reviews and advice from current students gw law …gw+l… · 14% mount vernon square/downtown 14%...
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HOUSING GUIDE2016-2017
R E V I E W S A N D A D V I C EF R O M C U R R E N T S T U D E N T S
Housing data
neighborhoods explained
apartment ratings
Intelligent Apartment Search
top properties
brownstone info
renter resources
GW LAW
2
40% Foggy Bottom/West End
17% Rosslyn
14% Mount Vernon Square/Downtown
14% Dupont/Logan Circle
15% Elsewhere in DC area
69% Mid- or High-rise Apartment Buildings
15% Standalone Apartment Units, Low-rises, and Houses
16% Mid- or High-rise Condo Buildings
36% Studios or Efficiencies
25% One Bedrooms
29% Two Bedrooms
10% Three or more Bedrooms
Where GW Law Students Live
What Types of Properties GW Law Students Live In
Distribution of Overall Ratings
What Size Residences GW Law Students Live In
Average Rent by Apartment Size
0-6.9 7.0-7.9 8.0-8.9 9.0-1025% 17% 31% 27%
STUDIO $1,850
1BR $2,050
2BR $2,200
3BR $3,400
43% Alone
39% Roommate (excluding spouse/partner)
18% Spouse/partner
Who GW Law Students Live With
*15% of students live with pets
**3% of students have children
Rent versus Own Most Frequent Transit Method
Driving/CabUNDER 5%
Public Transit45%+
Walking45%+
Bike/OtherUNDER 5%
RENT98%
OWN2%
3
Contents
What’s in the 2016-2017 GW Law housing guide
Our data on GW Law housing
Foggy Bottom/West End, Rosslyn, Mount Vernon Square/Downtown, Dupont/Logan Circle
Using the VeryApt website alongside this guide with Scott Bierbryer, Co-Founder of VeryApt
Compiled from 250+ student reviews
Landlord grades, renting process explained, brownstones
DisclaimerThe reviews and ratings presented throughout this guide and the VeryApt website do not reflect the opinions, position or endorsement of VeryApt or George Washington University. The responses and reviews presented are solely those of the survey respondents. VeryApt and George Washington University assume no responsibility for readers’ or users’ interpretation of the data. The results do not in any way constitute a warranty or representation by VeryApt or George Washington University as to the quality, safety, or other features of a property. Students are encouraged to check all available sources of information about properties prior to leasing. The data in this guide is compiled from GW Law students, though this guide is not an official publication of George Washington University. Finally, we do not alter results or edit reviews based on any outside partnerships. However, “Featured” content (unlike “Top” content) is often supplied by partners who helped support this guide, or are from new properties that lack reviews but are likely relevant to students.
Contact Scott Bierbryer, Co-Founder of VeryApt at:
[email protected] | (561) 271-3202
Table of Contents
Housing facts
VeryApt.com and DC Overview
Neighborhood Guides
Apartment Ratings
Renter resources, brownstones
Most popular apartments
Highest rated apartments
Best for families
Best for pet owners
Best amenities
Best value
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Questions or comments on the housing guide?
If you enjoy the guide, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
facebook.com/veryaptco
@veryapt
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Why we started VeryApt, and how we can help you find your perfect apartment
Scott [email protected]
Intelligent Apartment Search
My housing search began around this time a few years ago. After the initial excitement of getting accepted into grad school and I ran out of Game of Thrones episodes to watch on my company computer, I figured I needed to find a place to live. I really didn’t know anything about the city, so I approached every person I knew who went to school or worked in the area to learn more.
Countless Google searches, Craigslist refreshes, and spreadsheet tables later, I figured out where I wanted to live. That process helped me find an apartment I love - I managed to balance my desire for space, proximity to students, and high-quality amenities. That said, it didn’t make sense that the process should be so time consuming. My Co-Founder (and neighbor), Ashrit Kamireddi, who worked at TripAdvisor prior to business school, went through the same process as I did and thought that the review and data model he knew so well would be a great one to apply to apartments where grad students and working professionals live.
