We want to share our experience to protect others from falling victim to deceptive rental practices. We found an annex advertised on ikman.lk, owned by Mrs. H Ariyarathna. She claimed that the rent of 45,000 LKR included the water bill. Anyway, you might receive a high electricity bill of around 7000RS due to using old fans and AC. However, our experience turned out to be quite different.
Informing her about a gas leak caused by the regulator on the very first day, she insisted it was our fault and charged us when we asked for the deposit. Additionally, she tried to include fake expenses to reduce the deposit amount. What a disgrace.
Upon moving in, we discovered that the air conditioning was not functioning properly. Mrs. Ariyarathna informed us that it couldn't be repaired, to which we reluctantly agreed. In the second month, she unexpectedly demanded that we use the washing machine only once a week to reduce her water bill. This was our first hint of her deceptive practices.
The situation worsened in the third month. On June 2nd, the kitchen roof collapsed, destroying our food and kitchen items. (I have attached the video before it fell off) This incident prompted us to leave the annex. We moved in on March 10th and gave one month's notice on June 7th, making all payments on time. However, she has been coming to the annex without informing us and using her keys to access our room when we are not there. This is very concerning and unacceptable.
Mrs. Ariyarathna included water bills for the first two months, even though she said they were included in the rent. We never stayed for more than 10 days in the last two months anyway. Furthermore, the annex had poor lighting, requiring us to keep the lights on even during the day, and it was infested with rats, especially in the kitchen.
Additionally, a Bengal monitor lizard was living in the ceiling. Its loud and disruptive movements made it difficult to sleep at night. When we brought this issue to Mrs. Ariyarathna, she dismissed our concerns, claiming that the lizard only moved around during the day.
Finally, she refused to return the security deposit, referencing the agreement, which stated that she was not obligated to return it until one year had passed. We felt that she was taking advantage of us, so we pointed out the notice period specified in the agreement. She seemed to belittle us by suggesting that we were being childish in asserting our rights. It's disappointing to have to deal with a situation like this.
Another shameful thing was that she packed all of our personal belongings, including the items in the cupboard drawers, even though we had paid until July 10th. This happened in the last week of June.
Before renting from Mrs. Harsha Ariyarathna, ensure that the rental agreement clearly states that water bills are included in the rent. It's important to read our story carefully as we share our experiences to help others avoid falling victim to such deceitful practices.
Informing her about a gas leak caused by the regulator on the very first day, she insisted it was our fault and charged us when we asked for the deposit. Additionally, she tried to include fake expenses to reduce the deposit amount. What a disgrace.
Upon moving in, we discovered that the air conditioning was not functioning properly. Mrs. Ariyarathna informed us that it couldn't be repaired, to which we reluctantly agreed. In the second month, she unexpectedly demanded that we use the washing machine only once a week to reduce her water bill. This was our first hint of her deceptive practices.
The situation worsened in the third month. On June 2nd, the kitchen roof collapsed, destroying our food and kitchen items. (I have attached the video before it fell off) This incident prompted us to leave the annex. We moved in on March 10th and gave one month's notice on June 7th, making all payments on time. However, she has been coming to the annex without informing us and using her keys to access our room when we are not there. This is very concerning and unacceptable.
Mrs. Ariyarathna included water bills for the first two months, even though she said they were included in the rent. We never stayed for more than 10 days in the last two months anyway. Furthermore, the annex had poor lighting, requiring us to keep the lights on even during the day, and it was infested with rats, especially in the kitchen.
Additionally, a Bengal monitor lizard was living in the ceiling. Its loud and disruptive movements made it difficult to sleep at night. When we brought this issue to Mrs. Ariyarathna, she dismissed our concerns, claiming that the lizard only moved around during the day.
Finally, she refused to return the security deposit, referencing the agreement, which stated that she was not obligated to return it until one year had passed. We felt that she was taking advantage of us, so we pointed out the notice period specified in the agreement. She seemed to belittle us by suggesting that we were being childish in asserting our rights. It's disappointing to have to deal with a situation like this.
Another shameful thing was that she packed all of our personal belongings, including the items in the cupboard drawers, even though we had paid until July 10th. This happened in the last week of June.
Before renting from Mrs. Harsha Ariyarathna, ensure that the rental agreement clearly states that water bills are included in the rent. It's important to read our story carefully as we share our experiences to help others avoid falling victim to such deceitful practices.
