Abiodun Freeman — Apr 11, 2024
As a former tenant of Lou Powers, I feel compelled to share my experience to help others avoid the stress and frustration I endure…
As a former tenant of Lou Powers, I feel compelled to share my experience to help others avoid the stress and frustration I endured. From the initial meeting, Lou's demeanor was condescending, setting a tone that persisted throughout my tenancy. Despite initially presenting as detailed and thorough, it became clear that his management style was more about control and less about service.
Lou demanded non-refundable fees upfront, even just for discussing rental terms, and insisted I provide checks, only to later claim he didn't accept them-only to cash one without my consent. Throughout my lease, maintenance was a persistent issue; minor repairs and even routine maintenance were either ignored or done so poorly that they barely met the minimal standards. The apartment's conditions were subpar, with shoddy paintwork and fixtures that seemed barely touched since the last tenant.
Communication was another major issue. Lou avoids written communication, making it nearly impossible to have a record of agreements or disputes. When I tried to discuss unfair charges or needed repairs over the phone, conversations were often cut short or ended abruptly with unresolved issues.
When it came time to move out, Lou found every possible reason to withhold my deposit, charging me for 'damages' that were present when I moved in. Attempts to reason with him were met with threats and gaslighting, leaving me without the energy or resources to pursue legal recourse.
This has been more than just an inconvenience; it was a constant source of stress and financial strain. For anyone considering renting from Lou Powers, I urge you to think twice and consider the pattern of behavior that seems all too common among his tenants.
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As a former tenant of Lou Powers, I feel compelled to share my experience to help others avoid the stress and frustration I endured. From the initial meeting, Lou's demeanor was condescending, setting a tone that persisted throughout my tenancy. Despite initially presenting as detailed and thorough,…
As a former tenant of Lou Powers, I feel compelled to share my experience to help others avoid the stress and frustration I endured. From the initial meeting, Lou's demeanor was condescending, setting a tone that persisted throughout my tenancy. Despite initially presenting as detailed and thorough, it became clear that his management style was more about control and less about service.
Lou demanded non-refundable fees upfront, even just for discussing rental terms, and insisted I provide checks, only to later claim he didn't accept them-only to cash one without my consent. Throughout my lease, maintenance was a persistent issue; minor repairs and even routine maintenance were either ignored or done so poorly that they barely met the minimal standards. The apartment's conditions were subpar, with shoddy paintwork and fixtures that seemed barely touched since the last tenant.
Communication was another major issue. Lou avoids written communication, making it nearly impossible to have a record of agreements or disputes. When I tried to discuss unfair charges or needed repairs over the phone, conversations were often cut short or ended abruptly with unresolved issues.
When it came time to move out, Lou found every possible reason to withhold my deposit, charging me for 'damages' that were present when I moved in. Attempts to reason with him were met with threats and gaslighting, leaving me without the energy or resources to pursue legal recourse.
This has been more than just an inconvenience; it was a constant source of stress and financial strain. For anyone considering renting from Lou Powers, I urge you to think twice and consider the pattern of behavior that seems all too common among his tenants.
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Carrie Adams — Jun 28, 2023
Edit: i did Not Apply. Insimply spoke to the man...Id give 0 stars if allowed. Lou Powers is a condescending thief!
I went to meet…
Edit: i did Not Apply. Insimply spoke to the man...Id give 0 stars if allowed. Lou Powers is a condescending thief!
I went to meet with him to possibly rent a house...he i had to bring 2 checks. One for the application fee and one for 1st months rent.
Throughout the meeting with him he was extremely condescending...told me one application was NOT complete...told me he does NOT accept personal checks. I told him id be back in the morning with cashiers checks.. The man gave me so much anxiety i decided NOT to rent from him (id rather be homeless in a tent). I emailed him not 12 hours after the inital meeting saying i would NOT be renting from him and to please detroy both personal checks...(the ones he said he couldnt accept)...
A week later im looking at my bank account and he CASHED the check!
I did NOT apply to rent from him...we simply had a meeting to discuss what he THOUGHT i could afford. I shouldve trusted these horrible reviews!
