The housing lottery will be coming out soon and many of you who are unsuccessful will be looking for off campus housing. I strongly urge you to go to the housing office and check to see if the landlord or apt you are looking at has been "blacklisted" by past students. Letters have already been written about this complex, I just want to make sure that students are aware of this shady place.

AcademyLand apts are located across from the marina in True Blue (it is a 3 story tan building situated back from the road). Last term many of us were unsuccessful in the housing lottery and like all first termers, we ran out as fast as possible to secure housing; we stumbled upon this place: Here is a list of the discrepancies, shady business practices, and absolute greed involving the owners of this building:

1. In April 2007 we were told that rent would be $1200 per month (2 bedroom apt) and that water and gas was included. Electric was separate and housekeeping was optional. We waited 5 weeks to sign a contract, and during finals we were told that rent was going up by $150 per apt (for security involving cameras and guards; as of yet no guards have been hired) and that housekeeping is mandatory (225 EC per apt per month). We were also told that water would be a separate expense that would be divided amongst the 24 apts and billed monthly. With our hands tied as to timing and leaving the island we all signed.

2. We arrived in September to find that our internet was not working properly. Repeated complaints to the landlord resulted in success for only a few apartments. We then found out that this complex only had 2 internet lines coming into the building and that they were being shared/divided amongst 23 apartments. Each apt is paying 135EC/month for internet. For that amount, each apt should be getting their own line. Inquiries into where the excess money is going have been ignored. This complex is collecting 3,105 EC a month on internet charges but is only paying for 2 lines (estimated around 500EC per month). In addition, the contract clearly stated that the tenant does not need to establish any outside utility accounts. However, in Sept, the manager of the building was encouraging students to get cable and wireless accounts if they wanted better internet because the problem would not be fixed/resolved. This has essentially voided our contract but they do not agree.

3. Housekeeping charges are 225 EC/month per apartment. That equates to 5175 EC per month. I don't know of any housekeeper in grenada that makes that much per month. When asked about it in Sept no reply was given, however, because the cleaning was horrendous they hired another housekeeper to help (without the cost going up) How can that possibly happen? Because they are making a profit above and beyond the cost of this service (just like with internet above).

4. In Sept, we were given renewal leases for the January 2008 term. All of the rents increased by $150 per apartment. That may not seem like much but for perspective: Our apt is $1300 US split to $650/person. Rent would increase to $725/person. Rent does not include electric, internet, housekeeping. With all of that you are paying over $1000 US per person per month. Keep in mind too that my apartment is the cheapest here. Some rents run over $1400 per month already without the extras mentioned above. We also found out that the landlord wants to increase rent until each apartment is $2000 per month + utilities. In all this complex next term would be taking in over $33,000 US per month. Some tenants here tried unsuccessfully to meet with the landlord and explain that rent here is already way too high. The meetings did not go so well.

5. So we all received renewal lease forms. We specifically told the landlord that we needed to wait for the housing lottery in october since some of us wanted to try for that. We were told we needed to decide now and was given 3 days to sign the lease. Since many of us did not sign, a new proposal was brought to us. We were told that we could sign a "temporary lease" that would hold our apt for the January 2008 term UNLESS they found at anytime a tenant that would pay $1 more than what we were paying now. Then we would lose our rights to the apartment for the next term. This was the most ridiculous thing I have ever encountered!!

6. Our lease states "No visitors between the hours of 11pm-6am unless the landlord is notified first". I inquired about having my parents stay during their visit to grenada. I was told I would need to pay and "extra fee" per day, and that if their stay was longer than 3 days, I would need to negotiate additional monetary compensation. FOR MY APARTMENT THAT I PAY FOR EVERY MONTH. Last time I checked this was not a hotel but apparently I am wrong.

7. Here is a brief list of the rules and regulations that make you think you are living in a boarding school. Keep in mind these items pertain to the entire building property including surrounding lawns and drive-ways:
- No smoking
- No visitors btwn 11pm-6am unless landlord notified
- No parties and like gatherings
- No pets anywhere
- No washing cars
- No fires/barbecues
- No hanging laundry on any apt balcony
- No visiting vehicles to park on premise

Overall this place is a total scam. There exchange rate is even off. If you don't pay in US dollars, they use 2.7169 and not the standard 2.69 that many places in Grenada use. Overall, our inquiries into where are money is going have not been answered. Landlords charging above and beyond the price for things like the internet or housekeeping is unacceptable. Unfortunately, students in desperation after the housing lottery will rent here next term. I strongly urge you to find another place first so you will not have to endure the disappointment and sense of being ripped off that many of us have felt.

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Wow - that is almost too much to believe. I also find it hard to believe that people, like yourself, would be so desperate to agree to all that stuff given that there is a TON of off campus housing in Grenada. People will try to get away with as much as you will let them. Why would anyone to agree to pay $225 per month for housekeeping???? That's more than I pay in Manhattan!

Anyway, have you complained to the administration at SGU (other than notifying the housing department)? Or have the tenants hired a lawyer to seek reimbursement for your internet, etc? Sometimes just getting one official letter from a lawyer (or campus official) threatening action will straighten people up.

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Alway read your lease very carefully before you sign it. If there are any questions such as how much you will pay for what, have them type a new lease with the amount in there. Be sure to get a copy and keep it yourself---that way they can't change it on you. $225 a month is ridiculous---my roommate & I pay $75. Good luck on getting this straightened out.

thanks for your replies....i have already secured new housing for next term with a great landlord, so at least that part will be resolved. I just wanted to post this for first termers and anyone else looking for housing. its tough to run out after the housing lottery and try to beat the rush. And its more difficult when the landlord tells you one thing and make a deposit and then that all changes when you sign the lease. but thanks again for the replies. have a great day!!!

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I think the point here is to, as the above poster says, read your lease carefully and nail down the details BEFORE you sign it. And if something doesn't sound right but they won't budge, don't sign the lease until you do more investigation. Don't get panicky and think that if you don't sign now, you're not going to have a place to live.

Also, if you are entering the housing lottery, don't wait until after the lottery to look for an apartment! Start looking for one and find some good options BEFORE the lottery - that way if you don't get a dorm room, you already know where you want to live.

thanks smiley...ill be sure to avoid them

how long does it take for the lottery results to come out?

I also live in the Academyland apartments, and the facts posted above are all true. My rent is going up $175 US. We're paying $1480US total right now. I have a loud water pump on the other side of my bedroom wall, so my rent is a little bit cheaper for a corner apartment.

Reading the lease closely is excellent advice. However, if you read the lease/terms/conditions when we put down our deposit, you would have found them to have changed when finals were over and it was time to sign. Seeing as most of us were leaving the island, our hands were tied. Otherwise, we (at least I) would have at least tried to look for another place. Also, keep in mind we were fighting the 6th termer's rush for housing too.

Being a former landlord, I know several shady ways of doing business. I never actually APPLIED them though. So hats of to the management of Academyland for doing what I chose never to do.

Question: I'm only allowed to pay rent between 8am - 12pm on the 2nd working day of the month. Because we have class during that time, he agreed to let us pay in the evening, one day earlier. Is this normal, giving tenants only one day to pay rent without fees?

Thanks.

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SGUSOM --- Beyond thinking

is it possible to report the complex to dr. R deans of students and perhaps he can issue an email on the weekly email from SR to avoid this place. i guess they dont realize that newer apts are going up and students have more options now, w/o the students, they will lose a significant amount of money.