Still a single star. While - I will admit that they gave me my full security deposit back - it's likely because they realized I didn't give them the full scope of my financials, knew my rights, and had the capability of paying for representation and representing myself in court - and I let them know that. That might not be the case, but I don't know what to make of the interactions and actions of owner management other than finding them predatory towards low income individuals. They treat them like trash - at least the ones in my building.
When I moved in, there was a missing cover for the bathroom exhaust fan, a shower head that didnt spray - think a sad trickle - no stopper for the bathtub.... I was unable to use the bathroom to clean myself until I went and got my own shower head. On move in it had been promised they would fix it - and after a week. Well. I solved my own problem.
When I opened the door, the carpet would rip out from underneath, water was leaking in from outside through exterior walls and making trickle marks down the freshly painted walls. When I told them about this - no mold investigation was done. They just repainted the walls.
The windows are not calked, so moisture, and weather temperature extremes leak in, you have to know a trick to open the windows, for about a month after I moved in I thought they just didn't open. For a unit that is grandfathered in on egress requirements (meaning for most rental properties you need to have two ways in and out of your unit, your window could count, but you have to quickly and easily be able to open them for emergency evacuation) - the bedroom windows were not it - they did not open easily - so pretty sure this whole building is in violation of fire code.
The AC unit in my unit is circa 1996. (AC units have a typical life cycle of 15-20 years... this one is almost 30) They will ask you to replace the filters, which seems like an easy task - until you get super grossed out about the air quality in your unit because the filter get FILTHY within a week of replacing it. When it stopped working (I mean it's ANCIENT) they suggested it was because of the filters. After waiting an additional week in the summer with my fancy new filter I let them know it was likely the split system in the unit and guess what? It was the condenser outside! Look at that not my fault - but they sure assumed it was.
There is an open-air drug market in the parking lot, and potentially other units with the number of folks that DO NOT live here that come up stairs for 15 minutes and leave - sometimes falling asleep in the parking lot. - yes - I did let them know about it - but I am pretty sure they want Crack heads in their units, because they are easier to sue and less likely to stand up for themselves.
It is against their company policy for you to be present at final walk. They will require you to get your carpet professionally cleaned they want a receipt from your professional cleaner "So they know you didn't just do it yourself" I guess they assume you don't know how to clean. Only explanation I have for that.
I called and got their stairs investigated after MULTIPLE people in my building warned me about them the day after I moved in. They did not pass and this unit was dinged with a building code violation and it took them until their deadline to get it fixed. There are likely other building code violations at this Donabrook address. I do have concerns of the safety and structural stability of the rental apartments in the Donabrook building. Ceilings were caving in all over the building earlier this year, a crack formed on mine, and the floor was sinking... but by my move out - it hadn't fallen through.
Between these Building code Violations, willful neglect of their community facilities, cost cutting on any maintenance issues, ZERO pest control policies other than blaming the new tenant when they notice, and blatant lying by Owner Management, I would offer zero stars.
If this is the only thing you read and you are determined to rent from them. Take A Video - bring a witness, and note EVERYTHING that you think they might ding you with at the opening walk. They will take your security deposit if you back out of application, (that lease is a trash fire and questionable to put it lightly) repeat process at move out.
I want to briefly mention The Wanger and the blog that I shared with other tenants at Donabrook where he openly referred to low income housing potentials as "toothless" (I have screenshots of Michael's MySpace Blog- so go ahead and challenge me on this)
If they feel like you are too poor or stupid to stand up for yourself they will lease you an apartment and sue you later. read more
