I have not received my deposit back after 70 days, despite leaving apartment 814 at 88 Greenwich in perfect condition without so much as a nail hole--I hung no pictures. The deposit was given to Bouklis Group. Tom Bouklis sent me some photos of dirty windows frames, etc at extremely high magnification. The building manager was able to identify the parts in the photos and that the photos just... [more]
I have not received my deposit back after 70 days, despite leaving apartment 814 at 88 Greenwich in perfect condition without so much as a nail hole--I hung no pictures. The deposit was given to Bouklis Group. Tom Bouklis sent me some photos of dirty windows frames, etc at extremely high magnification. The building manager was able to identify the parts in the photos and that the photos just showed dirt, was normal wear and tear, and didn't represent anything that should be deducted from my deposit. I still offered to pay the valet service fee of $100.00 for cleaning. Bouklis and the Modwell's have stopped returning calls and emails.
I also notice that there are a number of false rental listings for apt 814. I leased that apartment through the Bouklis Group in May 2010 for $2550.00/mo until June 2012. My rent went down to $2500.00 in the second year due to reduction in amenities, including loss of concierge, piano, and roof deck. Yet there are a number of listings on this site for rents that I wasn't paying. They tried to raise my rent to $3500.00 based "on the market". At the time they told me this, I thought there was some mistake, but I didn't know about the false rental listings. Bouklis made several fictional listings for $3100.00 during my tenancy. A person would be seriously misled about to the value of this apartment by these false listings.
[less]
Response by jim_hones10
about 13 years ago
Posts: 3413
Member since: Jan 2010
Horror.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by enf1945
about 13 years ago
Posts: 2
Member since: May 2011
go to small claims court to get your deposit back.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by Bouklis_Group
about 13 years ago
Posts: 7
Member since: Jan 2010
Dean,
I am sorry but I am solely the broker for the property. Any and all disputes regarding security have to do with ownership. I did not keep your security. They feel they paid extra repairs afte your move.
Furthermore, your apartment was 737 SF. Please check rental comps in the building per SF. It did not rent for $3500, Ownership was asking this price. But it rented close.
Kind regards,
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by NYCNovice
about 13 years ago
Posts: 1006
Member since: Jan 2012
How does one check rental comps? Streeteasy does not appear to have this data; is there anywhere a renter can find out the true rental comps in any given building? Do brokers other than listing broker have knowledge of what any given apartment actually rented for? I guess I am trying to figure out how to verify that the apartment in question rented close to asking; I have no reason to doubt that you are telling the truth, but many are skeptical of brokers. I have no problem with the profession and have found real estate brokers personally useful to me throughout the years so please understand this question is coming from a neutral place.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by West34
about 13 years ago
Posts: 1040
Member since: Mar 2009
Dean - I'd take Bouklis to court just for having the poor taste to post a response to you here. Can you do us a favor and post the court date so we can all go and watch them lose?
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by huntersburg
about 13 years ago
Posts: 11329
Member since: Nov 2010
Any correlation between quality of landlord and quality of representative broker?
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by marco_m
about 13 years ago
Posts: 2481
Member since: Dec 2008
I hate these stories. scumbag owners and brokers. thanks for posting this.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by SMTSay
about 13 years ago
Posts: 15
Member since: Oct 2012
Yes, there are scumbag owners and brokers, but the same can be said of any bunch. There are also many good honest owners (and I am sure brokers too), but you do not hear those stories as much. Partially because people do not report good as easy as bad, and also because they are not as interesting stories (hate them or not).
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by Bouklis_Group
over 12 years ago
Posts: 7
Member since: Jan 2010
Hey West,
Security reimbursal has nothing to do with the leasing broker if you would like to look into it. But since you wanted to respond, Dean forgot to mention that although We even tried assisting him with his move, he moved into a building that we showed him (which pays the broker fee) without asking us to represent him. He would not have been charged by us and may have even saved a few bucks but decided to try to cut us out. If you would like I can let you know when that hearing date will be.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by Truth
over 12 years ago
Posts: 5641
Member since: Dec 2009
Touch~e, Bouklis_Group!
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by Goldie
over 12 years ago
Posts: 182
Member since: Apr 2007
Bouklis: "The deposit was given to Bouklis Group. Tom Bouklis sent me some photos of dirty window frames...."
You don't seem to dispute these statements in your replies. You only state that you believe that the stealing of the deposit isn't your problem despite your active involvement? If you represent the landlord, you have a responsibility to advise the landlord what is right and what is wrong and I don't care what the law says, it's common decency, it's morality, it's ethics. You don't seem to care about that, which is one reason why real estate agents have such a bad reputation.
I'm not sure which is dumber, your line of reasoning or calling attention to a 5 month old post that most people would have forgotten about.
Personally, I would go far out of my way to avoid dealing with you in any transaction involving any degree of trust or moral grounding.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by generalogoun
over 12 years ago
Posts: 329
Member since: Jan 2009
Sure, let us know all the information about the hearing. Also post the decision (not your interpretation of it).
