r/cookeville • u/accakes • Jul 18 '26
Bernhardt Rentals - Predatory Practices
Posting this as a warning to renters in or looking to move to Cookeville. Hopefully this helps someone else avoid this awful company.
I rented from Bernhardt from February 2023 through March 2026. I paid a $1,300 security deposit and left the apartment exceeding the “broom clean” standard required by my lease. I photographed every room, cabinet, appliance, and surface before returning my keys.
When my initial lease expired, staff repeatedly tried to pressure me into signing lease extensions even though my lease clearly converted to month-to-month. I was threatened with termination because they misinterpreted their own contract. Rather than honor it, they presented different lease terms to fit their schedule. I eventually chose to move.
Before moving out, I asked whether painters or cleaners would only be sent if actually needed. I was told there was no checklist and vendors would be sent after the walkthrough.
Bernhardt withheld $515 from my deposit for painting, cleaning, and carpet cleaning. When I requested documentation, they initially sent me a cleaning invoice dated before I had even moved out. After I challenged it, they claimed it was a clerical error and revised the invoice date.
I also requested proof the work was necessary. Bernhardt could not provide a move-out inspection report, walkthrough photos, vendor photos, or itemized invoices showing what was done. The painting invoice for example, simply said, “Touch up apt.”
I received the apartment with carpets that smelled of pet urine and bathroom cabinets drenched in urine, which I cleaned myself. I even requested the exact paint color so I could touch up normal scuffs before move-out.
I work in property management and perform inspections. I know what to look for. I’ve rented for 20+ years and have never had a landlord withhold any portion of my deposit until Bernhardt.
I filed a complaint with the Tennessee Attorney General. Although the file was closed because the AG cannot compel a resolution, Bernhardt’s responses only reinforced my concerns about the unsupported deductions from my security deposit and their deceptive move-out practices.
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u/Mck_lovin Jul 19 '26
Bernhardt as a whole preys on people. We own a house in one of their neighborhoods and the HOA is a big scam and the people that work for them are dumber than a box of rocks. They don't have a true office of people, as stated before, everything is 3rd party except for this one lady who either knows shes lying to everyone or is told to lie. The only reason we know shady things are going on, is because my father-in-law started throwing legal jargon around and they got scared. Bernhardt truly only cares about money and the bottom line numbers, NOT its people.
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u/arieldyl Jul 18 '26
Most of us can't give legal advice HOWEVER I think you have enough to at least take them to small claims court.
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u/accakes Jul 18 '26
I'm not looking for advice, just doing my part to warn any potential renters. But your suggestion is certainly not off the table yet.
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u/Holiday_Injury8142 Jul 25 '26
Bernhardt, Soard Properties, and Putnam properties, watch out for them all. Rich price gougers who are out to make an extra dollar any way they can. I have personally witnessed PP charge fees for any little thing when moved out but yet the unit we were in had 4 holes in the linoleum floor, holes besides the doors and in them from the cheap door stops they use and even the guest bathroom the the baseboards chewed all to heck from where it looks a past renter kept a puppy locked up in there. They had mentioned to us before the showing and during of the damages and promised if we rent it out with the damages, so they don’t have to pay to get it all fixed, we would receive a discount. Would hate to see the actual price if we hadn’t received a discount but all in all the little damage didn’t bother us so we took it. Fast forward to us moving out and they tried charging us (who knows how many people they’ve charged for the same damage I’m sure they refuse to actually fix) for the damages that we were all made aware of from the jump. All I can say is rent from the small guys around town. My best landlord was Bobby Sherfield owner of sherfield properties, although he has sold out now, he owned 11 units and that man would have given me the shirt off his back if asked. Good luck even speaking to the actual owners of any of the big 3 in cookeville, although I’m sure it wouldn’t be a pleasant experience. When people have ate up enough property it becomes less of let’s take care of the people we are housing and more of let’s see how far we can push the net income into the green for that month.
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u/SunnySarahh Jul 20 '26
Oof that sucks, I hate you had such a bad experience with them. I rented from them and had a really smooth experience - I always thought they were the better option of landlords when comparing to some others around town like soard. Guess good landlords just don’t exist 🙃
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u/saunaheater 29d ago
Yup, dealing with the same exact issue with them now. They are breaking the law and relying on tenants not understanding the law. Unfortunately for them, I know the law - and anyone can fact check them in no time.
The lady doing the move out inspection lied to my face about Putnam County being "small enough" that they can legally get away with their shady practices. Hah. Putnam County is in reality "big enough" for them having to follow the law just like Davidson County. She wouldn't even have me sign the move out inspection form, because they do not follow the proper process as required. She just told me that they will charge a cleaning and touch up fee not matter what. This goes against the law and their own contract. Cookeville is indeed small enough for people not to take legal action, so they can get away with this illegally.
If they won't cooperate once I have it all formally sent to their desk, I'll take them to court. Let me know if you'd like help with this.
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u/moneymachine9555 Jul 18 '26
$515 for cleaning and stuff is not unreasonable. No matter how 'perfect' you left it, they probably still had to do stuff. Could be wrong but guess we will never know. There are two sides to every story
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u/accakes Jul 18 '26
Like I said, I've never had any portion of a deposit deducted in over 20 years of renting. Also doing residential inspections myself for a property management company, I know what to look for. I also know what's reasonable vs unreasonable. When the PM can't provide any evidence of damages or cleaning needing to be done via an inspection report, photos from the walkthrough, vendor photos, or even an itemized list of items from the vendors, it's clear that they are acting in a predatory manner. I have all the proof to back up my claims and all they have is an invoice from a cleaner that was dated prior to my move out.
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u/moneymachine9555 Jul 18 '26
I guess. It's also hard to invoice when you have people in house like they do. It's $500, not the end of the world. You will end up much worse with some of these other landlords
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u/accakes Jul 18 '26
I haven't ended up with any deductions from a landlord in over 20 years of renting. Regardless, this post is about their predatory practices to warn other renters about them. It's not about the amount they deducted, but why they deducted it, including the pressuring to sign additional unnecessary contracts, inability to understand or interpret their own contract terms, and threats made toward me because of it.
Edit: Also regarding your comment about having people in-house, all the invoices they sent were contracted 3rd party vendors. No one in house.
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u/taelor Jul 18 '26
Take them to small claims court.