All 33 tenant reviews.

“Pros: Safe Neighborhood, great water pressure in the apartment. Packages are always safe. Doormen are nice. Cons: Slow elevators, constant construction in the building, maintnence and management loves to put a bandaid on things that are broken without getting to the true cause so I had to put in a request to fix the same things many times.”

“This is an apartment building that charges rent equivalent to a luxury apartment building but is anything but. The common areas ar dark and poorly maintained. There is always building work taking place with noise generated even on holidays. Three lifts for over 200 apartments that are in poor working order and regularly breaking down. That roof terrace has had work going on for months and parts of it are not usable. A rapacious management. Avoid at all costs”

“Unit 4E Pros: The apartments are spacious, the doormen are helpful, and having the package room is nice. Cons: The building has a lot of major water issues. The water gets shut off most months with little notice to residents. The kitchen and bathroom sinks often flood with backwash water spewing out. The building management tries to fix the issues themselves rather than hiring professional plumbers. There are often cockroaches seen in the hallways and stairwells. The gym equipment is old. The management company is incredibly unhelpful with questions about your lease. Advice to landlord: Manhattan Skyline”

“Pros: Location, roof deck, children's playroom, tenant lounge, fitness center Cons: Replace hallway carpet and lighting Advice to landlord: Update the public hallway lighting”

“Pros: The staff are amazing and the building is full of great people. We’ve made so many friends and there are so many kids for my son to play with in the playroom. The rooftop lounge is beautiful with the best sunset views over the river. Cons: Not much to add here, we loved living here. Advice to landlord: Make sure to acknowledge how great the staff is.”

“Unit 9K Pros: Location and Zabars Cons: Very noise and staff does not feel like working (unionized)”

“Pros: Apartments are fine, roof deck (when available) is nice Cons: This is the most poorly managed building I’ve ever experienced. The previous super was fired for hitting the porters. The new super treats tenants like unruly pests he needs to set straight. The doorman don’t help with bags and anything you need fixed is fine with duct tape and glue. They won’t pay for someone to manage packages on the weekends so if you get a package on Friday, you won’t receive until Monday night. The staff behaves like they resent the tenants, the majority are unfriendly and unhelpful.the building mgmt team is rude and unhelpful. Doorman and staff frequently share fear of getting fired or punished if they don’t tiptoe around management Advice to landlord: Tone is set from the top. You have fostered a toxic culture at WRH. Some people don’t deserve the privilege of being NYC property owners.”

“Pros: Phenomenal building staff, really responsive maintenance requests, polite neighbors, good sized apartments with layouts that make sense Cons: Dated hallways that still have popcorn ceilings, If you don’t have kids you’d better get used to sharing the elevator down with 12 of them on your morning commute, drastic increase in rent after COVID deal that wasn’t specified as a COVID deal on the lease Advice to landlord: Best building staff on the planet but consider the value your on time rent paying tenants add when hiking up their rent”

“This building is smoke and mirrors. The staff is miserable. The management is awful. There is construction noise without any regard to the tenants. The roof deck is close as are most of the amenities. It started out as a great place to live. this is not a luxury building. The hallways are all dark and not renovated since the building was erected. The “renovated” apartments are just some minor cosmetics. They take short cuts wherever possible.”

“Pros: Good staff. handymen are responsive. Doormen are great. Dog friendly, the staff usually give them treats. Packages are stored and well organized. No smoking allowed anywhere on the property including balcony’s, roof etc Cons: Not the buildings fault but since people are working from home due to covid, smokers are smoking in their balconies which is not allowed and cigarette butts fall to the units below. Frustrating when you are trying to grow herbs in the summer. Advice to landlord: Continue doing a great job!”

“The West River House is an enjoyable place to live. It's in a wonderful location, the staff couldn't be nicer. It's well kept. I enjoyed living here so much, I may move back if a bigger apartment is available.”

