I would give no stars if I could
I strongly recommend that prospective renters carefully consider other housing options before renting from this company.
After my son's three-year tenancy, the company withheld his security deposit and charged him an additional $205, for a total of $405. The other three renters in the unit received similar charges and also had their deposits withheld. Altogether, the company charged the four residents approximately $1,620 for items that appeared to include light bulbs, cleaning, and what is generally considered normal wear and tear.
If you do not have a roommate, the company assigns you to a room without necessarily considering your preferences. After my son complained about his living conditions and was charged for allegedly leaving the apartment messy, he was eventually offered a different apartment with a private bedroom and bathroom. My son regularly cleaned his room and bathroom, and I also traveled there several times to help clean. He was nevertheless charged a $200 transfer fee for moving to the new apartment.
During one winter month, an exterior pipe burst, leaving the apartment surrounded by dust, noise, debris, and industrial fans for nearly four weeks. My son could not properly study or use the bathroom included with his rental. He was instructed to use the one bathroom shared with the other three residents, although he was still charged for the full use of his apartment. Because the conditions were not suitable for him to live or study, I moved him to a hotel and insisted that the company address the situation immediately. The dust and debris also created concerns about potential damage to electronic equipment. When we requested reimbursement for the hotel so that we could cover those unexpected expenses, the request was denied. Communication with the company was also extremely difficult. They were rarely available by phone, and email responses often took several days. We had to insist that someone call us to discuss the situation and inform them that, if they did not respond, we would have our attorney address the matter. Only after that did we receive a response.
At the end of the lease, I personally cleaned my son's bedroom, bathroom, and the kitchen. The other residents had not yet returned, so I cannot speak to the condition of the apartment after we left in July, when my son graduated. However, after contacting them, I learned that they received the same type of letter regarding charges. They agreed that they should have left the apartment as it was because, in their view, the company charged them for work that would ordinarily be expected after a three-year tenancy, such as repainting and routine maintenance.
Based on our experience with the living conditions, maintenance issues, additional fees, security-deposit charges, and lack of timely communication, I would not recommend renting from this company. read more