Bayside Village

Three of my college friends and I are looking to move off our campus and we came to Bayside Village to explore our options. I will not be renting from them. This place is too good to be true. They refuse to show us a unit unless we sign a lease which is not going to happen. The leasing office is a converted apartment that they use as a «tour unit». We were told that the actual units are all carpeted floor, and don’t really look that much like the beautiful hardwood open floor plan that they show you. Overall this complex just gave us strange vibes. It seems like a strange pyramid scheme and I don’t want to be a part of it. They repeatedly told us today when we went that they «don’t care what we do with our apartment» which doesn’t seem right. We talked to a few residents who were out front smoking and one of them told us that they’d had things stolen from their unit earlier that day. Its $ 130 a month per car to park in their garage which is outrageous. Yes, $ 2400 a month for a four bedroom two bath 1200 square foot apartment with all utilities covered seems incredible, but the Bayside Village is incredibly sketchy. I wouldn’t recommend living there.

If I could give this review negative stars, I would. This establishment tries so hard to get money out of everyone who evens expresses interest in the place. My girlfriend had a horrible experience and is still dealing with it. They never verbally said that she was signing a lease when she was on the phone with them while entering in her information online for what she thought was an application. They also created a username for her since she was having difficulties trying to do it herself. They then took the username they used for her and created an email account on their own and sent documents to that email without telling her about it. After she filled out the application she never heard from them (since they were emailing everything to an email they created and she didn’t have access to) until a few weeks ago when they were confirming the move in date. She let them know she found somewhere else since she hadn’t heard from them and they told her she would have to pay the lease off for the year (close to $ 8000) or find someone to take over her lease. My aunt is a lawyer and told us that the lease that she electronically signed IS NOT LEGALLY BINDING since she never paid anything, no application fee, security deposit, 1^st/​last months rent. Recently they emailed saying they found someone to cover the lease, but she would have to pay $ 425 as a cancellation fee. This place is such a scam for people who are considering them, but decide to change their mind. Before electronically signing anything I would suggest voicing that you just want to fill out the application and maybe even do this in an email and then wait to sign a lease until you can get there in person.

There is a bed bug infestation in this apartment complex that is brought in by dirty tenants. They brought in pest control to my apartment and the bed bugs went away, however, I continued to get rashes. My dermatologist told me that the rashes were from some other sort of infestation in my apartment. I consulted with management and they assured me that they’d steam the carpets and wash the walls. However, this never happened. I had these rashes come and go until I moved out. It cost me an extra $ 600 in medical bills. There were other tenants who were having the same problem.
This company also has problems with communication between management and employees. «Never hand a check to an employee,» was words of advice from a manager there. One of the employees told me I overpaid on my fees when I moved into the apartment. She credited my account $ 150. I then received an email 7 months later that I was behind that amount. They still made me pay the $ 150 back even though it was an employee mistake.
Also, never call this company/​talk to them in person and expect accountability from their end. I set up a payment plan in order to pay this $ 150 off. The company kept sending me emails stating that I had an outstanding balance, even though my payments were on time. I responded each time with a reminder that I have a payment plan. You should email so that you have proper documentation of conversations.
When I moved out due to my distaste in this disgusting residence, a manager said they received my rent check through snail mail. She did not recall this conversation the following day and made me send a new check. It costs money to stop a payment on a check, so my rent went up $ 15 that month.
Do not move in here if you do not know your roommates. I requested that I live with students 21+ and two of my roommates were under 21 and very immature, constantly awaking me late night/​early morning on week days.
Also note that security likes to make friends. I came back to my apartment at 1am one night and found 70+ people in my apartment. Security knew the party was happening.
Do not get sucked into Baysides marketing. They show their office, not actual apartments, when potential tenants ask to view an apartment. Their office is a converted apartment that is extremely well maintained. Do not expect this from any of the apartments. I moved into my apartment and it was DISGUSTING.

Tips: Lock in your lease early in the year or you may end up paying almost double what your roommate is paying for the same exact amenities! Also, every unit has 2 bigger rooms and 2 smaller rooms. Trust me… it’s in your best interest to snag the bigger room. Lastly, I would pay for garage parking if you’re not on the waiting list for one. It’s not worth hundreds of dollars of parking tickets and not having a home for your car during parking bans on a snowy day!
Review: Bayside has changed its management almost every single year since its existence. I have not had a problem with management, but I know several people that have. This place is great in terms of convenience. You are in the heart of downtown and can walk to Trader Joe’s, Walgreens and Whole Foods. The only problem I have had with living here is that you don’t need to be a student in order to sign a lease. It seems like everyday there are less and less students and more and more creepers. Also, it’s hard not to avoid the crazy loud undergrad parties on the weekends and the lingering stench of weed throughout the halls.
Bottom line: I lived here for the convenience and garage parking — that’s all. If you can’t handle loud music/​partying on the weekends, funky smells and creepers, I would look elsewhere for housing.

Probably the worst place to live in Portland. Public housing is nicer than this place, I’m not kidding take a look at the new avesta developments in bayside. This place is plagued because of corner cutting construction and poor management. The people who live here are the bottom of the barrel in the student and portland community. The police are here all the time, I wouldn’t consider it a safe place to live. Also the parking garage is not nearly large enough so it’s first come first served, good luck finding parking elsewhere in the area. I would avoid this place at all costs.

Interesting, I stayed here visiting a friend last week. This place is a converted college dorm that now is open to public and I have not idea why.
The rooms are big, and living space is comfortable but the furniture is one hundred percent ordered form the same catalogue that you freshman dorm is stocked with. Those chair that look brand new big and poofy but then you sit down and realize its a hard flexible material that pops back in place when you get off.
I would not live here, unless i was a college student and mom and dad were paying the bills.

