Osgoode Chambers

Pretty good for student housing

I had a single bachelor unit (220 sq. ft.) on the fourth floor with enough space for me and a decent view with sunlight that I really appreciated. I think I got lucky with my unit because it didn't have as many problems compared to what I heard from others living in Passy (as described in community group chats and the York Apartments Facebook page). Overall, Passy seemed like the best choice for me as a single out-of-province student who wanted to live alone in a furnished unit among a community of other law students. I remember reading reviews on this site before applying for an apartment on campus because securing housing away from home was the biggest stressor for me in starting law school. SO, although this review might be lengthy, I hope it's helpful for at least someone out there.

PROS:
◉ I appreciated having an indoor entrance as it made me feel safer. The connected nature of the building, along with the community of other law students nearby made it feel like a collegial neighbourhood.
◉ The included wifi wasn't as spotty as I thought it would be, and I found it was reliable enough for classes/calls/studying most of the time.
◉ Furniture was pretty standard, and while you can bring your own in, you can't take any of theirs out, which could be annoying to some. I didn't have any specific needs so what they provided was fine with me.
◉ I like that there were washing/drying machines in the building, even if they are pay-per-use. I thought people at Osgoode Chambers were much better about things like laundry room and mailroom etiquette compared to what I had heard about in the other residences (again, as judged by group chats and the Facebook page). The laundry room and mailroom were generally clean and well-kept spaces. From my experience and what I have heard from my neighbours, there's not as much theft happening in the mailrooms of these buildings compared to that of other York Apartment buildings (as judged by group chats and the Facebook page).
◉ I like that there are no buzzers to worry about malfunctioning at Osgoode Chambers, either.

CONS:
◉ Management, lol. They aren't too quick to respond to claims, though they generally did eventually get around to issues if you reminded them enough. With more pressing concerns, you had more luck contacting security directly and they'd get someone over to help you faster. Regarding issues in my apartment, I won't list them because then people reading this will know who I am, but I had at least three issues that I needed to bring to management and maintenance's attention in just the first few months.
◉ Figuring out the unreliable heating system felt like a ridiculous rite of passage. Each unit is a bit different and eventually, I considered myself lucky to find what worked for me, though I know many of my neighbours in this building are still either melting or freezing even after months of moving in. I resorted to a combination of opening/closing the window and switching on/off the fan from the circuit breaker to achieve temperature balance.
◉ Passy apartments are incredibly dry, especially in Winter. Consider investing in an affordable humidifier.
◉ The water might be hard for you if you're not used to it. Consider investing in an affordable water filter.
◉ No elevators. Makes it difficult to bring up furniture, TVs, heavy objects, etc. up the stairs.
◉ Too many fire alarms.

Even with all these concerning things I have mentioned above, I still feel like being given my first choice of a unit in Passy Crescent (Osgoode Chambers, specifically) ended up being the most feasible, safest, and reliable choice for me. It seems to be as stable as it gets and I would recommend it to most students, especially folks who want to be residing in a less busy building.

Can't beat the price.

It’s a good space for those looking to live without roommates and who do not have a partner or family to share with.

The units are a good value for space (especially 1 bdrms), utilities included, and location to Yorku.

They have taken steps to improve safety, if you live in a unit with an exterior door, you must seriously consider buying your own door camera or additional safety measures. There are frequent and false fire alarms.

The units are old and mostly unrenovated. Some have serious maintenance issues some do not. Almost all units have temperature control issues but nothing that is unlivable. The upper management of York Apartments is by far the worst I have ever encountered in my life. They are unresponsive, unreasonable, unreachable, unhelpful, and not fitting to manage the residence of 'Osgoode Chambers'. If rent was any more than it is - it would not be worth residing here. Garbage routinely piles up in public areas, interiors of buildings are not cleaned (even during Covid) until complaints are made, and its evident basic repairs and upkeep have been extremely neglected.

Serious Maintenance issues will be completely ignored until you either constantly try to contact them or phone the universities security service. Plenty of blame-shifting to other university elements or contractors, but they are the ones responsible for the lease and management of the apartments.

I recommend living here for many reasons but it can be seriously hit or miss given the severely incompetent management. Be prepared to have to fight out even the most minor problem and escalate basic issues to upper management. The university should seriously intervene in the management of these buildings.

Decent amount of space and appliances work well. The only issue I have is the lighting. The window gives natural light but at night the light in the room is not very bright. This is the same for many of the other apartments in this building I have visited. Also, we have no control over AC or heating as it is a single vent system. Lastly, there is no elevator - not a big issue, but when I have a lot to carry it can be inconvenient

Overall, I am very pleased with my experience at Osgoode Chambers. My unit (1 bedroom) is spacious, and well maintained. Any maintenance issues I have had have been promptly addressed. My unit seems relatively up-to-date with new appliances and shower. Only complaints so far is the amount of fire alarms that have gone off. Their frequency has gone up significantly since the flood that occurred in January (although, I am not sure if this related). The alarms are obnoxious and the flashing lights are nauseating. The outside of the property could also use some freshening up. Unit doors and metal railings are rusted, sidewalks are uneven and cracked, building paint is faded and patchy. Another issue pertains to the general safety of the area, with quite a number of crimes (e.g. bullet casings found at Assiniboine across from Osgoode Chambers) having been reported on campus which has been unsettling at times. Nonetheless, I am very satisfied with the space of my unit, its proximity to the law School, and the value for money.