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by mym
over 12 years ago
Posts: 188
Member since: Jun 2009
Boukis Group- For your own pr and business, you should try to get the landlord to return the deposit ASAP. Similar thing happened to us with a summer rental in Martha's Vineyard. Would obviously never rent from the same landlord, but the broker, who represented the owner, nagged him into giving us most of the deposit back. He clearly thought that the landlord was stiffing us, and I would use him again. Now we rent out a place in EH. Luckily, no one has ever trashed our place. We take a hefty security deposit, return it promptly( as we promise in the lease) and have repeat customers.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by Sonya_D
over 12 years ago
Posts: 547
Member since: Jan 2013
I find it amazing that ANY representative from the Boukis Group would even attempt, however feeble, to rectify or justify their issues here, instead of going through more official, legitimate channels. To hide here, behind anonymity, is just plain sleazy. Even the point about the pictures (really?? Dirty windows? In the time it took you to take the high res pictures, upload and send them, you could have just taken a paper towel yourself and saved a lot of time and effort) in and of itself, shows a new level of scum.
I will be making it a point to not become involved with the Boukis Group in any financial way, and I will be advising those seeking apartments to not use them either.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by somen00bie
over 12 years ago
Posts: 57
Member since: Jan 2012
scum bag broker noted....anyone keeping a list?
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by Deananderson
over 12 years ago
Posts: 2
Member since: May 2012
I did go to small claims court on the security deposit and won. I got all but $100.00 back. I had originally offered to pay $150.00 for cleaning and grout repair, before court. As soon as I filed suit, the landlord returned $1500.00, but not until I filed suit. They wanted to keep $1000.00 for paint and grout repair. The court denied the paint and but assessed $100.00 for grout repair. The landlord blamed Bouklis for not giving them my address as the reason for not previously returning the undisputed amount.
Bouklis then sued me in small claims for a $4500 fee for showing me 2 Gold, which was originally shown to me by Taso Hatzmichael in 2010. We went to Court today. At Court Bouklis said that 2 Gold normally paid the fee, but didn't have a record of him showing me the apartment and wouldn't pay him. Bouklis showed a document that indicated he showed me an apt on 3/28/2012. I stated that Bouklis didn't show me the apt that I viewed on 7/31/2012 and rented that same day. I showed emails that Bouklis was confronted with the false listings and that Bouklis later acknowledged the relationship was severed, repudiating any contract in May. I got the impression that the case was over at this point. Bouklis asserted that the false listing on 88 Greenwich were irrelevant. The arbitrator agreed. But the arbitrator also agreed that "fraud in the inducement" was relevant. So I not sure what will happen. I'll know in 3 weeks.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by Deananderson
over 12 years ago
Posts: 2
Member since: May 2012
So I lost $4500.00 to Bouklis in small claims. Apparently, in NYC, you can make false listings, not even show an apartment rented 4months later, and suffer no penalty whatsoever. Caveat Emptor, I guess. Lucky thing we have street easy...
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by greensdale
over 12 years ago
Posts: 3804
Member since: Sep 2012
We have streeteasy, but the conclusion was that the court decided for the plaintiff in a suit against you. More evidence was on that side.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by Sonya_D
over 12 years ago
Posts: 547
Member since: Jan 2013
Deananderson,
Thank you for the update. As noted before, Bouklis and any associates will not be dealt with, and I will be making recommendations to others not to engage in business with them. I encourage you to spread the word.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by Jazzman
over 12 years ago
Posts: 781
Member since: Feb 2009
Sonya_D
Why would you side against Bouklis here? Brokers don't hold security deposits. The landlord kept the deposit and the landlord lost in court.
Regarding lawsuit #2. The OP tried to cut the broker out. A totally greedy move. He didn't even have to pay the fee (the building would have paid it). And the courts ruled against the OP.
Bouklis was involved in one lawsuit here and they won. What am I missing? Aren't people allowed to sue in court and win? The OP was a cheat and now he has to pay up. What did Bouklis do wrong? They are the victim here.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by greensdale
over 12 years ago
Posts: 3804
Member since: Sep 2012
>The OP was a cheat
And admitted it here. Almost as bad as what apt23 admitted to.
'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Horror.
go to small claims court to get your deposit back.
Dean,
I am sorry but I am solely the broker for the property. Any and all disputes regarding security have to do with ownership. I did not keep your security. They feel they paid extra repairs afte your move.
Furthermore, your apartment was 737 SF. Please check rental comps in the building per SF. It did not rent for $3500, Ownership was asking this price. But it rented close.
Kind regards,
How does one check rental comps? Streeteasy does not appear to have this data; is there anywhere a renter can find out the true rental comps in any given building? Do brokers other than listing broker have knowledge of what any given apartment actually rented for? I guess I am trying to figure out how to verify that the apartment in question rented close to asking; I have no reason to doubt that you are telling the truth, but many are skeptical of brokers. I have no problem with the profession and have found real estate brokers personally useful to me throughout the years so please understand this question is coming from a neutral place.
