Saturday, July 7, 2012

Le Versailles 680 St. Joseph Boulevard, Gatineau Quebec

I wrote this a while ago but left it in Draft mode accidentally...

I'm writing this entry so that if there's anyone else out there considering moving to Le Versailles at 680 St. Joseph Boulevard in Hull, Quebec, you will be aware of the BS of living there.

I've lived in apartment buildings all my life and this experience disgusts me. I lived at Le Versailles for 3 years as a single professional. My job required much overtime, travel and working off-site. I paid my rent in full and on time every single month. I worked most of the time so I was quiet and I had no complaints against me.

Problems encountered:

1. Unauthorized entry on more than one occasion (there might be more that I'm unaware of).

- I was at home literally "sick in bed" when I heard noise coming from my hallway. I opened my bedroom door and there was the Superintendent removing my stuff from the bathroom cabinet so he could unclog the sink! He said the Landlord, Colette told him he could enter since I already was aware that the sink was getting clogged. I had absolutely NO notice whatsoever!

- I had received a notice stating that yet again, they had to access my unit to 'test the fire alarm'. I immediately called the Landlord and stated I did not want them entering due to my absence for work obligations. I was told the proper procedure was to write a letter stating that I do not want them entering the unit and that I release Versailles from all obligations. I hand delivered the letter to the Landlord but as a precaution, I locked BOTH deadbolts on my door. When I came home, my door handle was snapped off. I first unlocked the top bolt and it opened! They had entered because the second bolt wasn't locked!

- 2 weeks prior to the last day of renting there, I was continuously harassed by the Landlord to allow them to do an inspection. I had moved the majority of my items out on the 8th but still had some of my property there (Not to mention 409$ left of my rent that I already paid!). I reminded her that I had until the 31st and the apartment hadn't been cleaned yet and that I would contact her when it was ok to do the inspection. On the 28th, my boyfriend tried to access the unit but the second bolt was locked (I never lock it and only I have the key). I called the Landlord and she said that she called me the day before and left a message stating that if I didn't call her back, she would be entering the unit the next day. This does not constitute as 'my permission' to enter!

2. Constant interruptions. I have rented in Ontario since 1990 and never have I seen such constant disruptions by the Landlord wanting to access my unit. Being a developer I have a lot of laptops and PC's along with the additional electronics that frankly aren't cheap. Why would I let strangers in to my apartment without my supervision? To this end, I have had to miss work for which my employer started getting irate.

3. Poor attitude and rudeness. I have experienced and received complaints from my guests in regards to her bitchiness. The best one being her refusal to allow my boyfriend to bring his bike in to my apartment which is something we both always did. In addition, she doesn't take kindly to furniture being moved in or out.

4. Shower. Be careful! The water turns scalding hot in the blink of an eye if a neighbour decides to take a shower or flush the toilet. I had to replace the shower head with a hand-held to stop being burnt.

5. Pigeons! The pigeons were out of control! At first they started to blame me stating that they were there because I had a bistro set on the balcony. When they realized that wasn't going to work they dropped it. Seriously, am I not allowed to sit outside in the summer?

6. Rent increases exponentially! For the first year I paid 750$ At the end of year 1 my rent was $764. At the end of year 2, my rent was 794$! Reason cited was because they had to install fire alarms. When rent goes up 30$ in one shot, they're still going to raise it the next year based on that 'one-time' increment!


10 comments:

  1. Hi I lived at Le Versaille from 1981 to 1985, then the rent was cheaper but the problems remained exactly as you said in your note, they entered my appartment without my permission on many occasion, especially when I was travelling, or not at home for work. I told them I did not want them to go in without informing me and they still went in anyway, I got so fed up that I bought an alarm with a chain that when pulled by someone that tried to go in, rang very loudly and one day I got complains about the neighbors and the landlord that I was not permitted to have such an alarm, that it disturbed the neighbors, so I told them that the alarm would stay therm and they never went in without my permission after thant. I moved out of there because the rent was going up in $50.00 increments and the problems that I had with my stove, my closet doors, the heating system, were never fixed. I would not recommend to anyone to move there.

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  2. My mom and dad was janitor there in 1972-73 and that was rock n roll already at that time.

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  3. I lived there for 12 years. That same person Collete, was very very rude to people & had me crying on a few occasions. It is sad, to have such a person dealing with people, that obviously had NO people skills at all. That was my reason for leaving after 12 years. And the fact that I had been waiting for 2 1/2 years for a 1 bedroom, since my son had moved out. She always kept giving me excuses. Very sad.

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  4. Hello

    I am very surprised from your comments on the Versailles. I moved in last summer, in July 2013, and the director there, Carole, takes care of me in an incredible way. The building and apartment are very clean and well maintained. If you want a quiet place I strongly recommend it.

    Caro

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  5. That was 3 years i'm living there and I leave at the end of my lease. I met Colette, Carole and now it's Jean. Colette was not very good in gestion but Carole was so worst then Colette. I'm actually leaving cause of her but now it's a new guy and his really kind and when you ask something you got it, but work is done so quickly then it's really not done professionnally.
    And All the problem you said was true even with Carole. So I begin to thing it's maybe the rules they receive and they just follow them.
    My worst problem with that building is the elevator. They are so slow, always out of order, you can wait more then 5 minutes to get one, I already wait 20min with my grocerie before I decide to take the stair (9level).
    Good luck to anyone who decides to live there, hope for you then the new guy in charge will solve all probem and make the difference.

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  6. Now we got a new one, faster and safer

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  7. Thank you so much for this information. I was actually considering moving there, due to their indoor pool, but... Not anymore!

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  8. Wow, I am surprisingly shocked by all these comments, I was considering to move there, after reading all these comments It kinda saddens me to know that this is the way they treat their loyal customers. I am not moving there ANYMORE !!!

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  9. Wow, I was highly convinced to move in there as well but now I am reconsidering if I should.

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