What do you all make of apartment rating websites?

[SandyCo]

Well, there are always two sides to every story. When I finally moved out of my previous apartment, I did write a scathing review. The owner is one step up from a slumlord, and I had to deal with all kinds of noise - mostly from the manager who lived in the apartment next door! I had lived there for twelve years, and the unit was under rent control. I was willing (and thankfully able!) to pay $300 more per month to have some peace and quiet elsewhere.

In my situation, how could I lodge a complaint with the Better Business Bureau? Are apartment complexes really businesses? Also, noise is subjective. Maybe someone else wouldn't have cared. I don't know.

Besides, no matter what the reviews say, I'm willing to go check out an apartment in person. I'm pretty good at weeding out the bad ones with a set of objective criteria.

Originally Posted by c10penny

Apartment Ratings is a joke of a website! First and foremost it's nothing more than a revenge based website that allows "anonymous" people to say whatever they wish out of anger when there are ZERO facts to back up their accusations. I have friends who have left their apartments in horrendous condition as their pets destroyed the carpet from urine and damage and when they were rightfully charged for carpet damage they went onto this website and wrote complete untruths over and over again about the place they lived. The fact that someone can damage a dwelling and then lie on a website about an apartment complex who did nothing wrong is absurd. This website has no integrity as they do not check into the accusations I also hear they charge the apartment complexes to even reply. What a joke! If you want to get a legit opinion about any business you should do it on a long standing honest site such as the Better Business Bureau the BBB actually looks into any complaint and gets to the bottom of it if a business or apartment complex has wronged someone they will document and share that information. They actually investigate and get to the truth. The do no allow dishonest people slander business falsely. If you buy into sites like this it makes you no better than the liars or the creators who do not have anyones best interest at heart. Do yourself a favor and get legit facts not "anonymous" lies. Shame on them!

[HarryKerryJr]

LA County Health department actually rates apartment buildings (like the restaurants, but not letter grades) with percentage scale. You can go to their website. I looked up a few apartment buildings I knew, and the County seemed very accurate.

[West of Encino]

From what I read, it seems like slumlords are rampant in LA, even in nice neighborhoods.

[asunday]

Originally Posted by HarryKerryJr

LA County Health department actually rates apartment buildings (like the restaurants, but not letter grades) with percentage scale. You can go to their website. I looked up a few apartment buildings I knew, and the County seemed very accurate.

Wow. What a great piece of info. I had no idea you could do that...thanks!

[SandyCo]

I put in my old address, and out of a possible score of 100, the score was 96. I'm not convinced that the L.A. County Dept. of Public Health is the best way to screen an apartment. (By the way, my current building scored 100! )