Tenant Reviews for 847 W LAKESIDE PL

On or about 10/11/2006, I completed and returned an application for an apartment at 4423 N Sheridan Rd., Apt 1002, Chicago, IL. 60640. Along with the application, I mailed Wilmette Real Estate two money orders: One for an application fee of 40.00 and the other for a 350.00 rental deposit. I was told the apartment would be ready on 11/1/2006. <br><br>On 11/1/2006, I flew from Phoenix, AZ to Chicago to discover that the apartment was NOT ready! I found the people in the leasing office to be quite disturbing. There was a polish woman with a thick accent, whom I could barely understand. And, sitting in the same room directly behind me, was a large, roguish polish man who spoke no English. The office smelled of musty armpits. Twice I almost gagged! The stench was so strong, I could smell it longer after I left Chicago, but I digress... <br><br>The woman in the leasing office told me that the apartment would not be ready for a couple of days! She tried to convince me to stay in another apartment until my unit was ready. Initially, I felt I had come to far to turn around. So, I entertained the thought and agreed to see the apartment. So, the lady in the leasing office gave me the keys and off I went. <br><br>Shock and horror! Complete shock and horror! The substitute apartment was beyond filthy, smelled of human urine, the carpet had not been vacuumed since the previous tenant (I know because I could see the outline of the mattress that had lain there before), there was snot and what appeared to be blood smeared across the walls, the telephone jack had been ripped out of the wall, and the lock on the door was so loose, I could have sneezed and torn the door off its hinges! After viewing this insult to a crack house, I almost tripped over my suitcases trying to get the hell out of there. I shot down the rusty dilapidated elevator, asked for my deposit back and caught the next plane home! <br><br>On 11/2/2006, I called Wilmette and spoke with the division manager and his boss. I asked them to return my money. Wilmette agreed to do so. In fact, I still have the message the division manager on my cell phone, agreeing to return my deposit. I was told that my deposit would arrive no later than Wednesday, 11/8/2006. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it is! <br><br>On 11/9/2206, no deposit! No return! So, I called the division manager back. He stated that my check was sent via certified mail on 11/3/06. I asked Mr. Congeniality if the mailing included my apartment number. He stated that he didn’t think it did. Then he went on to say that it shouldn’t make difference and proceeded to get nasty with me. He flat out told me that he didn’t care I ever got my money back and asked me not to call again! How rude! <br><br>Instead, I called Wilmette back and the left a detailed message for their attorney’s. I vowed to take legal action if my money was not returned. I graphically outlined my intentions because I wanted them to know just how prepared I was to raise hell and flip it over, to get my money back! Then I tracked down Wilmette’s accountant. She had no knowledge of my refund. In fact, she had no record of ever receiving my deposit or application fee. Mmmm, the plot thickens! I gave the accountant all the necessary information to track down my payments. Then I called the division manager’s boss and left another message for her. And, of course, she NEVER called me back. My next call was to my attorney. <br><br>After a week of verbal/legal sparring, I finally got my deposit back. I should not have been this difficult. I sincerely hope that any one considering renting from Wilmette Real Estate will reconsider after reading my story! If not, I hope you like it rough and with no lube, because that’s how you are going to get it from these people!<br>

Where do I begin? <br>Anyhow, the info I am providing is based on the 1255 W. Sunnyside Apts. - Which is owned by the same woman, Angie S. (Sqouras Properties) <br>I put in the address for that one hopefully it shall be added - but for now, my story. <br>I moved in Fall of 2002, I had seen an ad for this apartment with cheap rent (divided with 3 other girls) on my school´s off campus housing page. I was out of state at the time. <br>For a while - oh say, a month, things were fine. Roommate troubles aren´t really what this rating site is for but I will say the girl who made my life hell, still lives there. <br>When I moved in, the place had cracks all over, the former tenant left sticky tack all over the walls and I mean ALL OVER. <br>There is only one bathroom in the place, the kitchen always smells like there´s a gas leak - and one point in the hall flooring, you feel like your foot is going to fall through. <br>I tried to be away as often as possible. <br>Speaking for one of the roommates who moved out (due to the girl I mentioned before) in October of 2002, STILL has not recieved her deposit. <br>Getting high speed access is a real pain. <br>And not too long before I moved, there was a fire in the apartment across the hall from us - turns out our lovely landlady rented to meth addicts who were high at the time they set the fire, and left - this was late at night and if it weren´t for another roommate who was up at the time, the entire place would´ve gone up and perhaps lives would have been lost. <br>I had a hard time getting out of my lease due to the way it was set up - the land lady was always out of the country. <br>We had a major clog in our only shower and it took them 3 months to get maintenance to fix it. <br>The washer and dryer are disgusting and broken, I always had to do my laundry somewhere else - and it´s always flooded down there. <br>I broke out of my lease 2 months early -I was on Angie´s case for about 6 months before I got my deposit and I only got part of my deposit back, partly because of the former tenant who had ruined the walls - they decided to take my money for it. <br>She wasn´t very helpful or cooperative. <br>The area is extremely dangerous and the tenants are rude. <br>This place may seem ideal for college students abound but I say STAY AWAY.