Proceed with caution

Luxury Riverview Condo review This is my first negative review. I rented the 1 BR Riverview condo with the. Shared Option from 4/1/23 - 6/12/23 for $3,800/mo + $450/mo parking. The property is convenient to public trans, Longwood, and Fenway Park. The landlord, S, has issues maintaining cleanliness, respecting boundaries within the lease agreement, and broke MA Tenant Laws multiple times. I viewed the condo a week prior to signing the lease. It was 9pm and dimly lit by a few lamps. I liked it and agreed to lease. I was to move in on a Saturday. The same day, S planned a dinner party in the condo for her friends. She asked me prior if this was OK, and to be accommodating I agreed. I regretted it. I got off work at 7 PM and did not have the energy to drive two hours round-trip with totes and my cat to be moving in the middle of a dinner party so I waited until the next afternoon, after S was back in the Berkshires. Daylight showed its true condition. She said she would clean up and make some space for my things. She had not. The condo is full of velvet furniture, souvenirs and bric-a-brac and everything was covered in dust, food and grime covered the bathroom & kitchen countertops, cabinets and floors, toilet inside was covered in biohazard, shower and bathroom floor had long black hairs, and the bedroom closet was 80% full of her stuff. There was no empty space in the cupboards even for new coffee cup. The bedroom linens not been washed. The refrigerator was the dirtiest Ive ever seen and there was no space in the fridge for a gal. of milk. The full-size freezer was in the same condition. When she arrived a couple of days later, I confronted her about it. She said she anticipated this and told me she doesnt clean because nurses have told her they like to clean to their own standards. I told her either hire a professional cleaning service or I take her to court to get the $7,900 deposit back. She paid for a cleaning service that I had to resources. Later and with her permission, I cleaned out the cupboards. 99% of the food inside had been expired, some of it 10+ years. I took photos to support. Upon leaving, I left it immaculate, as promised. April & May was cold in Boston. Nightly temps in the 30s. The furnace did not work so I never had heat. She said it was because the bldg heat is all on the same system and heat is turned off in April. Neighbors later told me this was not true. Lease breaches: 1. Shared space was defined as giving her access to the kitchen and bathroom several days per month. This turned into 10-13 days and her feeling entitled to invite friends into the the unshared spaces. 2. Allowed her girlfriend to enter and show the condo to a prospective tenant while I was work without providing me notice. This is against the law. S harassed me for weeks for my work schedule. She said all of the nurses before me never had a problem giving their schedule and she needed it to respect my privacy and quiet time. The one week I gave it to her, she broke the law. I found out by luck when at the same time, the bldg mgt notified her of a water leak coming from the condo. She had to call me to ask if I was home and I had left water running. I left work early and arrived at the same time as the maintenance crew. The water leak was inside a wall coming from a pipe. Her gf was already there and the prospective tenant arrived minutes after I did. She claimed since we are roommates, she doesnt have to tell me anything. The Massachusetts Housing Authority later disagreed with her and told me if it happens again I am, required to notify the AG. Side note: I never did deny her request to show it when she asked me. 3. During my time there, there were two short term tenants that rented the smaller studio at diff. times. I witnessed her entering the studio w/o one of their knowledge. My advice: there are more affordable back bay apartments that are cleaner with landlords that respect the laws and the leases they sign. If you do rent the 1-1 condo, consider the non-shared option as the shared is more like having a roommate that you will have to clean after and does not pay half the rent. Regardless if you rent the condo or studio, expect it to be entered without your consent. I stayed duration of the lease, but note - if your contract gets CX early, she does not give refunds of the advanced last month rent payment.

LOCATION!! Very cool architecture and design!

Housing in Boston is BONKERS, but I'm really happy with my stay here! LOCATION is fantastic-- Kenmore square T stop right around the corner, I spent a lot of time on Newbury street close by, and the beautiful view of the river! I'm not into baseball but super close to Fenway! Also close to multiple hospitals in the area; I had my car but the bus to both St Elizabeth Medical Center and Brigham and Women's hospital were super convenient. The place was a good size for me, I loved that it was a Victorian brownstone. Very cool details in the architecture & design of the place! I had everything I needed-- in unit laundry is a must for me, and there's a dishwasher! Building is quiet, nice neighbors, very safe. I opted to have the 1 bedroom and have the "shared" space-- you can rent it completely privately for a higher rate but S offers a "shared" rate where she can occasionally use the attached room when she comes to town. We got along well when she did! :) Would def stay again!