Decent Apt, Absurd Landlord - Proceed with Caution
Pros
Apartment was clean and generally in decent condition, the appliances worked well, and the heat was generally reliable (although when it didn't work I didn't get the most reasonable treatment from the landlord, see below). The location is convenient (near grocery stores, bars, laundromats, several historical sites, etc.) and in a wonderful part of Harlem, which is an incredible neighborhood.
Cons
The owner/on-site-landlord is deeply overbearing to the border of the absurd. There were check-ins, excessive rules, and deeply unprofessional and demeaning communication. Somehow she always knew what was in my garbage (she would regularly text or call and ask why things as discrete as the odd water bottle was in the garbage instead of the recycling). Privacy was not respected—I often felt monitored in my own home. Once, because she had a minor leak in her apartment, which was the unit below mine, she barged into my apartment at high noon and without notice while I was in an important remote legal meeting and refused to leave, embarrassing me in front my colleagues and throwing a client relationship into jeopardy (I am an attorney and protecting attorney-client privilege / privacy is not only important for trust and reputation, but also for licensure). She never apologized or showed even a twinkle of remorse for this. In fact, she called me entitled and arrogant for having the audacity to bring it up to her. Despite paying rent on time, keeping the apartment clean, and being generally responsive to requests and the "house rules", she deducted about half my security deposit at the end of my tenancy. About a fourth of the deduction was for removing "hooks and anchors", which is funny because I exclusively used command strips to hang up paintings and pictures, which are designed to be removed by pulling adhesive tabs and famously leave zero damage to the walls. A child could remove 100 command strips in under 15 minutes (I left about 10; I welcome you to do the math), yet it apparently cost her hundreds of dollars. Every minor repair request came with an attitude, lecture, or straight up insults and disparagement of my character. Under a different landlord, I would likely still be at this location but I simply could not stand being there anymore. You can review the correspondences and come to your own conclusion about the landlord's character (or mine). Beware.
Advice to the owners
So much to say... In short, just treat tenants with more humanity and respect.
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