Univ Iowa Gardens

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I have lived there for more than 2 years. Iowa Garden used to be a budget living apt close to UCR campus. We rented a 3-bedroom for a good 1300+ dollar price point. The building was old and amenities were limited, but there totally OK with the given low price beyound. And Now The Property was purchased by some other giant corporation. They ambitiously want to make this communities UPSCALE! Sounds excited Right? However, there comes with cost and the cost is on US! Right after the new management took over, the rent was increased to 2100+, EXCUSE ME? A 55% increase in rent just because you guys repaint the outside wall, redo the stinky swimming pool and put little flowers along the sidewalk. Oh by the way, be prepared to pay a monthly 80+ dollars water and trash fee on top of your 2 grand rent. And remember, if you dont pay rent in time, every 1 second late, they will just put 200+ dollar late fee on your account, non-negotiable, the New Manager Marissa, she just does not care.

I lived here for 12 month's just got my check in the mail, I was pretty happy. They are strict not a place to have a party. We got charged for apartment cleaning. We did a good job cleaning our apartment and I was pretty happy that when I moved in our apartment was clean and the carpet was just shampoo. No loud parties because she will give you a notice. We just put a deposit for another apartment for the fall and we know the routine already. They have a a guy walking the building at nights and the building is pretty lighted at night and it makes you feel safe going to your car. Me and my roommates split the rent and its reasonable for us. She tells you the things you could fix on your own and the things you cannot. I would know since my dad is a contractor. If you do not have a lead warning certificate you cannot paint your rooms, some sort of a law

University Iowa Gardens is out to rip you off. You WILL NOT be getting your deposit back and you WILL be charged for cleaning ($250+), reglazing ($200 for each bathroom), and repainting ($200 for each room)and anything else they can think of. You cannot argue it because the lease states that any dirt WHATSOEVER is not considered wear and tear and WILL be charged against you. When I contested this I was told that I should have wiped the walls and fixtures down with soap and water. What the hell, I was never told that before signing the lease. Another fun fact, the walls are extremely thin and the windows are very flimsy which translates to me having to hear any conversations or music anywhere in the immediate vicinity, especially your neighbor.



The office staff’s generous parroting of “if you don’t like it, take us to court” or “we have no idea what happened before we took over” cries out for a class action suit but they are banking on your time or lack of so just pay up. As renters, we all expect a good experience with honest and ethical people. Perhaps because we are transient students, there are unethical people who WILL take advantage of the unsuspecting or gullible. The worst part is that the individuals who are in the most trouble are the international students who have no idea what they have gotten themselves into.

I would suggest that if you are foolish enough to move in, take LOTS of pictures and make sure management are with you on the walk through. Don’t take their word for it. Get everything you notice, every scratch, every hole, EVERYTHING IN WRITING AND BRING A WITNESS. Believe me, you will need it when you try to move out.

If you think I am just one person with a bad experience and that YOU will have a better experience then by all means move in. Just don’t say after the fact that you were not warned.



The only reason I gave them one star is because I can’t give them less!!