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Edit: i did Not Apply. Insimply spoke to the man...Id give 0 stars if allowed. Lou Powers is a condescending thief!
I went to meet with him to possibly rent a house...he i had to bring 2 checks. One for the application fee and one for 1st months rent.
Throughout the meeting with him he was extremel…
Edit: i did Not Apply. Insimply spoke to the man...Id give 0 stars if allowed. Lou Powers is a condescending thief!
I went to meet with him to possibly rent a house...he i had to bring 2 checks. One for the application fee and one for 1st months rent.
Throughout the meeting with him he was extremely condescending...told me one application was NOT complete...told me he does NOT accept personal checks. I told him id be back in the morning with cashiers checks.. The man gave me so much anxiety i decided NOT to rent from him (id rather be homeless in a tent). I emailed him not 12 hours after the inital meeting saying i would NOT be renting from him and to please detroy both personal checks...(the ones he said he couldnt accept)...
A week later im looking at my bank account and he CASHED the check!
I did NOT apply to rent from him...we simply had a meeting to discuss what he THOUGHT i could afford. I shouldve trusted these horrible reviews!
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Amy Luce — Mar 28, 2022
Lou was incredibly rude and condescending when I talked with him about possibly renting an apartment. That's all I needed to decid…
Lou was incredibly rude and condescending when I talked with him about possibly renting an apartment. That's all I needed to decide not to give his properties a look. If he is this rude before I'm a customer, I can't imagine how he must treat those who already rent from him.
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Lou was incredibly rude and condescending when I talked with him about possibly renting an apartment. That's all I needed to decide not to give his properties a look. If he is this rude before I'm a customer, I can't imagine how he must treat those who already rent from him.
Abigail Hoefling — Oct 13, 2021
Do not rent from this company or the landlord Lou. I signed a lease at one of his properties in Shaker Heights when moving from an…
Do not rent from this company or the landlord Lou. I signed a lease at one of his properties in Shaker Heights when moving from another state and having no opportunity to come and see the place in person. I do not think I am a knit-picky or particular person and am relatively easy to work with, but boy do I wish I could go back in time and prevent myself from signing that lease. The property itself had poor aesthetic appearance, the paint appears to be done by a child and it seems as if hardly effort was put into it. He refuses to fix most items in need of attention. We are required to pay for expenses such as clogged sinks, rodent infestations, and fixing broken appliances. He would gaslight both me and my downstairs neighbor to pit us against each other. When I was moving out, he charged me hundreds of dollars from my deposit for fixing things in the apartment that were in the same condition when I initially moved in. I moved out two weeks earlier to my move-out date, though I paid the lease for the entire month, and he attempted to have me search for tenants to move in earlier on my own time, which I definitely refused to do. When attempting to work with him respectfully to not be charged for these unfair expenses, he refused and would not budge. I don't have the mental strength to go to court to fight him so I just hope his future potential tenants search up his property name and read these reviews. Avoid at all costs. Just read his two-page lease document and you will understand all of our frustrations for yourself.
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Do not rent from this company or the landlord Lou. I signed a lease at one of his properties in Shaker Heights when moving from another state and having no opportunity to come and see the place in person. I do not think I am a knit-picky or particular person and am relatively easy to work with, but …
Do not rent from this company or the landlord Lou. I signed a lease at one of his properties in Shaker Heights when moving from another state and having no opportunity to come and see the place in person. I do not think I am a knit-picky or particular person and am relatively easy to work with, but boy do I wish I could go back in time and prevent myself from signing that lease. The property itself had poor aesthetic appearance, the paint appears to be done by a child and it seems as if hardly effort was put into it. He refuses to fix most items in need of attention. We are required to pay for expenses such as clogged sinks, rodent infestations, and fixing broken appliances. He would gaslight both me and my downstairs neighbor to pit us against each other. When I was moving out, he charged me hundreds of dollars from my deposit for fixing things in the apartment that were in the same condition when I initially moved in. I moved out two weeks earlier to my move-out date, though I paid the lease for the entire month, and he attempted to have me search for tenants to move in earlier on my own time, which I definitely refused to do. When attempting to work with him respectfully to not be charged for these unfair expenses, he refused and would not budge. I don't have the mental strength to go to court to fight him so I just hope his future potential tenants search up his property name and read these reviews. Avoid at all costs. Just read his two-page lease document and you will understand all of our frustrations for yourself.