Two years and thousands of reviews later, we’re proud to offer this guide along with our companion site VeryApt.com. We want this guide to be a starting point for your search: an idea of where you should be looking given your unique situation. The site allows you to go through all of our data in detail and
Scott Bierbryer is a recent Penn Grad student.
Prior to UPenn, he worked at Glenview Capital
Management in NYC. He is a Co-Founder of
VeryApt and lives in Center City Philadelphia.
sort buildings by ratings and features. In addition, we’ve partnered with the most popular buildings to offer you accurate and up-to-date information, so you don’t have to sit in front of your computer refreshing Craigslist.
Try out our Intelligent Apartment Search that will provide you with personalized apartment recommendations based on your unique needs and budget. Please contact us with questions or feedback on the site or this guide, and good luck with your housing search!
Use our intelligent search algorithm to receive a list of top properties
Explore property details and reviews
Book viewings directly withproperty managers and leasing agents
This guide was compiled from survey data of 250+ students We asked students to rate their residences on a 1-10 scale Building ratings are determined by averaging these scores from students Visit VeryApt.com to search quickly for more detailed amenity and rating information
At VeryApt.com, you can read reviews on buildings in the guide as well as other great properties in DC
About the data in this guide
5
17% of students
14% of students
40% of students
14% of students
<5% of students each
A quieter and affordable option for students. Safe and pet friendly but dining and nightlife selection is somewhat limited.
Offers a central location near transit and major downtown destinations, though there can be a limited offering of necessities nearby depending on location.
More expensive options in the heart of downtown DC, offering access to great nightlife, restaurants, and stores.
Great option for students who want a safe environment close to campus. That said, nightlife options aren’t as great as they are in nearby downtown spots.
RosslynFoggy Bottom/West End
Clarendon/Lyon Village
Adams Morgan
Percentage of surveyed GW Law students who live outside of the top 4 neighborhoods.
Georgetown
Pentagon CityMount Vernon Square
Other Neighborhoods
Dupont/Logan Circle
The Top FOUR GW Law Neighborhoods
DC Neighborhoods ExplainedThe most popular neighborhoods for GW Law students
21
5
6
15
7
83 4
Foggy Bottom (south) and West End (north) in Washington, DC begin to the west at the Potomac/Rock Creek, and extend east to roughly 17th St NW. The neighborhoods are bound on the south by Constitution Ave NW and on the north by P St NW, with the Dupont Circle area cutting into the boundaries around N St NW.
Foggy Bottom and West End are favorites for students looking for a short walk to campus in a safe, family friendly environment. The neighborhoods offer convenient access to public transit and close proximity to the more lively Dupont/Logan Circles. However, students did say that the housing and restaurants can get expensive and activity tends to taper off at night, making nightlife somewhat limited.
Under 25Minutes
Under 15Minutes
Under 15Minutes
Under 20Minutes
What could be better
What’s greatLocation and Features
Getting to GW Law
Founding Farmers, Blue Duck Tavern, Rasika West End
Dining
Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, FoBoGro
GroceryPetsPlanet Pet (via Logan Circle)
BeautyIbiza Day Spa, Nusta SpaEquinox, Yoga District
Fitness
Washington Circle Park, West Potomac Park
Parks
Signature Spots
Foggy Bottom/West EndClose to campus, family friendly, and safe
Close to campus
Safe and family friendly
Great transit access
Clean and well-maintained
Expensive
Limited nightlife
Undergrads can get annoying
Few shopping options
6
Rosslyn is located in Virginia just west of the Potomac River and the District of Columbia. It extends west to Clarendon at approximately North Courthouse Road, and is bound on the north by Custis Memorial Parkway and the south around North Marshall Drive.
Students enjoy the calmer and safer feel to Rosslyn relative to some of the downtown neighborhoods of both DC and Virginia. The Rosslyn Metro is a key positive of the neighborhood, offering quick access to campus. That said, restaurant and nightlife options are okay but not great, with some students saying the prevalence of chain restaurants make dining either in Clarendon or downtown DC more attractive options.
