Bretton Place

***EDIT2 (Sept 27): I forgot to mention the "monthly fire alarm testing" which is just a big joke here. The people running these "tests" don't seem to have a clue what is going on. The fire alarm rings randomly, they fumble around for minutes with the speaker before announcing what is happening but the person speaking isn't speaking clearly at all, so you can't understand a thing being said. If there actually WAS an emergency here, you couldn't rely on them providing clear communication this way. None of their staff know how to use the system. And "monthly fire alarm testing" is actually "2-3 times a month, randomly, despite what our notice says." *** ***EDIT1: In addition to the generic reply from QuadReal below, I received an equally (maybe even more) generic email from someone at QuadReal. Neither of these replies speak to anything mentioned in my review at all. The email I received also refers to the building as "Bretton" instead of its actual name "Bretton Place." To would-be renters: Stay clear. They really don't care at all.*** I've lived here for 14 years. This place used to be run by an older couple, Betty and Robert (if I recall their names correctly?) who, under Realstar, did a pretty good job all things considered. Not perfect, but damn good. Especially impressive considering that they did this all with less staff and without fancy things like online ticketing systems for maintenance issues, etc. Fast forward a number of years, and after management changes going from Bentall Kennedy to now QuadReal it's clear to all tenants that the quality of this property has steadily taken a dive. QuadReal's very inconsistent and generally poor level of communication (whoever they have writing their notices, especially as of late, needs to take a course or three on writing and clear, concise communication) does tend to always be about all the work they're doing and so-called "preventative maintenance" for things like water, heating, electricity, etc. Given the number of times that basic utilities like water and heating have had issues and needed to be shut off for "emergency" work since QuadReal has taken charge ... well, I seriously question the quality of the work being done. This is an older building, yes, and I have cut them a lot of slack for this. But this slack only goes so far. After this many years of the same issues again and again it's clear to everyone living here that "preventative" maintenance isn't being done at all and that they are instead just applying band-aid after band-aid and hiring only the cheapest contractor's possible. Some of the smaller bits of current renovation work underway is taking forever for what it is and isn't even really needed in the first place. For example, the party room and lobby / rental office at 44 were renovated already within the last 10 years and didn't look old or terrible or anything. This work didn't need to be done. Certainly not while tons of other construction is already being done on the property. I suspect this is just more work done to justify yet more AGI's in the near future. Plus it demonstrates a serious lack of care for your tenants who have already been enduring constant construction for the past 4-5 years with at least 2-3 more guaranteed into the future. As I read other reviews here, I find it highly amusing that there's someone from QuadReal posting the same tired, similar looking responses to each negative review (looks copy+pasted honestly). Yet more examples of how QuadReal likes to talk about how they care *instead* of actually doing things to demonstrate that they care. Actions speak louder than words, always. QuadReal doesn't understand this. I look forward to reading the same useless and almost robotic style of response from QuadReal to my review, no doubt telling me to contact management to talk about my concerns. The same management who has demonstrated time and time again that they don't care about their tenants. Why would I want to talk to them? I, and everyone else living here, knows that it is a waste of time. They don't listen
Sep 30th, 2023

- Poor services - Apartment smells like cigarette and weed constantly, management tired to help, but can't do anything about it. - Terrible communication with guests. - There is better places to live.
Sep 30th, 2023

Sep 4th, 2023

Location, Location and Location is the selling point of this place, unfortunately not much else at this point. After living here for just shy of 8 months, I will commend certain staff such as the community manager Lorna and the maintenance workers as they are always friendly and welcoming but from my perspective that and the location is really all that is going for this once seemingly great building. The construction is consistently delayed and under-delivered, during my time here the gym has only been functional just half the time and I believe it is still not constructed to this date. The overall area is really nice but I don't recommend the building at it's current state for the market level rental prices Quadreal is charging. Yes it is a rent protected apartment but keep in mind the more construction will lead to AGI increases, consider going private at the current market prices. Overall I think Bretton is what it appears as, just an apartment building, nothing fancy but not the worst either. If you're looking for something in a great area this is the place but if you want good amenities and a cost to value ratio, I would say it's subpar. I think if you're new to Canada it may be a good place to settle at first but definitely at it current state not a building to live in for a long term basis.
Aug 13th, 2023

BJ and Andrew are both fabulous. The maintenance staff keeps this building running.
Jul 27th, 2023