Great Location! Love the area… close to trader Joe’s, hannaford, walgreens pretty much everything that you would ever need right across the street. Aside from the location this building sucks! Never lived in a bigger SHITHOLE than this one. The pics will show awesome renovated apartments but the rooms is a size of a the BACK OF A TINY UHAUL truck. I made 3 attempts to get someone to check the a/​c in the room. 1^st attempt was «never recieved» when i left a voicemail. 2^nd attempt i spoke with someone and no one came up. 3^rd time i called emergency maintence because the room was finally at 100 degrees… and still no one came by. The guy i spoke to said they were aware of the problem, and said they were ordering parts for the coolers and I was told to go downstairs to the leasing office for a fucking FREE ICEE. a MOTHERFUCKING free ICEE solves all my problems. Not at all a slap in the face! A simple gensure of ‘go fuck yourself’ here’s a FREE ICEE. Generally, I’m not an angry person. It was until I spent 3 sleepless nights up on the fourth floor in my tiny SHITHOLE box with the thermostat at a breezy HUMID 90 degrees with no one doing anything about it.
OHH and DON“T FORGET TO CHECK THESE LINKS OUT:

I must admit, I am shocked to read these reviews? Perhaps they are from «animals» that made up the «animal house» before they were evicted? Please, pay no attention to reviewers writing in vain because they were kicked out or don’t know how to keep a security deposit. I am 22 years old and been living in apartments since I was 17. I have lived all over the city, and figured this year I would sign a lease with Bayside AS I HAD HEARD GRRRREAT THINGS. I am SO glad I did. It is SO convenient to all of Portland’s amenities which I have grown to love. Rent’s pretty average and I receive excellent customer service whenever I need anything. No more, calling and leaving voicemails for a month with your landlord! Just the other week, I had lost my keys at the gym across the street, and I had no way of getting in to my apartment. I stopped by the leasing office, and Abby, was able to quickly get me into my room, no problem! All the staff there in the office is helpful, but I have definitely dealt more with Abby. Abby was the one that processed my leasing agreement most professionally, and helped me understand everything about living in a complex versus a private building or house like I have before, suuuper glad I had a professional to make sure I didn’t sign anything I didn’t understand! I re-​signed for next year too! Yes, my neighbors can be rowdy, but hey, it’s a complex full of 20 somethings who work and study hard, and have to let loose every once in a while! If I ever had a problem, I know management would be there to fix it! I’m looking forward to next year!

Hello,
I would like to share my bad experience about Bayside Village Apt. in Portland/​Maine.
Please read it…
I have been living in San Diego for two years and half for my education and at the end of february 2013 I am going to be done. I will continue my education for getting my master degree therefore I decided moving up to Maine. While I was searching on line for my accommodation, I noticed the Bayside Village students apt and called them for getting some information about their conditions.
First I talked to Abby Nelson on the phone who is the leasing manager of the Bayside Village, She was very polite and explained what i was going to do and sent me the application form and co-​signer forms. I fulfilled what she asked as filled out the forms and tried to send at least five times but i received delivery failure messages every time. Her mail box was supposed to be full. She takes care of leasing but she does not receive any e-​mails. People who are willing to make their reservations using networking for sending their requests, questions and applications because they live in out of Maine, however at 2013, you can not reach them via E-​mail. THAT’S REALLY WEIRD… Maybe they have lots of clients and might eliminate some of them but that is not the right way…
Then, i decided to call Bayside, the guy whose name is James replied my phone. I explained my situation and he gave their fax number. I sent my papers at least four times and called back James for checking, however i got the same responds every turn. «NO, We have not received them YET» I asked James how I can reach my papers to you? Because the number he gave me was a fax number but someone whose voice sounds as a girl, picked up the phone. James transfered me to Stephanie on my demand who is the manager, she was very rude, I was expecting just resolve the simple my problem but she did not. I can not believe while I was talking to her on the phone politely, suddenly she hung up the phone on me. I got surprised because there was no reason just making conversation about my situation. This is unbelievable. NOBODY DESERVES THAT KIND OF UNPROFESSIONAL BAD ATTITUDE.
I am 33 years old and have two bachelors degree with lots of job experiences and traveled all over Europe countries and now i am in the USA to get knowledge but i have never met any human beings who hung up the phone on me. it was such a bad indefensible behavior, EVER NEVER ACCEPTED. She got promoted as a manager but she is not able to overcome any problem and get long with anyone else. I can not imagine, She has occupied manager position of the Bayside Village Apt, and missing clients without controlling herself. I hope someone who is authorized at Bayside, read my review and realize what is going on…
BEING MANAGER IS NOT SITTING ON YOUR CHAIR, YOU NEED SOME SKILLS: ‘
COMMUNICATION-​LISTENING SKILLS– EMPHATY– PERSUASION-​DIVISION OF WORK-​FOCUS (THESE ARE SOME EXAMPLES) OTHERWISE ANYBODY MANAGES ANY BUSINESS DOING NOTHING OR JUST SMOOTH BUSINESS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY COMPETITORS…

If you want to live in an animal house you found the right place. Beer cans in the elevator, screaming parties, unprofessional staff, no wireless internet, violence amongst the guests of the the residents, the place always smells like cigarettes, pot and booze and the rent is way too high. Do yourself a favor and seriously don’t even bother.

Unprofessional staff, a building that feels like its creaking apart when the wind blows, violence in the hallways and lobby and a bad rap that is generally deserved.