Switched from a Class A complex to a private landlord. Never going back.

The Cortland property was objectively nicer as a physical space. Quartz countertops, in-unit washer/dryer, a gym I used six times in 18 months, a rooftop I used four times. The amenities were real. The management was not.

Maintenance requests went into a portal. You'd hear back within 3-5 business days if you were lucky. Twice I submitted requests that were closed as "resolved" without anyone coming. The staff turned over twice in 18 months. Every time someone left, there was a 2-3 week period where nothing got done because the new person was still being trained.

The Wesley Heights landlord owns this house and the one next door. She's a retired teacher who bought them as an investment in 2009. She lives 8 minutes away. When I submitted my first maintenance request (kitchen faucet dripping), she texted me back within 2 hours and came herself the next morning. She fixed it in 25 minutes.

The second request was a bathroom exhaust fan that rattled. She came the following Saturday and replaced it with a better one than what was there before. She also noticed the caulk around the tub was starting to separate and replaced that without me asking.

My current rent is $1,650 for a 2BR. I save $450/month versus Cortland. The appliances are from 2018, not 2023. The neighborhood is quieter. I know my landlord's name, her husband's name, and the fact that she grows tomatoes in the backyard of the other house. This is what renting is supposed to be like.