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Leah Petty — Jul 28, 2021
Lou has been the absolute worst landlord I have ever experienced. He was dodgy with every single payment, unloaded a bunch of fake…
Lou has been the absolute worst landlord I have ever experienced. He was dodgy with every single payment, unloaded a bunch of fake expenses at the end of the lease, and became incredibly rude after I signed the lease.
He keeps the utilities in his name (despite the lease stating they must be in the tenants name) and then charges ridiculous prices and fees. I asked for a picture of the electric bill after the first invoice, he scoffed, cut the invoice in half (actually more than half), and then provided me proof (of lower cost) a week later, saying "I cannot and will not do this every month". Since then he has not provided pictures, screenshots, or any type of proof of water or electric bills that were exceedingly outside the average cost for 2 people in Cleveland heights.
I tried to end my lease early by getting a sublet, but after showing the apartment to over 5 people who all ran as soon as they heard Lou's name, I knew the task was unachievable. Do not rent from this man.
Please note that the positive review by Rebecca Powers is his daughter. I know his daughter personally because he let her stay in the studio apartment above my rented upper unit space for 2 months over her college break. There were loud, crowded parties in the middle of the pandemic, and her and her friends frequently blocked me and the downstairs renter's cars in the driveway.
Lou does not and will not communicate over email. This is hard for me because I work crazy hours and go to school full time and take care of a special needs child. I don't have time for constant phone calls and voicemessages, and after his dodgy money behavior I would prefer written proof of communication. He refuses to respond to emails. Once on the phone, he is incredibly rude and will hang up on you if you ask for the bare minimum.
He also expects tenants to clean and maintain common areas such as stairwells, halls and basement. That is illegal and literally the definition of his job.
I urge anyone who is thinking about renting from this man to please reconsider, he is a nightmare.
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Lou has been the absolute worst landlord I have ever experienced. He was dodgy with every single payment, unloaded a bunch of fake expenses at the end of the lease, and became incredibly rude after I signed the lease.
He keeps the utilities in his name (despite the lease stating they must be in th…
Lou has been the absolute worst landlord I have ever experienced. He was dodgy with every single payment, unloaded a bunch of fake expenses at the end of the lease, and became incredibly rude after I signed the lease.
He keeps the utilities in his name (despite the lease stating they must be in the tenants name) and then charges ridiculous prices and fees. I asked for a picture of the electric bill after the first invoice, he scoffed, cut the invoice in half (actually more than half), and then provided me proof (of lower cost) a week later, saying "I cannot and will not do this every month". Since then he has not provided pictures, screenshots, or any type of proof of water or electric bills that were exceedingly outside the average cost for 2 people in Cleveland heights.
I tried to end my lease early by getting a sublet, but after showing the apartment to over 5 people who all ran as soon as they heard Lou's name, I knew the task was unachievable. Do not rent from this man.
Please note that the positive review by Rebecca Powers is his daughter. I know his daughter personally because he let her stay in the studio apartment above my rented upper unit space for 2 months over her college break. There were loud, crowded parties in the middle of the pandemic, and her and her friends frequently blocked me and the downstairs renter's cars in the driveway.
Lou does not and will not communicate over email. This is hard for me because I work crazy hours and go to school full time and take care of a special needs child. I don't have time for constant phone calls and voicemessages, and after his dodgy money behavior I would prefer written proof of communication. He refuses to respond to emails. Once on the phone, he is incredibly rude and will hang up on you if you ask for the bare minimum.
He also expects tenants to clean and maintain common areas such as stairwells, halls and basement. That is illegal and literally the definition of his job.
I urge anyone who is thinking about renting from this man to please reconsider, he is a nightmare.
