Belmont Square Apartments - Belmont, California

r dG

There is new management and ownership since we moved in June 2016. Management is good, not sure how I feel about the new ownership - red on for pros and cons.

The Bay Area is bonkers now so this it was not not unusual rent when we started at $2625 for a two bed one bath apt. We were asked to leave the houses we rented for our family since the owners wanted to get in on the crazy sell prices - I get that but it’s still a huge bummer about the Bay Area.
Because I’ve been spoiled to be in houses or Apts with 1.5 bath at least, I am not used to ONE bathroom for 3 people. Our daughter is off on her own college and work life now so I’m grateful that she grew up in houses with back yards for the most part. Our son lived many years with a ‘roomy’ childhood too that I’m appreciative of, so he will just have mainly these two years left in this cramped new life.

Pros:
-The building is sturdy and fairly good with the sound proofing between floors which I like.
-The balcony is huge which is great.
-apt layout is pretty good
-management takes care of things and service workers are very good
-there is a nice pool

Cons:
-ALL utilities are extra - but the one that bothers me is from Conservice (Garbage, Sewer and Water), which runs from about $167-$189/month for us three (base price plus people in the unit to calculate). So add $167(Conservice above services biller) and $75 (pg&e) to $2725 (new rent as of Feb 2018) and you now pay $2967- that’s almost $3,000!!!
And with other normal expenses- cable and cell phone it is over that. Like I said - for
a 2 bed, 1 bath, storage locker and 2 (tandem) parking spaces, I think this is bonkers.
-Only one bathroom (in our 2-bed unit anyway)
-rent was raised to $2725 for the 2 bed, 1 bath now and no added value (we still have the old white kitchen cabinets with no microwave built in like newer units)
-Not much room for a family dinner table except against the side somewhere or in the middle of a walkway.
-Lights outside are on all night so blackout curtains are necessary for sleeping
-No air-conditioning so if you want extra air then you need to keep your black-out curtain open a little if the window is open so then there is light seeping in at night (Portable air conditioner could work on the side by the lights but on the bedroom on the balcony side the main window is a patio door so that may not feel safe with an air conditioner keeping that glass door unlocked.
-Pool only heated for summer months. Unheated from Oct-April (6 months - freezing)and the hours are from 9am-9pm so forget about that before work swimming exercise plan.

Anyhow, this is a pretty good building in general but just know there are some issues that could be corrected with price adjustments but since we live in the landlords market currently- they are definitely not adjusted for. 😕

Priscila Suelen

Danilo