Not meant for human habitation
Pros
Private roof, nice neighbourhood, only living unit. Lots of windows. Guy who runs the dollar store downstairs (not the landlord who runs the pizza shop) is the best, also the only reason we could get our mail since there was no doorbell. We had a cat so I didn't see any pests but due to the below-described waste disposal system I'm sure mice and roaches would become a problem without one.
Cons
The heating doesn't work, or is maybe being stolen by the landlord who runs the shop below to heat the shop. He would take days to respond and weeks to fix the heating/ it was never fixed. We spent the polar vortex winter without working heat. We couldn't get it above 55 degrees even with it turned all the way up--- cherry on top? Renters pay for the heat, not the landlord-- $300+ bills every month for an apartment with one main room which was never warm. Everyone can see into your bedrooms. You can hear everyone on Broadway's conversations, car music, sirens, etc. all the time. The train and the PSAs never stop, you have to stop your conversation or show every time they go by. Had to text or call multiple times to get our trash collected (no bins provided we just have to leave it in a pile in the entryway. When the apartment had lots of problems (leaking roof, no heat etc.) landlord would take extra time to respond to our problems (we're freezing cold, there are so many bin bags in our entryway we can't get in the door, etc.). Example of a conversation: Us: Hi, we haven't had heat for two days and it's 24 degrees out. Can you please fix it today or do we need to find somewhere else to stay until it's fixed? Him (72 hours later): Thanks Water damage. The roof was built incorrectly, it's flat, so the structure of this building is complete trash. The big corner bedroom has constant leaks-- think waking up to real life rain on your face. Constant leaks, everywhere, patched up with.... paint? The whole ceiling must be waterlogged by now, everything eventually was covered in mould. Tried to raise our rent to pay for the roof repairs because he didn't build his roof on a slant the first time. Sometimes owner wouldn't properly shut down his shop so the pizza ovens would stay on all night, filling our apartment with what smells like gas from the ovens. We called the fire department after getting home one night and smelling gas (not knowing he did this and thinking it was a leak in our apartment) and so they came because we are on a very busy street under a subway and had to break open the chain on his door to turn them off. He was extremely angry and told us never to call the fire department if we smelled gas, only to call him. Didn't receive security deposit back, no reasons were given.
Advice to the owners
I would rebuild this building from scratch. Also, if you want to be a landlord, that includes providing a safe environment for people to live. It is worrying that this place is above a restaurant.
Scheming and irresponsible landlord
Pros
There’s only one apartment in the building with private roof access. The neighbors are kind and will keep the mail for you, as the building doesn’t receive packages otherwise. Lots of light and a nice big living room.
Cons
I lived here for four years and had constant leaks in the ceiling onto my bed. The roof was built to accommodate more floors and the owner ran out of money, so it’s not slanted (as is legally required) and water pools and floods the apartment below. The heating was broken at least three times a year for several days at a time, and there were frequent issues with hit water too. The landlord was not responsive at all, and then tried to increase our rent to pay for the leak repairs. He ultimately kept one month of rent and we had to bring him to small claims court to get the money back. We thought we could trust him but it was a huge let down.
Advice to the owners
Hire a super and sign a lease with your tenants so they have basic rights. You are exploiting tenants.
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