Haven West 121 Pegasus Street, Brunswick, ME 04011

"Just terrible. Far closer to slum than "haven" The buildings are showing age, have outdated wiring, and uneven floors. The provided internet (added on top of the monthly rent and you can't op out) is beyond terrible (8mbps max, which is closer to 4mbps with all the faulty wiring) and it's been an uphill battle to keep comcast working: the new office manager has been attempting to block residents from using all cable internet by barring utility workers from accessing their own amplifiers (landlords cannot impede utilities from being serviced, had to get my ISP to get involved last time). When we moved in we had to purge the place of beetles and wasps, I think they got in from the open window with the severely damaged screen (took a bit, but maintenance did eventually replace it). The carpet is thread-bare in places, dirty, and stained (maintenance said there's nothing they can do about it while we're still living here). The floor bulges up so far we can't shut the bedroom door (nothing maintenance can do about old/warped buildings). This area is just outside most cell towers so you'll likely need to switch (at&t seems to be the goto here). Difficult to cool the unit down, even with the heat off in winter we usually need fans going with the windows open to keep it under 74F. We were a few days late on rent (their app was still processing), and received a bogus eviction notice a week before we'd even get a late fee... After investigating we discovered this was to spur others who were late on rent after xmas (picture Scrooge, but lower). I've lived in worse, but not by a lot; I'm very much looking forward to leaving this slum early. Every time someone moves out I see maintenance replacing every major appliance... I do worry that they're going to try to eat the entire $4k deposit in an attempt to renovate/update their aging units (I'll update when/if they attempt); so make sure to pay to have your place pre-inspected by a 3rd party realty company to protect yourself. The kitchen is missing quite a bit of footage from the advertised floorplans, and with no living room or dining room it makes these units just too small to live in. There are way too many vehicles parked on, or driving on the pedestrian path to use it most times of the day (maintenance routinely blocks off the path completely); Due to the frequent traffic the paths are just mud pits and ruts. Quite a few of the exterior lights didn't work on the east two-thirds of the complex, but after months of repeated maintenance requests we're starting to see more working lights. Rent is overvalued ($2,200/mo after mystery fees), which is probably why there are so many empty/unused units (you really don't need to hurry&apply, they're not going anywhere lol). The rec center uses up a lot of the roadside parking near the pickleball court (perpetually busy) so if you're on the west third of the complex you're pretty much hosed for parking. Dumpsters are frequently overfull, you really gotta move quick around here. If you want a washer/dryer you need to have the office order them for an extra $60/mo to your rent, but there is one heck of a wait: I ordered mine and after 4 months of repeatedly pestering them I finally have a fun-sized washer and dryer. FYI: there is a laundromat about two miles away that you can use during your ~4 month wait for a washer/dryer (probably best to just buy+install one yourself, or commit to a laundromat night). On a more positive note: the office and maintenance staff are very friendly, the complex is well setup for dogs, there doesn't seem to be any porch-piracy, there's a YMCA and Rec center next door, there's a bus route nearby, and the Neptune Woods are a short walk away (great for hikes, bikes, and dogs). Oh, and if you live on the east side (the one with a full parking lot) there is plenty of room for parking, probably because so many of these units are empty. SubNote: I'll try to update this if/as the situation changes, and when I leave (this started out as 3 stars → then 2 → and has since truly earned their 1 star review)"

"Beware of Disappearing Reviews and Dwindling Satisfaction If you're considering renting at Haven West, be prepared for a hefty price tag, a cramped living situation, and unreliable internet. Many of the units remain unrented, for good reason. The layout: The financial burden is outrageous. With an eye-watering $4000 deposit, what do you get in return? A living space that is not only smaller than advertised but also lacks a proper living room. The cramped hallways, sharp corners, and impractical layout make it feel like you're living in a poorly designed maze. My partner and I frequently have to “take turns” navigating the hallways / the kitchen as there isn’t enough room to pass side by side. The kitchen, touted as a functional space, is disappointingly tiny and has a single basin sink. Washing dishes and cooking becomes a logistical puzzle (you can only do one given the counter space), and forget about entertaining guests—it's nearly impossible. If you're considering renting, insist on a video walkthrough to truly grasp the lack of space and impractical layout. Deposit concerns I’m also concerned about our deposit, a month into our rental we noticed our portal still showed the deposit as outstanding. When we inquired about the status of our deposit, the administrator pulled it out of a disorganized pile of paperwork and casually mentioned to disregard the extra amounts shown in the online portal. Apparently, they hadn't input the deposit into their system, even though it had been a month since we moved in. This level of disorganization is concerning, to say the least. Would not recommend auto pay. I also suspect that we won’t get much of our deposit back as they seem to renovate when someone moves out to an absurd degree (will be doing a pre-inspection / have documented issues that existed when we moved in). Good luck on internet Now, let's talk about the internet situation. Despite the high cost, the apartment complex provides its own internet service, which is unreliable and slow. After experiencing ongoing issues, attempting to switch to a reliable provider like Xfinity proved to be a nightmare. The management cited some obscure rule from the fair housing act, preventing residents from having their own internet service, even though Xfinity services the area. It's an absurd restriction, and efforts to get our own internet fixed have been ongoing. Disappearing reviews And let's not forget the disappearing reviews on Google when the rating takes a hit. It's a questionable practice that raises doubts about the transparency of the management. We’ll see how long this latest batch stays up. TLDR My decision to rent here was primarily driven by the urgency of needing a dog-friendly apartment on short notice. However, the experience has been a costly lesson. Never again will I rent without a thorough tour, as the reality of this apartment falls far short of its initial appeal. My advice? Stay far away from this place. There are plenty of other options out there that won't drain your wallet for a cramped living experience."

"The apartments could be a lot worse, but there isn't any feedback/enforcement loop if your neighbors are being unreasonably loud and are unresponsive to requests to limit the noise. I've been stuck with my apartment regularly vibrating due to my neighbor's surround sound and haven't received any traction on that front. Avoid this complex at all costs - the risks of getting stuck with a terrible living situation (especially for what they're charging) are just too high."

"Internet went out Saturday for the whole apartment complex. Outreach broadband sent people out twice to fix it. Property managers felt it was not necessary to send maintenance to let them in to fix it till Monday morning. Absolutely unacceptable."