Dean - I'd take Bouklis to court just for having the poor taste to post a response to you here. Can you do us a favor and post the court date so we can all go and watch them lose?
Any correlation between quality of landlord and quality of representative broker?
I hate these stories. scumbag owners and brokers. thanks for posting this.
Yes, there are scumbag owners and brokers, but the same can be said of any bunch. There are also many good honest owners (and I am sure brokers too), but you do not hear those stories as much. Partially because people do not report good as easy as bad, and also because they are not as interesting stories (hate them or not).
Hey West,
Security reimbursal has nothing to do with the leasing broker if you would like to look into it. But since you wanted to respond, Dean forgot to mention that although We even tried assisting him with his move, he moved into a building that we showed him (which pays the broker fee) without asking us to represent him. He would not have been charged by us and may have even saved a few bucks but decided to try to cut us out. If you would like I can let you know when that hearing date will be.
Touch~e, Bouklis_Group!
Bouklis: "The deposit was given to Bouklis Group. Tom Bouklis sent me some photos of dirty window frames...."
You don't seem to dispute these statements in your replies. You only state that you believe that the stealing of the deposit isn't your problem despite your active involvement? If you represent the landlord, you have a responsibility to advise the landlord what is right and what is wrong and I don't care what the law says, it's common decency, it's morality, it's ethics. You don't seem to care about that, which is one reason why real estate agents have such a bad reputation.
I'm not sure which is dumber, your line of reasoning or calling attention to a 5 month old post that most people would have forgotten about.
Personally, I would go far out of my way to avoid dealing with you in any transaction involving any degree of trust or moral grounding.
Sure, let us know all the information about the hearing. Also post the decision (not your interpretation of it).
Boukis Group- For your own pr and business, you should try to get the landlord to return the deposit ASAP. Similar thing happened to us with a summer rental in Martha's Vineyard. Would obviously never rent from the same landlord, but the broker, who represented the owner, nagged him into giving us most of the deposit back. He clearly thought that the landlord was stiffing us, and I would use him again. Now we rent out a place in EH. Luckily, no one has ever trashed our place. We take a hefty security deposit, return it promptly( as we promise in the lease) and have repeat customers.
I find it amazing that ANY representative from the Boukis Group would even attempt, however feeble, to rectify or justify their issues here, instead of going through more official, legitimate channels. To hide here, behind anonymity, is just plain sleazy. Even the point about the pictures (really?? Dirty windows? In the time it took you to take the high res pictures, upload and send them, you could have just taken a paper towel yourself and saved a lot of time and effort) in and of itself, shows a new level of scum.
I will be making it a point to not become involved with the Boukis Group in any financial way, and I will be advising those seeking apartments to not use them either.
scum bag broker noted....anyone keeping a list?
I did go to small claims court on the security deposit and won. I got all but $100.00 back. I had originally offered to pay $150.00 for cleaning and grout repair, before court. As soon as I filed suit, the landlord returned $1500.00, but not until I filed suit. They wanted to keep $1000.00 for paint and grout repair. The court denied the paint and but assessed $100.00 for grout repair. The landlord blamed Bouklis for not giving them my address as the reason for not previously returning the undisputed amount.
Bouklis then sued me in small claims for a $4500 fee for showing me 2 Gold, which was originally shown to me by Taso Hatzmichael in 2010. We went to Court today. At Court Bouklis said that 2 Gold normally paid the fee, but didn't have a record of him showing me the apartment and wouldn't pay him. Bouklis showed a document that indicated he showed me an apt on 3/28/2012. I stated that Bouklis didn't show me the apt that I viewed on 7/31/2012 and rented that same day. I showed emails that Bouklis was confronted with the false listings and that Bouklis later acknowledged the relationship was severed, repudiating any contract in May. I got the impression that the case was over at this point. Bouklis asserted that the false listing on 88 Greenwich were irrelevant. The arbitrator agreed. But the arbitrator also agreed that "fraud in the inducement" was relevant. So I not sure what will happen. I'll know in 3 weeks.
So I lost $4500.00 to Bouklis in small claims. Apparently, in NYC, you can make false listings, not even show an apartment rented 4months later, and suffer no penalty whatsoever. Caveat Emptor, I guess. Lucky thing we have street easy...
We have streeteasy, but the conclusion was that the court decided for the plaintiff in a suit against you. More evidence was on that side.
Deananderson,
Thank you for the update. As noted before, Bouklis and any associates will not be dealt with, and I will be making recommendations to others not to engage in business with them. I encourage you to spread the word.
Sonya_D
Why would you side against Bouklis here? Brokers don't hold security deposits. The landlord kept the deposit and the landlord lost in court.
Regarding lawsuit #2. The OP tried to cut the broker out. A totally greedy move. He didn't even have to pay the fee (the building would have paid it). And the courts ruled against the OP.
Bouklis was involved in one lawsuit here and they won. What am I missing? Aren't people allowed to sue in court and win? The OP was a cheat and now he has to pay up. What did Bouklis do wrong? They are the victim here.
>The OP was a cheat
And admitted it here. Almost as bad as what apt23 admitted to.