bad places?

[wildream]

I am leaving for the island in less than a week and I am planning on renting an apt right away or maybe within two days of my arrival. I understand we have so many housing options and it would be crazy to ask which places are good to rent, but I just wanted to ask the people around here about the places that have a bad reputation and recommend us to avoid renting. Thanks

[DrVinsk]

Hi. Glad to have you here. Congratulations!

Now, as for apartments...avoid Margaret Casey in Portsmouth. Best advice.........Ask to SEE an electric bill for the place you are wanting to rent. If you only ask the amount, they will lie. Don't forget to do this. You will be very glad you did and can make a wiser decision. Later.

[Suzzallo]

Bug!

[oc23]

stay away from sulfur springs and pbh!

[atalien]

Personally I would avoid areas past Tina's, during the week especially on weekends the locals play their music very loud. If you plan on studying at home this would be a big distraction, especially if you move to Portsmouth (market area). But then again you may have to deal with construction work in areas near the school -depends where you are at.

[Skip Intro]

UGGGHHHH!!! Sulphur Springs! It's dirt-cheap for a reason. I know a girl who spent one night there and was covered in bed-bug bites the next morning when she woke-up. Needless to say she didn't go back a second night. Plus, it's pretty far up Banana Trail. Personally, I always got sketched-out walking on Banana Trail at night.

Splurge on an apartment and make it a priority part of your budget. It'll be worth it in the long run.

-Skip

[TheeeGod]

the new james apt on banana trail...dont live there...too far...too shitty...too much...plus james is one shady character

[thatsme]

Ok.....Sulfer Springs has a bug infestation problem. Why should we avoid PBH? Just wondering, since I'm coming out there in Jan.

[Dru]

Numerous opinions and observations have been expressed about the PBH establishement...do a search, and all will be revealed.

[singer]

Dru:

Thought pbh now owned by Ross. If so don't you think they will improve the condition?

[Dru]

First I hear PBH was independent
THEN I heard PBH was bought out by Ross (or DV?)
THEN I heard PBH was half bought by Ross

I SAW construction/renovation of a few of the PBH units when I was down there last week. I heard that students who had planned to stay there for several days until they found housing were being told they had to leave after one day.

In all honesty I don't know what to believe any more,
This is why I truly believe the forum was more informative and less of a rumor mill when Ross had official representation (like Dean Wagner) on here. I think Ross is cutting off its nose to spite its own face by not assigning a representative to present official answers to items such as this one.

[singer]

Dru:

As parents we both know that Dean Wagner was an asset to Ross and to all the current and prospective students on Valuemd. I personnally met him when I took my son down last August. Of course Devry's purchase of the school and not having a President yet plus the new Dean might have changed things. I believe that what Dean Wagner said was correct and not a sales pitch. My son is now starting 4th semester with a better grade point average the n he had in college and we owe some of that to the advice that Dean Wagner gave him. I hope that he is well and found anothe job that can utilize his talents. Good luck to you and your daughter.

[manny]

Hi,

I just wanted you all to know that Ross did buy the PBH and are upgrading all the rooms. I think they are trying to make them similiar to dorm rooms. Everything is brand new. Its not bad for 350. There will be a prepaid meter for electricity. They will have a internet/phone/cable package soon too. A tv will be installed, new closet, desk, chairs, shower organizer e.t.c.

I was at the old rooms and I now know why everyone says stay away from them...however, the new rooms are pretty good.

[Dru]

sweeet ! Thanks for the update, Manny. I hope they keep the price that low and are not just having it that low to lure students there and then jack it up.

[carib]

***** *****, the preacher who lives in Zicack originally from Colihaut, his daughter works(ed?) at the *****. He has some property accross from Tina's place, net to MacKenzie's apartments. This ***** is one ***** landlord that threatened to physically harm students before, never returning their deposits, even after several complaints to the university housing office. The local dominicans say he is a ***** *****/***** too...




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[Edited by Mod for containing personal information and insults. Edited information indicated by "*".]

[VanessaWI]

No question about it, PBH has a lot of potential and they've been working on it a lot. I don't know how it is there now, but I lived there from Feb. till May and personally, my time spent there was a living hell. I don't want to go into it right now because I haven't got the time, but if you really want to know, you can pm me and I'll fwd my compliant doc that I sent to housing.
When they made upgrades, though-did they put glass on the windows? That was a major problem with the a/c and electric bill. Also made it a lot of fun in dealing with bugs.

[dominican_doc]

George Nanthan's, definitely. $500 US but it's clean, no bugs, and George takes care of the people in his apartments... You need to come here at least one week before classes start since the apartments fill up very quickly.

[yipeee]

Avoid Safari Apts like the plague! I know a lot of friends who lived there and left because the owners didn't fix things and were extremely rude. They filed many complaints with the housing dept. but since the owner has friends working in that dept. they never get taken off the list of available housing.