40-50Minutes
10-20Minutes
5-10Minutes
10-20Minutes
What could be better
What’s greatLocation and Features
Getting to GW Law
Ray’s The Steaks, Pho 75, Fire Works Pizza
Dining
Safeway, Rosslyn Gourmet, 7-Eleven
GroceryPetsPawfect Pups, Give a Dog a Bone
BeautyJon David Salon, Hair GalleryGold’s Gym, Verve Health &
Fitness, Synergy Health and Fitness
Fitness
Freedom Park, Hillside Park, Rosslyn Highlands Parks
Parks
Signature Spots
RosslynAffordable option in Arlington with short commute to campus
Great transit access
Very safe feeling
Pet/family friendly
Affordable housing options
Restaurant options could be better
Okay but not great nightlife
Underdeveloped in parts
Limited green areas
7
Mount Vernon Square is bound on the south by Massachusetts Ave NW and on the north by M St NW. The neighborhood extends from roughly 14th St NW east to New Jersey Ave NW.
Mount Vernon stands out to students for its central location and decent proximity to campus. Students highlighted the neighborhood as clean, well-maintained, and close to the metro. That said, certain parts of the neighborhood can be far from necessities such as a grocery or convenience stores, and depending on location the commute to campus can get quite long.
25-35Minutes
10-20Minutes
10-15Minutes
15-25Minutes
What could be better
What’s greatLocation and Features
Getting to GW Law
Acadiana, City Tap House, Del Campo
Dining
Safeway, Whole Foods (via Logan Circle)
GroceryPetsUnleashed (via NoMa or Shaw)
BeautyCeladon, BlissVIDA Fitness, Balance Gym
Fitness
Mt Vernon Square, Franklin Square
Parks
Signature Spots
Mount Vernon SquareClean and central location near transit
Close to transit
Clean and well-maintained
Central location
Limited necessities in the area
Commute can be hard in parts
Okay but not great shopping options
8
Dupont Circle refers to the area in Washington, DC just east of Georgetown, bound by 15th street on the east and 23 street on the west. The north/south boundaries run from roughly M St. to V St. Logan circle is just east of Dupont Circle and extends to 10th Street NW.
Dupont Circle and Logan Circle both stand out for being in the center of DC life, with great bars, grocery stores, restaurants, and transit access. That said, these features come at a price, with rental options in the area getting pretty expensive. In addition, students called out the area as very safe feeling but also potentially crowded and noisy on the weekends.
25-35Minutes
5-15Minutes
5-10Minutes
15-25Minutes
What could be better
What’s greatLocation and Features
Getting to GW Law
Raku, Hank’s Oyster Bar, Bub and Pop’s
Dining
Trader Joe’s, Glen’s Garden Market, Metro Supermarket
GroceryPetsThe Cheeky Puppy, West End Dog Park
BeautyBluemercury, Spa Logic, Diego’s Hair Salon
Soul Cycle, Sports Club LA, Pure Barre Dupont
Fitness
Farragut Square, Stead Park
Parks
Signature Spots
Dupont and Logan CirclesGreat downtown feel but pricier housing options
Close to public transit
Easy access to stores
Lots of great restaurants
Excellent nightlife
Rent can get expensive
Heavier city feel than some would like
Few mom and pop stores
Can get very busy on weekends
9
About our Categories
Building Quality Ratings
Families
Pets
Living Situation Ratings
Overall Rating
AmenitiesValue
Overall feedback on building quality
In-room and building features beyond the basicsBuilding quality given cost of rent
How people with partners and/or children rated the buildingHow pet owners rated the building
Key Building Factor Ratings
Apartment (Apt)
Condo
Properties with one building manager. Often have consistent pricing/features
Properties with multiple owners. Lease terms and features can vary significantly by unit
Property Type
Apartment Ratings