“This place is just bad. Noise, rats, and management and leasing teams with no morals. Management will lie through its teeth to justify rent increases. Do yourself a favor and speak with several existing tenants before considering this apartment building. If management tells you that they have X percentage of vacancies, you can rest assured that the number is 3X. Ask tenants about the constantly available units on their floors. Do not trust mgt. Secondly, there is a serious rat problem in this building that Skyline has been unable (or unwilling) to address for 10+ years (ask the old timers). Most importantly, the units offer no privacy. The walls are paper thin, so you hear your neighbors conversations clearly. My young kids were subjected to a young couple having sex every night. We decided to leave 8 months into the lease and just bite the double rent for 4 months. A truly regrettable experience living here.”

“Horrible experience living at WRH. Management has lied to me and others in the building many times. The leasing office can't be trusted. They will tell you that there are waiting lists to get into the building to justify rent increases. This could not be further from the truth. There are always floors with numerous vacancies all the time. People continue to leave the building due to huge noise problems and the filthy condition. Few residents enjoy living here; some stay because their children are in nearby schools. Also, be aware that when you try to leave management and the super will try to come up with numerous trumped up charges against you to prevent you from leaving or to shake you down for money.”

“Be Aware: The management company probably will not disclose this to any prospective tenants. The building behind West River House on Broadway is going to demolished and a new apartment building is going up. If you have read other posts complaining about noise, just wait. Two years of horrible noise is coming. Do not move into this building.”

“I currently live here and don't know how ----------------, -------------------------- (people in their corporate offices) sleep at night. When I gave two and a half months notice that I wanted to sublet my apartment ---------------- told me "We do not allow subletting." It is illegal to not allow subletting and their attorney ---------- admitted this to me yesterday, but then today basically told me I need to pay the building $8700 that I wouldn't have needed to pay if I was "allowed" to sublet. DO NOT LIVE HERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE HANDCUFFED TO YOUR LEASE OR PAY A HUGE AMOUNT TO GET OUT OF IT. I have filed a complaint with the NY Housing Board and hope that this prevents them from mistreating other tenants like this.”

“DON'T BE FOOLED. This building has a nice-looking roof and lobby, but it's a horrible place to live. The walls are paper-thin, so you will hear neighbors' children nonstop. The super is a total --- who likes to do everything as cheaply as possible,and blames problems on residents. Management NEVER returns phone calls. They will take part of your apartment out of commission for repairs for months and refuse to give you a rent rebate. In winter, the wind blows right through the crappy a/c units--oh, and half the time the heat isn't working. Save yourself the stress of moving as soon as your first lease is up (because they will Jack up your rent a ton).”

“Family nepotism within Manhattan Sklyine staff, corporate greed w/exhorbant annual rent increases, and an awful Super that believes he walks on water. That about sums up the experience of this horrible non-luxury building.”

“DO NOT LIVE HERE. I beg you to save your money and live elsewhere.”

“I moved in to West River House thinking it was a very nice building. Before my family decided on West River we asked if there was any planned construction going on since I work from home and did not want to deal with the noise. The leasing agent said there was nothing planned around me. That was a huge lie. Since we moved in in February they have renovated the apartment below me and have been renovating the outside of the building. Each day all I hear from 9am until 4pm is drilling and hammering in to the brick on the building. There is no where to escape it except the lobby. When I called the management company they said there is nothing they can do and it has to be done. I understand that but I have been lied to in writing by their representative. I would never move in to a manhattan skyline property again.”

“This will be my last year at WRH. Moved in 2009 - market rent. On my renewal for 2012 (which happened 3rd quarter of 2011) they wanted a 24% rent increase. On top of an increase they got in 2010. Who knows what they want for 2013, but I won't stick around. - Too much noise from 4 years of construction on units. - Elevators constantly out of service, broken or have people trapped in them. Just the last couple of months the Fire Dept. was called in 2-3 times to evacuate trapped residents. Staff turnover is high. - Rooftop finally got some new furniture last year, which probably explains the huge rent increases, but before that it was splintered wood chairs and tables from the 1980s. - Babies, babies, babies everywhere and always screaming. Unless your a ------ family with 4 kids living in a one-bedroom apartment, you probably don't belong. - Walls between units are paper thin, though I've never complained about this - I can here everything my neighbors do and say and especially when they cough or sneeze. Imagine going to bed with your neighbors ... whose beds are adjacent to yours ... comforting thought huh? - Pray you don't get a lead foot above you like I have. Nothing more annoying that a family of 4 stomping around for hours and hours while you try to relax and enjoy a nice evening huh! I'm done with that $%^&. - They only offer TWC and some welfare cable service. TWC sucks so bad because the building wiring hasn't been updated in 30 years. They won't allow Verizon (even though it is on the street) and forget putting a satellite dish up. - There are no screens on the doors, so you can't keep them open at night. - There is a HUGE mosquito problem on 84th and West End, which I can tell you from first hand experience you will notice without a doubt. - Plenty more ...”

