Corporate Stays 50 Laurier Apartment

The outside windows were washed soon after the new building manager started, and the whole building immediately felt cleaner. She’s around a lot, checking on things, answering questions, and making sure residents are looked after. I’d been waiting four months for a dryer, but once she got involved, it arrived in just two weeks. Honestly, she’s the best manager I’ve ever met.

I arrived on time for my appointment, then waited in the lobby for ten minutes. When someone finally came out, she immediately told me the unit had already been rented. She said she’d emailed me that morning to cancel and that I had replied “yes,” but I never received anything. I don’t know why the manager would make that up or treat people this way.

After moving from Montreal, living here for a year helped me settle into Ottawa. The location is probably the best you could ask for. The building has a rooftop, BBQ area, pool, gym, media room, stylish lobby, and a great outdoor space. There’s a separate entrance for moving and guest parking too. The on-site staff are wonderful, especially Gary, who’s always kind and helpful. The bigger problem is dealing with the head office and management team. Their responses are slow, unhelpful, and often dismissive of residents’ needs. Renovation noise carried on throughout my stay, which was frustrating when working from home or wanting some peace. Pool hours are limited, especially if you swim early in the morning or late at night. Rent may be a little higher than nearby buildings. I still think the lifestyle and location are worth considering if you can put up with the construction noise and distant management.

I’m glad Tamara helped me find a place in another building, and I’m sad she’s no longer my manager. She was sweet, understanding, and caring, and did her best to help. After hearing she’d quit, I was sickened that Homestead put her in a position where she felt she had no choice. Even when I was living in a different building, she helped me. Tamara, thank you. I wish I could have you as my manager. I first called about an apartment and was told it was available. The night before, I confirmed with the man who calls himself the Maintenance Manager. He told me, “Don’t worry, it’s yours, come sign, I will make sure.” I drove six hours, only to find it wasn’t available. The manager at the other building helped us instead. The maintenance guy was in the office and rude to her. She explained that someone else had been approved, but he kept insisting he could call someone and give us the apartment anyway. He talked over her, saying “no, no” and that he’d applied for the job because he knew she didn’t make the rules. She seemed smart and caring and clearly knew more than him. Why have someone in the office who acts more in control than the manager and seems to know nothing? I felt bad for her. I also heard that tenants had yelled at this same maintenance guy from 50 Laurier, including at my building. There was no notice again, and he walked into units. We had roaches on the 11th floor and bedbugs on the 3th, and there was no manager around. There’s a useless manager in one building, no manager in the other, and this maintenance guy keeps doing illegal things. He also emailed a tenant and disclosed the complaint and contact information of me and two other people who had complained about that tenant, to the tenant we complained about. I have proof of the email trail. We’re all taking Homestead to court because our private information should never have been shared. After seven months, I’m leaving. I hope others don’t fall for the same games when they sign up.