KEYTop 25% for a categoryTop 50%Bottom 50% (or N/A)Bottom 25%
$1,650+ average per renter$1,450-1,649$1,150-1,449$1,149 and under*Pricing may vary by unit type and availability
$$$$
$$$
$$
$
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5 fo
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Top
5 fo
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Valu
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Amen
ities
Prop
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Typ
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1210 Mass2201 Wilson Apartments2424 Pennsylvania Avenue555 MassAvalon First and MBelvedere 1600Bon Wit PlazaCamden Grand ParcCamden RooseveltCH HoustonClaridge House CooperativeColumbia PlazaCrystal HouseEmpire ApartmentsHamilton HouseJefferson HouseLetterman HouseLondon Normandy HouseMonroe HouseNew Quin ApartmentsQuebec HouseRichmond Square ApartmentsSedona l SlateThe 925 ApartmentsThe Acadia at Metropolitan ParkThe AlaireThe Envoy ApartmentsThe Flats at Dupont CircleThe K at City Vista CondominiumThe Park at CourthouseThe President CondominiumsThe SavoyThe StatesmanThe SwarthmoreWentworth HouseWinston HouseYale West
AptAptAptCondoAptCondoCondoAptAptAptCondoAptAptAptAptCondoCondoAptCondoAptAptAptAptAptCondoAptAptAptCondoCondoCondoAptAptCondoAptAptApt
7.58.56.88.58.06.56.88.58.57.59.06.97.49.38.47.08.08.57.08.58.38.59.08.08.59.08.58.57.59.06.27.17.38.09.58.39.0
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Buildings with the most GW Law students
Read moRe Reviews at veRyapt.com
Close to other students
What the most popular GW laW student properties typically offer:
most popular neiGhborhoods:
MostPopular
Convenient common spaces
Easy access to campus
Good value-to-amenity ratio
Foggy BottomMount Vernon Square
averaGe rents fort the most popular properties:
STUDIO 1BR 2BR 3BR$1,600 $1,900 $2,700 $3,900
2nd
2nd
Columbia PlazaFoggy Bottom, 2400 Virginia Ave NW
40+students
$$$
Awesome apartments close to the school where a lot of other graduate students from George Washington live. Has dry cleaners, a food and liquor market, and a gym all right on site. Parking is expensive, but it’s because we share a garage with the state department. Great value and place to live, especially if you have other friends looking for place.
Review by
Top Five1st Columbia
Plaza40+ students
2nd The asTon 30+ students
2nd The sTaTesman 30+ students
4th The savoy 25+ students
5th The PresidenT Condominiums
20+ students
GW Law Student
The STaTeSmanDowntown, 2020 F St NW
30+students
$$$$
Because it’s commercially managed, you rarely have troubles with the landlord. Work orders are submitted electronically and get resolved within 2 days sometimes hours. The rent fee does not exceed those of other alternatives. I cannot give a 10/10 for its burdensome rent, which is yet well vindicated by its location in DC and proximity to GW Law.
Review by GW Law JD ‘17
The aSTonDowntown, 1129 New Hampshire Ave NW
30+students
$$
The Aston overall is a good place to live. The room (at least mine, as not all rooms are the same size) was a lot bigger than I expected, and a lot cleaner and maintained than I expected, so that was good.
Review by GW Law JD ‘17
1st
11
Buildings with the best overall ratings
Read moRe Reviews at veRyapt.com
Great amenities
What GW laW students typically value in top properties:
neiGhborhoods With the hiGhest rated properties:
HighestRated
Close to transit or campus
Nearby nightlife
Good value offering
West EndFoggy Bottom
averaGe rents for the hiGhest rated properties:
STUDIO 1BR 2BR 3BR$1,600 $1,900 $2,700 $3,900
3rd
2nd
WenTWorTh houSeNorth Bethesda, 5411 McGrath Blvd
9.5overall ratinG
$$
Excellent apartment with great features, though not as convenient as being in DC.