“Our family has lived in the West River House for a little bit over 5 years and have no intention of leaving. Our kids attend a school across the street so initially we moved in for the ease in their "commute". We have stayed because of excellent staff, immaculate common areas and friendly neighbors. We have never had an issue with mice or noise. It could be because we are on a high floor, but we do have very respectful neighbors who are on the quiet side and we regularly allow the exterminator into our unit for prevention. I will say that rent increases are a tad high, our range has been about 7-8% year over year but we've looked at other buildings in the area and can't get the same level of amenity for the price without going further uptown into the 90's. Regardless, this has been a great place for our family. Our kids have plenty of friends in the building and the service has been superb.”

“One of the most negative and aggressive management companies. They woo you and then start slamming ridiculous rent increases yearly...and way out of line with cost of living index!!!! Sometimes more than 10%! Watch out! And on going construction daily as they remodel all the apartments. And medieval policy prohibiting doorman from sitting down on 12 hour shifts! That really reveals the true character of the management!”

“Recently moved out of West River House after a extremely disappointing experience. Would have never moved into the building if we had known in advance that there is a huge internal noise issue. The building's construction facilitates the transfer of noise between apartments and this is a major problem for many in the building. If you choose to live in this building be prepared to hear your neighbors loudly and clearly....from the flush of their toilets to their simply walking across their floors....you will hear it all and feel like you live their lives with them. For the high rents charged, this is simply unacceptable and there are much better alternatives on the Upper West Side. We just moved to one of them.”

“I have lived in this building for three years and can confidently say it has been an amazing place to call home. The building is kept immaculately, the staff are incredibly helpful, responsive and friendly and the other tenants are great neighbors. With regard to previous comments, my husband and I have lived in a ground floor apartment (with outside space) for the past three years and have NEVER ONCE had a problem with rodents. Not only have we never had an issue in our apartment or backyard, we have never heard a single neighbor complain. Frankly, I am shocked to hear the negative reviews. Additionally, the building staff have all been incredibly responsive to any maintenance request. The few minor requests we have posted on the easy-to-use internal online system over the past three years have been resolved immediately and effectively (we have never waited more than a day to get something fixed -- in fact, most problems are usually resolved within the hour). I love this building and am saddened to see the negative reviews. All I can say is there are a lot of bitter people in this city. I have lived in the city for over 10 years, in a variety of buildings and as a savvy New Yorker I can confidently say that the West River House is a wonderfully run, clean, well-kept building.”

“I have lived in this building in various apartments for 3 years now. I have enjoyed the building, its location and its onsite management. The super and his staff have always been responsive, and I enjoy the doormen and their personalities over the sterile environment I have experienced in other buildings. The lobby is welcoming and well maintained as are the other common areas. The penthouse gym is very nice as is the roofdeck, also both well maintained. Overall an enjoyable experience.”

“very happy in my apt, my son loves the bldg too, bldg staff is great and very friendly, convenient to have a gym right in the bldg with a lovely rooftop and close to several parks”

“I have been living in west river house for years now. All i am hearing is things about high rent mice insufficent staff. All this is proposperous. This building was redone and is marvelous looking. We are offered a gym a basketball court raquet ball court out door roof top deck now when you are offered all these things in one building of course your rent is going to be in the 4000-5000 area. Look at the area your in. We have Riverside park broadway shopping where else could you have all this in walking distance. As far as staff since the super was replaced this building has been in tip top shape and if you lived in this building for a long time you know what im talking about. What i dont understand is how someoe can complain about about the days that the garbage is out side of the building for next day collection. All buildings put their trash out the nite before collection as per law and new york city shcedule for garbage pickup. I dont care what corner in mahattan you go to a nite time you will see mice whether it is her broadway upper east side. The management and staff themselves noticed the problem and contacted the propare authority to help with the issue. I myself live on the lower floors the 4th floor to be exact and have never had an issue with anytype of vermen of unsanitary laundry facilies or garbage rooms. I feel like all this bad stuff being written is by a disgruntal tenant. No matter where you live you will have someone who is not satisified, but this building a great family oriented building who services its tenants with he utmost respect and diligance.”

