Toledo Woman Faces $2,000 in Unexplained Apartment Damage Charges

TOLEDO, Ohio — A Toledo woman is questioning over $2,000 in damage charges she received after moving out of Oak Hill Apartments on Airport Highway. Eunique Cotton, who took steps to ensure a smooth transition out of her apartment, says the charges are baseless and doesn’t match the condition of the unit when she left.

Cotton moved out of her apartment on March 31 and, following her mother’s advice, carefully cleaned the space and documented its condition with both photos and video. She later submitted her move-out documents and turned in the keys, confident that everything was in order. However, over 20 days later, she received a letter from the apartment complex alleging significant damage to the unit.

The letter detailed charges for various damages, including a dirty stove, burned vanity, and carpets that were allegedly so damaged they required replacement. The total came to more than $2,000. But Cotton, armed with her video footage of the apartment, says the damage described is nonexistent.

“The charges are completely absurd,” Cotton said. “They are out of the ordinary and have nothing to do with the unit that I left.”

Cotton’s video, which she recorded during her move-out process, shows the apartment in good condition, with no visible damage to the stove, vanity, or carpets. According to her, the video completely contradicts the charges listed in the letter.

One of the charges listed—plastic in the shower stalls—was something Cotton acknowledged. However, she remains baffled by the other charges and the lack of photographic evidence provided by the apartment complex to support their claims. The letter included a note that read, “see pictures” under each charge, but Cotton says no pictures were included.

When 13 Action News reached out to Oak Hill Apartments for comment, the staff responded dismissively. The first call to the office ended abruptly when the staff member hung up upon hearing the news outlet’s name. A second call resulted in another hang-up, with the staff member saying, “Don’t call this office please. Thank you.”

Cotton claims this lack of communication and transparency is not a new experience. She said previous attempts to speak with the office staff were similarly unproductive.

“They told me they would see me in court,” she said.

Taking the matter seriously, Cotton is now preparing to take the apartment complex to small claims court to dispute the charges. She is determined to hold Oak Hill Apartments accountable for what she believes are unjustified fees.

This situation is a reminder for tenants to document the condition of their apartment thoroughly when moving out, as disputes over damages and charges are not uncommon. Cotton’s case also highlights the importance of clear communication from property managers and their responsibility to provide evidence when making damage claims.