Review by
Top Five1st WenTWorTh
house9.5 Overall Rating
2nd emPire aParTmenTs
9.3 Overall Rating
3rd The Park aT CourThouse
9.0 Overall Rating
3rd yale WesT 9.0 Overall Rating
3rdClaridge house CooPeraTive
9.0 Overall Rating
Anonymous
The Park aT CourThouSeClarendon, 2220 Fairfax Dr
9.0overall ratinG
$$$
Great building in Clarendon. No complaints!
Review by Anonymous
emPire aParTmenTSDowntown, 2000 F St NW
9.3overall ratinG
$$
For a studio in the area, can’t beat the price. Building is clean and nice, though nothing fancy. No gym in building. One laundry room in the basement, no recycling. Building is mostly GW grad students and young professionals. The building only offers studios and 1BRs I think.
Review by Anonymous
1st
12
Highest rated properties by couples and families
Read moRe Reviews at veRyapt.com
Safe and secure properties
What GW laW students With partners and children typically look for:
most popular neiGhborhoods for GW laW students With families:
Best for families
Close to parks
Nearby parking
Quiet properties
RosslynMount Vernon Square
averaGe rents for the hiGhest rated family properties:
STUDIO 1BR 2BR 3BR$1,600 $1,900 $2,700 $3,900
3rd
1st
Sedona l SlaTeRosslyn, 1510 Clarendon Blvd
10.0family ratinG
$$$
The apartment is perfect. We love that the building is only a couple years old and that it is in the perfect location, only a 4 minute walk to the orange/blue/silver metro. The rent is very reasonable for the high quality apartment, amenities, and location. Everyone is very nice and helpful.
Review by
Top Five1st sedona l slaTe 10.0 Family Rating
1st The alaire 10.0 Family Rating
3rd WenTWorTh house
9.5 Family Rating
4th The Park aT CourThouse
9.0 Family Rating
4th yale WesT 9.0 Family Rating
GW Law JD ‘16
WenTWorTh houSeNorth Bethesda, 5411 McGrath Blvd
9.5family ratinG
$$
I love where I live, the only bad thing is that it’s not walking distance to anywhere.
Review by GW Law Student
The alaireRockville, 1101 Higgins Pl
10.0family ratinG
$
Wonderful place to live right at the Twinbrook Metro.
Review by GW Law Student
1st
13
Highest rated properties by pet owners
Read moRe Reviews at veRyapt.com
Larger units and open floorplans
What GW laW students With pets typically look for:
most popular neiGhborhoods for GW laW student pet oWners:
Best for pet owners
Nearby parks and green space
Flexible pet policies
Great building management
ClarendonMount Vernon Square
averaGe rents for hiGhest rated properties by pet oWners:
STUDIO 1BR 2BR 3BR$1,600 $1,900 $2,700 $3,900
1st
1st
Camden Grand ParCDowntown, 910 15th St NW
9.0pet ratinG
$$$$
I have very much enjoyed living at this apartment. Very spacious for the price, and the staff and services are very expansive. The building is well maintained, and the 24 hour concierge is surprisingly helpful. I would live here again for sure.
Review by
Top Five1st Camden
grand ParC9.0 Pet Rating
1st 555 mass 9.0 Pet Rating
1st The Park aT CourThouse
9.0 Pet Rating
1st yale WesT 9.0 Pet Rating
1st neW Quin aParTmenTs
9.0 Pet Rating
GW Law Student
The Park aT CourThouSeClarendon, 2220 Fairfax Dr
9.0pet ratinG
$$$
Excellent overall experience and very pet friendly!
Review by GW Law JD ‘15
555 maSSMount Vernon Square, 555 Massachusetts Ave NW
9.0pet ratinG
$$
I’ve lived here since 2009 (6 years total) and love the building’s location. It is easy to walk to the Metro, Circulator, Bikeshare, and Safeway grocery store and there are a lot of young professionals that live in the building which makes it a great place for law students.