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Rebecca Powers — Dec 22, 2020
^Do not listen to these previous comments. Lou explains the lease, contract, and apartments thoroughly and with empathy. His goal …
^Do not listen to these previous comments. Lou explains the lease, contract, and apartments thoroughly and with empathy. His goal is to benefit his tenants and people in general, as he is not like most landlords and will not rent to tenants that can’t afford the property. The only reason why something would go wrong would be if you weren’t being responsible and paying attention. Lou will take care of your questions and concerns to the best ability, and provide quality services.
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^Do not listen to these previous comments. Lou explains the lease, contract, and apartments thoroughly and with empathy. His goal is to benefit his tenants and people in general, as he is not like most landlords and will not rent to tenants that can’t afford the property. The only reason why somethi…
^Do not listen to these previous comments. Lou explains the lease, contract, and apartments thoroughly and with empathy. His goal is to benefit his tenants and people in general, as he is not like most landlords and will not rent to tenants that can’t afford the property. The only reason why something would go wrong would be if you weren’t being responsible and paying attention. Lou will take care of your questions and concerns to the best ability, and provide quality services.
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Emily Sanker — Sep 26, 2020
I was prepared to Rent with G & L properties (Lou Powers) but upon further inspection and information provided from a previous ten…
I was prepared to Rent with G & L properties (Lou Powers) but upon further inspection and information provided from a previous tenant, I was made aware of the way he handles his business. Do not rent from this man. He is manipulative and will s****** you out of money. Once I figured this out, I decided not to rent from him. Before this, He insisted I have a cosigner even though my monthly income was well beyond the rent price. My mistake was writing giving him my deposit when I had not yet given him my cosigner contract. I signed the lease which was not supposed to be binding until I gave him a copy signed from my co-signer. When I found out the information regarding his unsavory practiced I immediately let him know I would not be renting with him and that I was sorry for the inconvenience. He then proceeded to threaten me with lawsuits and refused to refund my 710 dollar check. To this day I still have not received my money. He is very unprofessional. I hope that future tenants who are lured into his properties see this and turn the other way.
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I was prepared to Rent with G & L properties (Lou Powers) but upon further inspection and information provided from a previous tenant, I was made aware of the way he handles his business. Do not rent from this man. He is manipulative and will s****** you out of money. Once I figured this out, I deci…
I was prepared to Rent with G & L properties (Lou Powers) but upon further inspection and information provided from a previous tenant, I was made aware of the way he handles his business. Do not rent from this man. He is manipulative and will s****** you out of money. Once I figured this out, I decided not to rent from him. Before this, He insisted I have a cosigner even though my monthly income was well beyond the rent price. My mistake was writing giving him my deposit when I had not yet given him my cosigner contract. I signed the lease which was not supposed to be binding until I gave him a copy signed from my co-signer. When I found out the information regarding his unsavory practiced I immediately let him know I would not be renting with him and that I was sorry for the inconvenience. He then proceeded to threaten me with lawsuits and refused to refund my 710 dollar check. To this day I still have not received my money. He is very unprofessional. I hope that future tenants who are lured into his properties see this and turn the other way.
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Megan Long — Dec 19, 2019
This landlord is incredibly rude, condescending, and cheap. He has attempted to start conflict between neighbors, and generally do…
This landlord is incredibly rude, condescending, and cheap. He has attempted to start conflict between neighbors, and generally does not care about his properties. He will "fix" things with minimal effort and poor aesthetic outcomes. He will charge you for everything that a typical landlord would automatically help with. Don't be fooled by low rent prices, and don't let him bully you into signing a lease.
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This landlord is incredibly rude, condescending, and cheap. He has attempted to start conflict between neighbors, and generally does not care about his properties. He will "fix" things with minimal effort and poor aesthetic outcomes. He will charge you for everything that a typical landlord would au…
This landlord is incredibly rude, condescending, and cheap. He has attempted to start conflict between neighbors, and generally does not care about his properties. He will "fix" things with minimal effort and poor aesthetic outcomes. He will charge you for everything that a typical landlord would automatically help with. Don't be fooled by low rent prices, and don't let him bully you into signing a lease.
Read more
Show less