“I lived in this building for 5 years. At the beginning, it all "appeared" fine and I justified the HIGH rent to its convenient location: being one block from Broadway, being close to the subway station, and around the corner from Zabars, etc. However, as I started living on 424 WEA, I became more knowledgeable about the building and the surrounding area. First of all, skyline management abuses its tenants by overcharging on rent. The $5,100.00 I was paying for a 2 bedroom apartment (which in fact was not an original 2 bedroom but a 1 bedroom, where part of the living room had been turned into a small room making it a second bedroom), was absolutely over priced. Second, the building seems to be clean and well kept, but it's not. Once you live there, you start to notice that the garbage room and laundry areas are only superficially cleaned. BUT, there can be nothing more hideous than the RATS RUNNING AROUND at night on the corner of 81st street and WEA, to be exact. In fact, the RATS come out at night from the sewer grid located on 81st and WEA and rummage through the garbage that is left out at night for garbage collection. To make matters worse, this infested area is right in front the building's back door. I complained to management many times regarding this UNSANITARY and REPULSIVE condition. I never received a single answer neither from the super nor management. Before you consider WEST RIVER HOUSE, ask yourself, are you willing to come home at night and encounter RATS on the way into the building? Skyline Management is deceptive, tenants do not get what they pay for. Lastly, I have read positive comments about this building with respect to the staff. This is hardly the case. Once I had a grocery delivery from FreshDirect and the doorman refused to accept it because I was not home. What kind of service is this? Supposedly, the building's policy is not to accept any groceries. In the building where I now live, it actually has a special REFRIGERATOR to store groceries and flowers in case the tenant is not in. The list of unsatisfactory service for 424 West End Avenue is long. For the rent one pays to live at 424 WEA, management should provide impeccable, hygienic conditions.”

“Clean, quiet, excellent staff. The location is ideal...close to parks, museums, shopping and the river. Transportation is very convenient to anywhere in town. The residents are friendly and the staff very responsive. The roofdeck is awesome and additional facilities include laundry room on each floor, gym and bike room Love it here.”

“Although I expect to see a review by the one management plant rebutting this one, I will go ahead anyway (and prospective renters, please talk to current tenants before taking any apartments). The mouse problem still exists (contrary to management's claim) and threatens sanitary conditions for all families; the noise continues to drive tenants crazy; "repairs" consist of reusing defective parts from other apartments and rats do run around the outside of the building at night. When the person who writes all of the fake positive reviews tells others that they agreed to the high rents beforehand, s/he is not taking into account that Skyline is infamous for trying to raise rents upon expiration of leases as high as or even higher than $1000. No one has had a positive experience with this management company and some tenants have taken them to housing court (Skyline doesn't care as they have lawyers on retainer). And a more insidious issue is their tendency to quote higher rents to some prospective tenants over others. It is a housing experience that you will regret... If you can afford WRH then you should look at the real "luxury" buildings in the neighborhood.”

“Great Building. The staff is very friendly and accomodating. Great roof deck.”

“If you do not mind mice running around your apartment, then West River House may be the place for you. Forget the noise problems, screeching radiators, etc., there has been a mouse infestation at least since 2009. The floors most affected seem to be the 2nd- 6th (please don't take my word for it- just ask any family on the 3rd or 5th floors). It is both the best and worst kept secret in the building. Management as usual does not care- they are as ruthless and greedy as ever. If you are interested in the building regardless of these multiple issues, make sure your lawyer sees your lease before signing!”

“Friendly doormen (the one not so friendly guy is long gone), excellent maintenance staff, lts of closet space, great gym and roof area”