Review by GW Law JD ‘15
1st
14
THE GEORGE WASHINGTONUNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL2000 H St NW
Studios start at $1,295 • 1 Bedrooms start at $1,695 • 2 Bedrooms start at $3,000
The Lenkin CompanySPECIALIZING IN LUXURY RENTALS FOR GW LAW STUDENTS
4922A Saint Elmo Avenue | Bethesda, MD 20814 • PHONE: 240.552.6111
THE MERIDIAN2201 Wisconsin Ave NW
STUDIO / 1 BEDROOM /2 BEDROOM
THE LENCSHIREHOUSE3140 Wisconsin Ave NW
STUDIO / 1 BEDROOM
THE GARFIELDHOUSE2844 Wisconsin Ave NW
STUDIO / 1 BEDROOM
Proudly servingGW LAW STUDENTS
Email: [email protected] • Phone: 240.552.6111
Highest rated properties for amenities
Read moRe Reviews at veRyapt.com
Great common spaces
What top amenity properties typically offer:
neiGhborhoods With hiGhest rated properties for amenities:
BestAmenities
Convenient location
Excellent building management
Newer construction
RosslynMount Vernon Square
averaGe rents for hiGhest rated amenity properties:
STUDIO 1BR 2BR 3BR$1,600 $1,900 $2,700 $3,900
1st
1st
Yale WeSTDowntown, 443 New York Ave NW
10.0amenities
ratinG
$$$$
Yale West is a fairly new building that is great for grad students and young professionals. The location is amazing and the staff are friendly and responsive. There is a Safeway across the street, and lots of places nearby to eat including a Chipotle
Review by
Top Five1st yale WesT 10.0 Amenities Rating
1stThe aCadia aT meTroPoliTan Park
10.0 Amenities Rating
1st Camden roosevelT
10.0 Amenities Rating
4thClaridge house CooPeraTive
9.7 Amenities Rating
5th belvedere 1600 9.5 Amenities Rating
GW Law JD ‘16
Camden rooSevelTU Street Corridor, 2101 16th St NW
10.0amenities
ratinG
$$$
Great building - a lot of good amenities including a very nice gym. My rent rate may not be typical. 16th st bus line makes it easy enough to get to school though it would be nice to be a little closer to a metro stop.
Review by GW Law Student
The aCadia aT meTroPoliTan ParkPentagon City, 575 12th St S
10.0amenities
ratinG
$$$
I love my apartment which was brand new when I moved in. The rent is very high. In some ways the rent is justified because the property and management are great; but in other ways the price is too high in that it does not include guest parking passes, any utilities, there is constant construction, and constant traffic from the Costco shopping area.
Review by GW Law Student
1st
16
Highest rated properties for value
Read moRe Reviews at veRyapt.com
Good price-to-space trade off
What top value properties typically offer:
neiGhborhoods With hiGhest rated properties for value
BestValue
Decent property maintenance
Good location
Solid amenities and basic features
Foggy BottomRosslyn
averaGe rents for hiGhest rated value properties:
STUDIO 1BR 2BR 3BR$1,600 $1,900 $2,700 $3,900
3rd
2nd
avalon FirST and mNoMa, 1160 First St NE
9.5value ratinG
$$$$
Avalon First and M is a great building. The community is very nice and the management is always willing to help with a smile on their face. The amenities are awesome such as the rooftop pool and the gym Nevertheless, I found it to be far from school. If you don’t mind taking the metro everyday a couple of times per day, then you’ll be fine. Also, the neighborhood may get kind of sketchy.
Review by
Top Five1st avalon FirsT
and m 9.5 Value Rating
2nd emPire aParTmenTs
9.3 Value Rating
3rd Camden roosevelT
9.0 Value Rating
3rd QuebeC house 9.0 Value Rating
3rd Ch housTon 9.0 Value Rating
Adriana, GW Law JD ‘17
Camden rooSevelTU Street Corridor, 2101 16th St NW
9.0value ratinG
$$$
The apartment is in a great location with good access to Metro, buses to downtown, and is very close to lots of bars and restaurants. It is right near U Street Corridor and 14th Street/Logan Circle area. The staff is very nice, and there is 24-hour concierge service. The only downside is that there is no easy way to get to GW, since the closest metro is yellow/green and the bus stop right outside goes to McPherson Square.
