Renter beware. Recently moved out and returning to edit a previous 5-Star review down to a 1-Star. First, theyll encourage you to rate and...
Renter beware. Recently moved out and returning to edit a previous 5-Star review down to a 1-Star.
First, theyll encourage you to rate and review the day you sign your lease, before youve spent any time living there. Youll be shown a model unit rather than the apartment that youll be moving into, so everything will look clean and shiny and new. Your apartment will look nothing like that, especially if your roommates previously renewed their lease and are already there.
Also, they only have model units for some of their floor plans. I moved into a unit that I was told was the same layout but a little smaller than what I was shown. My bedroom was the size of a large closet. The unit I was shown had an open doorway rather than a door, fitting their description of semi-private. My bedroom had three walls and one side that was open to the hallway. My roommate could only reach his bed by walking through the open area between the bed and the closet - no privacy whatsoever. Also, there was no way of knowing this beforehand, because while the floor plan was made available to me, it did not include square footage or any measurements at all.
I moved into a four bedroom unit where my three roommates all renewed their leases and lived there when I moved in. The correspondence from management claims that they completely cleaned my bedroom and did as much as possible in common areas while respecting the privacy of my roommates. That translated to my bedroom being cleaned, and nothing at all being done in the rest of the apartment, not even a cursory cleaning of the bathtub.
Upon move-out, I was charged for cleaning fees with little justification. Nearly all of the charges were for issues that existed prior to my move-in date, including one that was included on my damages form at move-in. After a dispute process, some of the charges were removed, which is to their credit. However, the only charges that were removed were those which their own records showed to be baseless. For example, I was charged for water damage to drawers, which I noted on my form at move-in. This charge was removed after I disputed and they determined that the damage was present when the previous occupant moved out. This means that the previous occupant received the same charge, 44 North pocketed the fee, did nothing to fix the damage, then proceeded to charge me for it. I have no doubt that the next occupant will face the same charge. If you live here, TAKE PICTURES the day you move in. My mistake was not doing that.
The building with the leasing office and model units in it (building two) is kept clean, well-painted, and repairs are made immediately, because that is what prospective residents see. The carpet in the front stairwell of building three is in tatters, and the art decorating the walls is in poor shape.
They offer parking garage spaces for $150 per month. The garages, especially the one under building one, are cramped and difficult to drive in and out of. The price is too high, and other parking options nearby are few and far between.
They also call your lease a 12-month lease, but you move in at the end of August and move out at the beginning of August. Essentially, you pay a full months rent for roughly 10 days.
Positives: the monthly rent is cheap, the location is good, and the maintenance people are competent and helpful. Negatives: be prepared for something that looks great but doesnt live up to what youre told. Do not rent here if you have other options.