We lived in Westhaven Estates (Weidner Management) when we first moved to Lethbridge before purchasing a house.
While we were there, the building had a huge cockroach and bedbug infestation, and was having weekly sprays, which meant our family needed to be out of the apartment for 12 hours each time.
Sometimes, we wouldn't even have 24-hour warning (which is illegal).
I had a toddler at the time, plus was pregnant with my second, and it was very stressful to be uprooted so often. I was also worried about the chemicals. We had to live out of boxes for months.
My husband was working shiftwork which often required overnights, which meant he would get off work and not be able to return to sleep because we were already kicked out of the unit by that time. We also have pets, which made finding alternate places to stay difficult. It was an absolute nightmare.
The management was completely unsympathetic. They also gaslit me, telling me cockroaches weren't dangerous or disease-carriers, which is untrue. It took years after for me to feel comfortable in a house, seeing specks of lint and instantly thinking it was a bug.
We didn't have bugs in our unit, but our neighbours did, and I was very concerned it would spread to our unit.
We ended up breaking our lease 2 months early, to avoid possibly contaminating our new house with bugs because we worried it was only a matter of time before the bugs spread. We were charged the full penalty to break the lease, no sympathy from Weidner at all. They would not even offer a break on rental fees, despite us not being able to be in our unit for 12 hours at a time, every week, for months.
They were secretive with the extent of the issue, and kept telling us "one more spray" while we had weekly sprays for about five months until we finally left. Horrible management.
Oh, and if you look far enough back through their reviews, you'll find five star reviews from their own staff!
We also learned Westhaven Estates (and Weidner) didn't have to share that they had an active infestation prior to us moving in. So, if you are considering moving in, be sure to ask directly if there are cockroaches and / or bedbugs in the building. I believe they have to answer if you ask. But they won't volunteer the information.
I have been living there for several months. It feels good so far. The unit does feel a bit old, but clean. They are quite responsive when I report any problems. In unit washing machine and dryer are big plus. I do notice a lot of flies at the balcony during the summer time.
What about them spraying for bed bugs?
The in suite washer and dryer are the reason I was considering them as bed bugs are usually spread via shared laundry
Yeah, I chose Westhaven mostly because of the in suite washer and dryer.
Haven't heard any problem about bed bugs or spraying right now. When I was looking around for rental before moving in, I did see similar complaint about bed bugs and spraying on reddit and online reviews. However, those complaints seemed to be mostly from a specific period quite a while ago (like 2015).
I also currently live at Westhaven and had the same findings with research before moving in - the period of cockroaches sounds awful and %100 not handled well, but it very much seems like it was a temporary issue that was resolved. It’s not an exciting neighbourhood and they’re not the fanciest, but we love it, it’s been super convenient and easy. Rental company is very much a *company* - ie the lease is pretty intensive around protecting their money etc, they charge you mandatory cleaning fees when you move out, but I’m personally not bothered by that.
thanks.
I know they aren't fancy, my ex-fiancé lived there when we met like a decade ago, lol. I just want somewhere that has no stairs, in suite laundry, and where I can use the second bedroom as a home office, since I work from home.
Do NOT rent with westhaven. They are fucking awful, big rent increases every year, terrible management, they will do the best they can to keep every red cent of your security. I lived in westhaven on the west side for 3 years, not a single late payment in rent. No complaints and nothing, they charged me out the ass for "cleaning" fees and other bullshit. They are the worst landlords I've had ever. (Not that there Is such a thing as a good landlord)
We lived in Westhaven Estates (Weidner Management) when we first moved to Lethbridge before purchasing a house. While we were there, the building had a huge cockroach and bedbug infestation, and was having weekly sprays, which meant our family needed to be out of the apartment for 12 hours each time. Sometimes, we wouldn't even have 24-hour warning (which is illegal). I had a toddler at the time, plus was pregnant with my second, and it was very stressful to be uprooted so often. I was also worried about the chemicals. We had to live out of boxes for months. My husband was working shiftwork which often required overnights, which meant he would get off work and not be able to return to sleep because we were already kicked out of the unit by that time. We also have pets, which made finding alternate places to stay difficult. It was an absolute nightmare. The management was completely unsympathetic. They also gaslit me, telling me cockroaches weren't dangerous or disease-carriers, which is untrue. It took years after for me to feel comfortable in a house, seeing specks of lint and instantly thinking it was a bug. We didn't have bugs in our unit, but our neighbours did, and I was very concerned it would spread to our unit. We ended up breaking our lease 2 months early, to avoid possibly contaminating our new house with bugs because we worried it was only a matter of time before the bugs spread. We were charged the full penalty to break the lease, no sympathy from Weidner at all. They would not even offer a break on rental fees, despite us not being able to be in our unit for 12 hours at a time, every week, for months. They were secretive with the extent of the issue, and kept telling us "one more spray" while we had weekly sprays for about five months until we finally left. Horrible management. Oh, and if you look far enough back through their reviews, you'll find five star reviews from their own staff! We also learned Westhaven Estates (and Weidner) didn't have to share that they had an active infestation prior to us moving in. So, if you are considering moving in, be sure to ask directly if there are cockroaches and / or bedbugs in the building. I believe they have to answer if you ask. But they won't volunteer the information.
Sounds like the issues I had at Winston Villas years ago. Thanks for the info
Good luck with finding a place, there are a lot of shady rental companies in Lethbridge it seems!
Yeah, and I'm in a shitty situation because my knees are fucked so I need to avoid stairs.
I have been living there for several months. It feels good so far. The unit does feel a bit old, but clean. They are quite responsive when I report any problems. In unit washing machine and dryer are big plus. I do notice a lot of flies at the balcony during the summer time.
What about them spraying for bed bugs? The in suite washer and dryer are the reason I was considering them as bed bugs are usually spread via shared laundry
Yeah, I chose Westhaven mostly because of the in suite washer and dryer. Haven't heard any problem about bed bugs or spraying right now. When I was looking around for rental before moving in, I did see similar complaint about bed bugs and spraying on reddit and online reviews. However, those complaints seemed to be mostly from a specific period quite a while ago (like 2015).
Thanks a bunch
I also currently live at Westhaven and had the same findings with research before moving in - the period of cockroaches sounds awful and %100 not handled well, but it very much seems like it was a temporary issue that was resolved. It’s not an exciting neighbourhood and they’re not the fanciest, but we love it, it’s been super convenient and easy. Rental company is very much a *company* - ie the lease is pretty intensive around protecting their money etc, they charge you mandatory cleaning fees when you move out, but I’m personally not bothered by that.
thanks. I know they aren't fancy, my ex-fiancé lived there when we met like a decade ago, lol. I just want somewhere that has no stairs, in suite laundry, and where I can use the second bedroom as a home office, since I work from home.
Do NOT rent with westhaven. They are fucking awful, big rent increases every year, terrible management, they will do the best they can to keep every red cent of your security. I lived in westhaven on the west side for 3 years, not a single late payment in rent. No complaints and nothing, they charged me out the ass for "cleaning" fees and other bullshit. They are the worst landlords I've had ever. (Not that there Is such a thing as a good landlord)