Review by GW Grad Student
emPire aParTmenTSDowntown, 2000 F St NW
9.3value ratinG
$$$
Convenience was my top priority and I have it here at Empire.
Review by GW Law Student
1st
17
What COULD BE BETTER
What’s GreatAbout Brownstones
TIPS AND Advice
Leases with independent landlords are negotiable. Check your lease for restrictions on subletters and visitor policies. You may be able to avoid a rent increase by locking in a longer lease.
Lease TermsWatch out for noisy neighbors or light sleepers who may not allow you to host parties. Sounds often travel well through older buildings and you can easily be disturbed by barking dogs, music, or construction.
Noise and NeighborsCheck online reviews and talk to previous tenants to find out about your landlord. Look for one that responds quickly to maintenance requests and has a history of fully refundingdeposits.
Reliable Landlords
No doorman
Older buildings
Few amenities
Often farther from downtown/campus
Lower rents
Spacious floor plans
Great for hosting
3+ bedrooms available
Brownstones are apartments in older buildings, typically a few stories tall. They typically do not have a doorman, elevator, or many amenities, but are often cheaper and more spacious than the apartment and condo units in larger high-rises.
Brownstones &standalone homesSmaller properties and how to find them
Finding A BrownstoneBrownstones can be challenging to find because they tend to be individually owned and do not have full time leasing managers. Brownstone listings for July and August move-in dates typically become available in May, June, and July. You can find a brownstone by searching online listings, contacting a landlord directly, or using a local broker who works with multiple landlords.
Most popular brownstone landlordsIf you’re set on a brownstone, students in DC and Northern Virgina typically lease from individuals and smaller landlords, so check recent listings to stay up to date on what’s available.
18
Grades were assigned to landlords that received two or more reviews by using a combination of management ratings and overall ratings for the properties they manage. Letter grades correspond to the following:
AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
Bernstein Management Corporation
Borger Management, Inc.
Bozzuto Management
Camden
Community Realty Company, Inc
Dittmar Company
Equity Residential
Gates Hudson and Associates
George Washington Student Housing
Greystar
Keener Management, Inc.
Paradigm Management L.P.
PSL Apartments
The Donaldson Group
The Gelman Company
Vornado
LandlordGrade
Over 9.5
9.0-9.4
5.0-5.9
6.0-6.9
8.0-8.9
7.0-7.9
4.0-4.9
2.0-3.9
Below 2.0
A+
C+
A
C
B+
B
D+
D
F
LANDLORD GRADES andthe renting process
LANDLORD GRADES
B+
B+
B+
B+
A
A
A
A
B+
C+
B
A
B+
B
A+
B+
A
The renTinG ProCeSSUnderstanding
If this is your first time renting, here is a heads up on what the process is like:
Application processYou will be asked to fill out an application for an apartment. Likely this will include an application fee ($30-50) and potentially a deposit (up to one month’s rent). If you’re coming from abroad, you may have to provide alternate information - in the absence of a social security number, bank accounts, etc., often landlords will accept your visa documents and acceptance letter. Landlords will use your information to approve you based only on your credit history and income. In the event where there are issues, a landlord may grant the application on the condition that a guarantor cosigns the lease.
after you’re approvedA landlord will often ask for a security deposit and prepaid rent. A landlord typically charges up to two months rent as a security deposit and will ask for up to two months in prepaid rent. At the end of your lease and after you give proper notification that you are moving out (typically 60-90 days), the landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit at the end of the lease. The landlord may not return the deposit in full if there are claimed damages to the property or other charges outstanding.
What to look out forCheck for additional charges or obligations that could cost you more than the listed price of a property. This could include move-in/move-out fees, renters insurance requirements, condo fees, common electrical fees, etc. Definitely ask about previous electrical/utility bills to get a feel for what additional monthly costs there may be. Be sure to research the landlord and management company before placing any sort of deposit. If you have any specific questions, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
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