024 a e-mail was sent to **** and **** at SeaScape inquiry about the use of a 6’ privacy fence. My husband has PTSD and requires a Service dog. The community allows 6’ fence for privacy or pool safety. We were trying to get ahead of it before settlement because we need the fence for our service dog to have non working hours in privacy to decompress. We send over the letter from the physiologist as well. **** responded with some questions. They were answered the same day. Since then we can not get a response. We have since settled on the house. Finally after refusing to hang up the phone I got **** on the phone who said an application was needed. At NO point was that ever said. They said they had already submitted to the developer. However, I followed procedure with emphasis on the NEED not want for the fence. I completed all documentation as instructed. To date there has been no response back after several e-mails. I have left several messages via phone asking for **** and/or the owner to call. No response. They are non responsive AT all and this is a time sensitive need. I do not even know if it is being processed. The entire situation is a mess. Very unprofessional.

  

  Business response

  03/22/2024

  Hello,

  I have spoken with **** regarding this issue.  **** had responded earlier that he would need to follow up with others on this matter and he would get back to you.  I realize you are excited about receiving this response.  However, the decision, approval/disapproval, of your request is not made by anyone who works for SeaScape.  Per the governing documents, the Architectural Review Committee makes these types of decisions.  ****, or anyone else from SeaScape or the community must wait, up to 30 days per the governing documents, for the committee to respond to inquiries.  

  With this being said, it is my understanding the committee issued an approval to you approximately 48 hours ago.  I believe this resolves the matter with the Committee and places the matter outside of SeaScape's responsibility.\

  Thank you.  Should you have any further comment, please let us know.

  Customer response

  03/27/2024

  Better Business Bureau:

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

  **In order for the bureau to continue to assist you, you MUST provide your view on the matter or your complaint will be closed as answered.
  
  
  
  
  Regards,

  Complaint ID: 21459971

   

   

   

• Initial Complaint

  05/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I submitted an architectural request for my home in the Covered Bridges trail community in Lewes De. and paid the $50 review and approval fee. After discovering my wife has brain cancer we cancelled the patio work and the architectural request already submitted, and sold our home. But I have asked several times for the $50 to be refunded and so far Seascape has chosen to not respond. I subsequently asked our HOA leadership to intercede but Seascape won’t respond to their requests either.

  

  Business response

  05/17/2022

  I am reviewing this issue with my staff.  I am not familiar with this situation and I would refund any monies if called for.

  Customer response

  05/25/2022

  Better Business Bureau:

  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my complaint and have since communicated with the business. They advised two separate checks will be mailed to me - one from the business and one from the HOA board they support. This resolution is satisfactory to me. 

  Regards,

  Complaint ID: 17202633
  

   

   

   

• Initial Complaint

  02/07/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have been requesting a profit/loss statement, names of HOA board members and the name of the current owner of Abbots Pond Acres, in Greenwood, De. , since January 4th; via email and phone. I am legally entitled to the knowledge of where the dues I pay are going. Every time I email Neal Richards ( property manager), I get an automated response that he will get back to me asap. Whenever I call his office, he is “ in a meeting “ or “ out of the office “. When I ask to speak with a manager, they are all “ in a meeting “. When I ask to have a manager call me, I am told “ of course “, and no one ever calls. I cannot contact the HOA board for help because Seascape will not give me any info concerning the board. I can’t contact the owner of the development, because Seascape has not responded to my requests for any info on him. We have no golf course, pool, playground, clubhouse, etc. our dues cover street lamps, mowing the grass in common areas and snow plowing the roads. The roads were not plowed once from January 1st-December 31st, in 2021. I am just curious as to where our dues money is going. I have learned from neighbors that some of them have been requesting the same information as me, for years! I believe that there is something suspicious, and possibly illegal, going on here. Why would Seascape purposely and consistently refuse to disclose this information to the homeowners in my community, if everything is above board? They also advertise that they encourage homeowners participation and regular meetings. That is definitely false advertising! We have not had a homeowners meeting since the beginning of 2017. When any of us request a meeting, we are given the run around. What are they hiding? Why won’t they comply with our requests?

  

  Business response

  02/17/2022

  i have spoken to Ms. ******* via email.  She stated will be removing this complaint once she has received the information she is seeking.  The P&L report was sent to her on   .  I have advised her the board is made up of the Declarant/Developer at this time and they wish all coorispondence to come through our office.

   

  i believe this addresses the concerns at hand.  As such, I look forward to her withdrawal of the complaint.

   

  
  Subject: 2021 Profit and Loss Statement
  
  Good Afternoon,
  
  Please see the attached 2021 Profit and Loss Report for Abbott’s Pond Acres.
  
  Thank you,

   

  From: **** ******* SeaScape
  Sent: Monday, February 7, 2022 2:25 PM
  To: **** ******* <a*******@yahoo.com>
  Subject: Re: Automatic reply: Automatic reply: Profit/ Loss Statement
  
  No one owns Abbott’s Pond Acres. There is a developer and several builders. The developer is Ashburn Homes. They are doing this under an LLC. The members of the LLC also operate as the board of directors. All contact with them is through our office.  
  
  Neal will forward the P&L to all owners per his email to you. 
  Thank you,
  **** *******
  SeaScape Property Mgmt
  
  
  

  Please advise further, thank you.

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