Rideau East Apartments - 170 Lees Avenue

Mory Kia

a year ago

I have visited 170 Lees Ave, Rideau East Apartments in Ottawa on several occasions, and each visit has only reinforced my growing disappointment with the overall quality of the apartments. For a business that generates substantial revenue through monthly rental payments, it is crucial to prioritize high standards of cleanliness, maintenance, and overall apartment conditions. Unfortunately, this building falls short in several important aspects. One of the primary concerns is the level of cleanliness. The hallways are frequently cluttered, and the walls exhibit noticeable dirt and grime. This lack of upkeep not only diminishes the visual appeal of the property but also affects the overall comfort and satisfaction of the residents. When prospective tenants visit, they are immediately greeted with an impression of neglect, which can significantly impact their decision to move in. Additionally, the state of the common areas reflects poorly on the management and the company behind the apartments. Clean and well-maintained surroundings are fundamental to creating a positive living environment. It is essential for the managers and the property management company to address these issues promptly and effectively. By investing in proper maintenance and regular cleaning, they can greatly improve the quality of life for current residents and enhance the attractiveness of the apartments for future tenants. I hope this feedback is taken constructively and leads to the necessary improvements at 170 Lees Ave, ensuring a more pleasant and comfortable living experience for everyone involved.

Jude Chamologne

6 months ago

An exceptional staff always ready to help. I have lived there for less than a year and things are getting better every day. Currently the cockroaches are being treated when everything has disappeared I will come back to put the maximum grade. Courage to the team!

Christopher Parr

4 years ago

I have lived at 170 Lees Avenue in Ottawa, in a 1-bedroom unit, for 16 years. I was here before the building was renovated, during all the upgrades, and am still living here now, so I can give an honest review. Initially, when I first moved here, the building was in pretty bad shape. There was a horrendous cockroach problem, the apartments were small and run down, and it was pretty dirty. I was a student at the time though, and the rent was cheap, so I stayed. The following year after I moved in, they began massive renovations. They removed all the crumbling balconies and extended the interior of the units for maximum living space. They tore out all the old carpeting and flooring and put in much nicer, new ceramic tiling, put in new, tinted, casement-style windows, and upgraded many of the kitchens and bathrooms. Then, a few years later, new management took over and continued to improve on the interior of the building, installing new flooring, lighting and aesthetic upgrades in the lobby and hallways (still ongoing on some floors). Brand new elevators were also installed in 2018/19 to replace the original, always-breaking-down system from the 60s, and an upgrade to the building’s power supply was recently completed this year, ensuring the elevators, garage doors, and hall lighting stays on during power outages. With all of the upgrades and improvements over the years, the problem with roaches went from bad, to mild, to virtually non-existent. Personally, I haven’t had any issues with roaches whatsoever for years. I’ve also never seen or heard of anyone I know in the building having bed bugs either. If anyone did have bed bugs while living here, I would argue that they acquired them elsewhere and brought them into their units themselves - the same way people brought them into all the government buildings in 2019 when it was all over the news. Anyone can get bed bugs no matter where they live. It’s unfortunate that the people who had the misfortune of dealing with them blamed the building. I mean, if there were an infestation, EVERYONE would have them by now. It’s sad to see so many negative reviews of this building when it actually has a lot of great qualities. The people that live here are all pretty friendly, and there are a lot of dogs and dog-friendly people. I, myself, have a dog and two cats, so I like that it’s a pet-friendly place. There is a huge open green space right in front of the building where people bring their dogs for exercise, and where organised sports and community events are held. There’s a community garden, and the PATH system is right next to the building, along the Rideau River. It’s close to Ottawa University, St. Paul University, OC Transpo bus stations and the Lees Avenue LRT station. Plus the on-ramp to the 417 is literally right across the street. There’s a children’s park with play equipment just across the field in front of the building (Springhurst Park), as well as a basketball court, and other park amenities. In the rear of the building there are picnic tables and charcoal BBQs for the use of the tenants during the summer months, and an outdoor area for bikes. Attached to the building is a convenience store (accessible through the basement). There’s also a chicken place, and a Chinese restaurant (Giant Panda), all located at the street-side face of the building. Across the street is a barber/hair dresser, and next door are additional convenience stores, a Greek & Pizza place, and a Shawarma restaurant. It’s really handy for student life, or for when you don’t feel like cooking or going to the store. There’s also on-site laundry that’s open 24-hours, with brand new washers & dryers (2021). The building management are all friendly, helpful, and very accommodating, and maintenance work is fast and efficient. I’m not sure why some people have left such bad reviews, but my experience over the past 15 years has been positive, and I’m quite happy here. I love the location, my unit, and the fact that the rent is all-inclusive. No place is perfect, but this place is pretty good.

aya baidossi

9 months ago

COCKROACHES & TERRIBLE CONDITIONS! I lived here for a year and it was one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had. 1. The building entrance and corridors smell awful. The carpets in the lobby are filthy, and strong odors constantly come out of the ground-floor apartments. On the second floor, every single time we walked through the corridor we were hit with an unbearable stench. 2. The hallways are never properly cleaned. They use dirty water and dirty mops, so it always looks and smells bad. 3. The laundry room is a disaster — full of dirt, hair, pet fur, and the machines don’t wash clothes properly. 4. The garage always smells like garbage. Walking through it, you have to close your windows because of the stench. 5. Cockroaches everywhere. From the very first day, we found hundreds behind the oven, fridge, and inside the kitchen cabinets. They come from cracks in the walls, bedroom, bathroom, everywhere. We spent months and lots of money on treatments, but nothing worked. The building office sprayed several times with no real improvement. This is a major health hazard, especially for families with children. 6. The bathroom had mold coming out of the wall behind the bathtub crack. 7. Water issues were constant — both hot and cold water problems. 8. The windows are tiny and barely open. When the window handle broke, it took multiple requests and still no proper repair. 9. The management entered our apartment bedroom without permission just to “close a window.” 10. They even removed car wheels from our parking spot without asking, claiming they needed to clean. This building is unsafe, unhealthy, and poorly managed.