Residents of Hamilton Court, an off-campus apartment complex home to many Penn students, have reported a rise in maintenance issues and delayed responsiveness from facilities following the building’s management switch this summer.
Hamilton Court, located at 39th and Chestnut streets, markets itself as convenient housing for students with services like 24-hour emergency maintenance and secure electronic building access. However, since the complex sold for $87 million this summer, student residents have complained about the quality of these services under the new management, a private buyer.
One source, who requested anonymity fearing retribution from their leasing agent, described their room upon move-in as “filthy." They added that they noticed “used Q-tips and dental floss on the floor.”
College senior Lily Nesvold, who moved into HamCo last month, said her smoke detector was detached from the wall when she moved in. Nesvold and the source also describe other residents waiting over a month to receive furnishing needs agreed on in their leases, including a wardrobe and a desk chair.
Another HamCo resident, who also requested anonymity fearing retaliation from HamCo management, said they were forced to move rooms unexpectedly when their building flooded. They have been living with strangers since the incident, and the date they can return to their leased apartment keeps getting pushed back.
“When we asked for a discount, since we are literally living with strangers, they said the only option was to terminate the lease,” the anonymous source told the DP. “But I can’t do that because I need somewhere to live.”
When Nesvold recently experienced a leak in her living room, she called the emergency maintenance line. She said they only followed up on the leak over a day later, despite HamCo's promised amenity of 24-hour emergency maintenance service.
Electronic key fobs used to enter the complex have also posed difficulties for HamCo residents. Some building doors do not close properly, which allows non-residents to be to walk in.
“A homeless guy broke in and entered a Hamilton Court building this week. He kicked in an AC unit,” the first anonymous source said.
Teisha Sor, the general manager of Hamilton Court, did not respond to a request for comment. The HamCo office also did not respond to requests for comment over several attempts to call their office and two voice messages.
“[Sor] has done her best to be incredibly accommodating to everybody. Most of these issues seem to stem from the corporate office and not from her,” the first anonymous source said.
While housing complications have posed a significant issue for residents this semester, College senior and former ambassador to HamCo Gina Chryssofos explained that many problems may even extend back to before the management switch.
“Hamilton Court is definitely an old building, so it did have problems. Sometimes, half the electric outlets in the kitchen would go out,” Chryssofos said.
Chryssofos, who moved out of HamCo before the change in management, said she would still recommend the off-campus residence to other students looking to rent despite the issues.
“Living in Hamilton Court was a good experience overall. There are lots of other students living there, so you are part of a close community,” Chryssofos said.
Nesvold echoed Chryssofos' sentiments, describing her living experience largely as positive despite the obstacles she has faced.
“There is a good side to living in Hamilton Court for the price and proximity to campus. It has flaws, but I am generally happy here,” Nesvold said.
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