[merker99]

I think the more you spend, the better you live. Your appartment is not something you want to cheap out on. So as soon as you get here, ask the housing tour to show you the closest places (they will be the most expensive). Don't dilly-dally either. If you see a place that doesn't make you throw up, take it right away. I've heard hundreds of stories of people's places getting stole out from under them. Also, realize that there is a really good chance that you will move second semester anyway...so don't stress about it.

[shaggy411]

bumpp:: I'll be on the island in may..what places should we def. avoid...

[tropicalsurgeon]

I can tell you from my own experiences that I lived in a crappy place my first semester and then really had to move because of the bugs and substandard conditions. I lived in Pat Colberts place...there are bugs and cockroaches...not so nice...but then I moved to Cletina Benjamin's place and she was reasonable and the place was nice and big. I lived there for the rest of my time for about 400/month...with utilities and TV it was about 450. Worth every penny...
BUT I think that if you get a good place to start...it makes your job easier to acclimate to the island and then if you want to move afterwards it is easy.

[shaggy411]

I can tell you from my own experiences that I lived in a crappy place my first semester and then really had to move because of the bugs and substandard conditions. I lived in Pat Colberts place...there are bugs and cockroaches...not so nice...but then I moved to Cletina Benjamin's place and she was reasonable and the place was nice and big. I lived there for the rest of my time for about 400/month...with utilities and TV it was about 450. Worth every penny...
BUT I think that if you get a good place to start...it makes your job easier to acclimate to the island and then if you want to move afterwards it is easy.

was your bug problem solved when you switched to a different apartment..or were you still encountering the critters

[TheeeGod]

avoid frobelia or basically anything by jenner armour..they screw u for your deposit and raise hell when u trying to leave...i wish i woulda known this...it woulda saved me $500

[sisterfunkhaus]

Would it be silly to get there a month in advance so that you can really get to know the place, get a good apartment, etc...

[MitchDC]

Yes, a month is a bit much. The previous semester would not be over yet and there would be very limited choice as to where you stay. Additionally, housing options for the next semester would not be available yet. 4 weeks is a bit much but 2-3 is actually a good idea.

-M

Would it be silly to get there a month in advance so that you can really get to know the place, get a good apartment, etc...

[shaggy411]

Would it be silly to get there a month in advance so that you can really get to know the place, get a good apartment, etc...

I'm not trying to be and *** but please read the title of the forum before you post..this is about apartments to avoid..and any thing related to problems...I think your question belongs in the housing thread..........thanks...

[Dru]

I have linked this thread to the Ross Housing in Dominica sticky. That way the info in the AVOID thread will be easily retrievable. Thanks.

[MommyDearest]

I just wanted to stick my two cents in, maybe this will help some families looking for places in Dominica.

Don't rent from a man named Griffin (he's got a 3 bedroom upstairs apartment on the way to Portsmouth). He kicked my family out in less than a week because of a "tick, tick" noise above his bedroom. Come to find out, it was my kid's bed hitting the wall while he moved in his sleep. But anyone that can kick a family out with a 4 month old is no honorable man in my book. We reported him to housing, but his name is still included on the list.

[doc20]

Avoid Geraldene Lockhart's apt. on Banana Trail. The place is far, not maintained well and you will have trouble getting your deposit back. Just try to get something close to the campus

[queenofspades11]

if anyone here thinks i should avoid the following apartments, please let me know. Also if any of these are more than 20 minutes walking distance, please let me know:
george Nathans
Harry Langlais
Cletina Benjamins
Leona *******
Wayne and Marylin MCLawrence
Martin Titre
Brenton Bleazer
Marie Cole
Silver Lining
Valena Hill

[Dru]

For analysis of each of these, please refer to the sticky re. places to live in Dominica.

Thread locked to prevent duplication.

[Blythe]

Nice apartments, but you will have trouble getting back your deposit, and the owner is too busy touting what a nice man he is and how much he's doing for you because he likes you so much to actually do any repairs. Saw him last week moving quickly with some hardware, turns out that he was locking out a student who had given notice of leaving the island. She had rented a car from him and had an accident in it due to shoddy maintenence (per the local cops on the scene) and was trying to extort money by locking her luggage inside the apartment.

Car rental is also not recommended, neither he nor his workers know anything about cars or their maintenence. Come to that, they're not great at maintenence all around, given the number of cooking gas leaks that have been happening. He will blame the resident even though its pretty clear that what's at fault is the tube leading from the canister to the stove. Don't expect him to respond to email or phone calls unless it involves him trying to extort money via illegal lockouts (sanctioned by his pals in the police department) or unless you tell him the toilet/showerhead/faucet are leaking (he pays for the water).


p.s. though he offers credit card payment for rent, don't do it, he will charge your card if he feels he's not getting money that should be his. Also he will most often send you to the bank next door to withdraw as a cash advance.

[queenofspades11]

hello, if anyone here thinks any of the following places are bad for whatever reason, please let me know:
S and B apartment,
George Nathans
Harry Langlais
Cletina Benjamins
Leona -*******
Wayne and Marylin Mc Lawrence
Martin Titre
Marie Cole
Pink House
also, i anyone thinks any of these places require more than a 15 minute walk, please say so