Pros:
Spacious, close to the train
Cons:
A big tree has fallen in the backyard and the management team told us it was against their orthodox religion to move trees. They refuse to pay the super, who is not a part of the religion, to move the tree. So the tree has been obstructing the backyard, bringing in rats. Inside, MICE come through the brick walls, and when you cover them, they make new holes. They always come back. The basement FLOODS from two entrances to the basement from the outside. The master bedroom does not retain heat in the winter, or cold in the summer, no matter how high you turn the heat. After not getting responses from the landlord, we asked 311 for assistance and they told us the boiler is too small for the space. The super, the real estate agent from Yup! realty, and any management folks will DEFINITELY try to open your door handle BEFORE knocking. It's absolutely creepy, especially when you're a female in the shower. You will most definitely hear about all the trash you throw out because the super will tell you about it. The walls are thin. And the reason why we are moving is because they want to raise our rent $500/ month WITHOUT ANY IMPROVEMENTS. And they've been using sneaky tactics to get us to move out. They will say something like "we understand this may force you to terminate your lease".
Edit: forgot to mention, neighbors will casually sift through your trash with the intention of watching you from the bedroom window. You will hear kids giggling as soon as you try to change your clothes. Because there's creeps, loud music, smelly trash cans outside the front window, you can't peacefully open the front facing windows, leaving you only the back windows as your main source of fresh air. And if they haven't moved that tree in the backyard you will have basically very little ventilation. There is no natural light in the kitchen, so everyday feels like being in a cave. In the winter the master bedroom is ice cold like a spirit lives there. The small boiler in the flooding basement does not heat up that room enough. When you seal the windows for the winter, or keep it closed for the hot garbage in the summer, realize that you're never gonna enjoy that master bedroom window. And if you've stopped changing clothes in the master bedroom because you're being watched, you'll basically never spend time in that bedroom ever.
Edit: I have finally received my security deposit after calling every week for it for a month and a half after moving. They took $500 for "damages".
Advice to owner:
You know what you have to fix. You just didn't want to fix it so we would move out or pay you more. God knows about your selfishness and the oppression you continue to enact on people of color in Brooklyn. It's awful that your family probably lives nicer than we do, living off the hard earned money I've made, while you're lording over the land, keeping control of your little "investments". I'd like to see you move your family into this apartment. Would it be suitable for them???? Would you let mice jump around your children in the bedroom? Or do you think we're less than, that we deserve less than the bare minimum? The racism we felt toward you was very palpable that you couldn't even look me in the eyes. In your mind do you think you're just housing some zoo animals? Very inhumane.