Rocca House By Larsen

I can’t recommend this place to anyone looking for a safe, reliable home, and in my view it isn’t a healthy environment for students or young people. The shared spaces were noisy at night, with people slamming doors and shouting, and staff didn’t step in. The location also felt very different from the advertised photos. I saw intoxicated people and others going through trash at the entrance every day. I also saw people, usually drunk, vomiting by the door and using drugs or other substances in common areas. When problems came up, management’s only response seemed to be to tell residents to call security. The heating stayed on even in summer, and the temperature inside reached as high as 35°C, making the rooms nearly uninhabitable. Opening the windows brought in insects, while traffic from the two nearby main roads made it impossible to sleep through the night. The rent situation was upsetting from the start. Just three days into a one-year reservation, I got an email saying prices had gone up. They said I’d have to leave within 15 days if I didn’t accept the new rate. The prices on their website still appeared unchanged, while mine went up by almost €50. On my last day, I was also charged nearly €50 for that day’s rent even though I wasn’t staying overnight. I found the business practices aggressive and highly questionable. This was the most disappointing housing experience I’ve had.

Getting to the city centre takes about 30 minutes, and there’s plenty of transport nearby. Rocca al Mare mall is handy for shopping or going to the gym. The place has a modern design, with the bed up near the ceiling. The ladder is a little tricky to climb up and down, but taking it slowly and carefully is no big deal. Laundry is free, though you need to bring detergent, which you can buy at the 24/7 store.

Changing rooms costs an extra few hundred euros as a contract fee. The room itself is quite expensive for its size, and basics like kitchen utensils and bedding cost extra. Security is a serious concern too: there have been several robberies, including gaming equipment and even whole LCD screens taken from the common room. Getting the deposit back was frustrating. I paid €469, then received an email listing deductions of €100 for allegedly damaged window hinges, which were fine during my stay, €100 for floor damage that was already there before I moved in, and €94 in cleaning fees including taxes. They seem to rarely return the full deposit. The extra charges and deductions felt unfair.

There’s a Hesburger and a large 24/7 supermarket just a minute away. The room has a big fridge and everything you need to cook for yourself, which is absolutely amazing.