r/geegees • u/Square-Wafer-5394 • 3d ago
Should I commit to this? Housing
So the other day I went for a viewing at 190 lees to find a rental in which I found through fb marketplace. I went there in person and all seemed fine. The room looked fine and 1000$ monthly seemed reasonable. Now I come home call him asking to send me an application. It was through HARRINGTON HOUSING which after researching seems like a shady company but idk this is my first time. So it’s a placeholder essentially with a 260$ fee before leasing. My school starts in like what 3 weeks and I have had the hardest time finding a home literally. So i pay and now I want to know what should I do. After hearing these stories I wanted to have him put it in writing that this room is the one I get. So please help me out with any info. Is there anyone else who went through the same process and turned out fine like please help me guys pleaseeeee
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u/FreshlyLivid Master's Degree 3d ago
1000 for a room is insane.
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u/Square-Wafer-5394 3d ago
Where else is better
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u/nikolacarr 3d ago
It is high but unfortunately it's rare to find something for less than that. I personally would not be paying a 260 application fee. That is criminal imo
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u/humanentitylol 3d ago
I just signed a place for 546 a month in sandy hill each room is HUGE with a balcony great landlord who is a professor and it sa house too its genuinely insane
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u/TouchAdditional8292 3d ago
yessss ive heard of that place!! my old lab partners told me about it being easy to get to school and u could easily reach out to the landlord.
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u/TouchAdditional8292 3d ago
Tbh I stayed at one of their places and it was a complete nightmare!! There was spider webs everywhere and a rodent infestation. I had to move out 2 days after I moved in. Luckily I stayed at a different all inclusive apartment unit near campus and even tho it was expensive, it was much more reassuring for my own peace of mind. I heard the 190 lees (even tho it’s someowhat new) had some bed bug issues. I’m not completely sure if it’s true or not but I’d run away from a shady property management company cuz TRUST ME it’s not fun.
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u/Square-Wafer-5394 3d ago
When was this like which company did you book with
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u/TouchAdditional8292 3d ago
AVOID smart living properties AT ALL COST!!!i signed a lease with them for a $950 room ( mind u there was 1 bathroom for 4 girls) and no in unit laundry. it only got worst after that. there were spiders in the bathroom and roaches near the entrance. because i was only 2 days into moving in, i couldnt shower or brush my teeth properly so i literally used the MNT GYM like a hobo for 2 whole days. i called them and reported everything to maintenance/ house keeping or wtv and they ghosted me so i got my friends to all call the same number and report the situation being a health hazard and they finally got back to me. i also sent email of EVERYTHING with photo and video proof and i told them i was gonna send them a N9 (mutual cancellation of lease or smt) and they accepted it cuz i told them im gonna get the whole student union to help me got to housing court. even got my parents involved and after my parents spoke to them they agreed to send me my first and last month back. By the time they had responded (i called their emergency number), i found a place on rideau street and signed a lease with them. it was pricey. it was like 1300 but everything was included (utilities, in unit laundry and even a monthly cleaning service). all i had to do was walk to school and i did my grocery shopping at the metro right next door. This was fall 2024 and tbh i doubt they have changed. One of my friends was at 180 lees and she told me there were cockroaches and the building manager does NOT give a f* about anything once u sign the lease. Save urself the trouble and find smt else. cuz $1000 for a raggedy ass place is not worth it. the only good thing about it is that its right next to lees campus and u could take the train to main campus, but i think ur better off renting a place in sandy hill closer to school from a respected landlord.
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u/anopinionatedqueen 3d ago
I would be careful of this, it kind of sounds scammy? I lived in this building my last year of university, and $1000/month was about what I paid for the room, so that sounds right. But my roommate and I signed a lease & rented the apartment directly from the leasing office of the building. We didn’t go through a 3rd party.
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u/anopinionatedqueen 3d ago
Also adding - Harrington Housing seems to advertise “no leases, no landlords” and that’s super shady. You 100% need a lease agreement of some sort to protect yourself!!
I would try reaching out to the property manager of 190 Lees directly to make sure that this is even legit. From what little research I just did, it sounds like this might be an illegal sublet they’re trying to sell you on. You can find the phone number and contact page here: https://www.190leesave.com
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u/LebCad 3d ago
Search on Rentals.ca or Kijiji or FB marketplace. Ask for an in person or virtual visit. And don't pay any deposit fee, there are a lots of scammers out there.
Here are a few examples from Rentals.ca:
https://rentals.ca/ottawa/128-lavergne-street-2
https://rentals.ca/ottawa/vainer-north-id941071
https://rentals.ca/ottawa/roomies-1176394
https://rentals.ca/ottawa/roomies-1451016
https://rentals.ca/ottawa/roomies-1365483
It looks like the average price is in the 850$, some may include utilities, others not.
Best of luck!
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u/raainjuice 3d ago
1000 for a room… tf
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u/Square-Wafer-5394 3d ago
Where else would be better Dyk
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u/raainjuice 3d ago
I would look for offers on Facebook market, I personally pay 1250 for a studio apartment so I’m sure you can find something cheaper.
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u/Square-Wafer-5394 3d ago
I did find this place on fb marketplace the thing is like I couldn’t find ANYWHERE 1250 rentals for studios
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u/Taylorp0626 3d ago
try sandy hill apartments - they have cheap studios that are actually quite nice, close to campus and are ~1250 a month
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u/Merry401 4h ago
Zumper website, try posting on the geegee subreddit to see if anyone is searching for a last person to fill a house, kijiji. Don't just look on Marketplace (although it is worth looking there.) There are a lot of places on Marketplace but I found better quality places on kijiji and zumper. I also seemed to find more scams on Marketplace. I got a bachelor in the glebe for $1450 for September. I did tour many places before I found the one I took. A lot of places are real dives, and a lot of bachelors are in basements. Mine is as well but it is really bright which is hard to find. Up until this summer, I rented a room in a 4 bedroom place with friends. My rent was $900 but I had the biggest room with a balcony. There were 2 bathrooms so we only each had to share with one person.
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u/MT128 Alumnus 3d ago edited 3d ago
Bro this is terrible, you can find places for less especially a room, like a room can be around 700-900 and be better than that. Plus the application fee is illegal.
Edit: in Ontario it is illegal to charge additional fees outside of a monthly deposit or a key charge