University Village

I love living at the village because it's so cheap! $2020 per month for a 2 bedroom and it includes all the utilities (electric, heating, trash, water, wifi, cable). The only gripe I have with it is that it is far from campus (about a 25-30 min bus ride). But I don't mind the location too much because we are the first stop so there are always seats open.

I love living at the village. It is safe, affordable and convenient.

Pros: MONTH to MONTH. If you hate it or want to get here and see if you can find something better (not better price though good luck) then you’re not stuck in a year lease. Campus Bus takes to campus and back. Parking spot. Great price comparably to other spots in the area, includes internet, water, electricity, basic cable, etc. No furniture provided which was best for us since we brought from our previous home. Option for rental furniture. There is a balcony or small patio. Almost everyone seems to have a dog or cat, you just need an emotional support letter. Laundry is by app and in each building. Two great breweries in walking distance, Whole Foods and sprouts nearby, Starbucks and (Philz coffee) is bomb and close by. Target around the corner but you have to drive to. Kids playgrounds if you have children and early childhood development center. Community garden. Rec center and little gym you can use (equipment is good but it’s cramped)

Cons: trains going by are loud but windows (when closed) block sound surprisingly well. No elevators for 2nd or third floors. No laundry in unit. No microwave so you have to purchase, no dishwasher or garbage disposal. You only get ONE parking spot- that’s it. Weeds are overgrown and landscaping is lacking. Rec center is run down looking but gives off friendly YMCA vibes. Very rarely homeless will search through trash but UCPD seems to take care of trespassing pretty quick. I’ve had one package stolen, but that’s pretty typical of Berkeley in general (use Amazon boxes)

You should know: get on the waitlist as soon as possible, west village in my opinion is better than East, if you list 2nd floor as your first choice, you will likely get an apartment sooner.

The village is great place! I highly recommend it.

The units are super well maintained, the price is fair and includes everything. There is a great comunity and is super easy to reach campus

I love living at the Village! Great amenities at an affordable price.

The Village is family housing but allows couples without children. If you have a partner/SO it's fairly easy to register as domestic partners through the City of Berkeley. Also officially not pet friendly but allows emotional support animals.

The townhomes in the East Village of University Village are pretty nice and spacious with decent natural lighting (if you’re east/west-facing). The kitchens are a great size but the ceramic tile countertops are difficult to clean, and the appliances could use updating (oven doesn’t trap heat very well so baking requires high heat and longer cook times, not very energy efficient). There are multiple closets for storage, which is a plus. Some apartments have low-pile carpet with no carpet pad underneath, making the floors really uncomfortable for exercising or sitting (or for small kids crawling around). The carpet is also harder to clean than faux wood floors (especially with pets), which some other UV apartments have throughout. Some maintenance requests seem to have been ignored over the last year, like trimming branches that hit our bedroom roof during wind storms, or fixing our broken doorbell chime. Other more pressing maintenance requests have been addressed quickly, and maintenance staff are always nice and work quickly. Overall I enjoy living in UV, it’s in a great location, has great outdoor spaces and a lovely community garden. If only my entire paycheck as a grad student researcher didn’t go towards rent…

University village is absolutely fantastic! It is beautiful, affordable and safe. You must either be in a relationship or have a family in order to qualify to live here. That being said, the facilities are great and the faculty is very responsive. I feel very safe here. There are two bus lines that pick up at the village and drop off on campus (20-30 minute ride).

University Village is an amazing place to live. After living in an overpriced, cold living room in downtown Berkeley, I was surprised to find such a great housing community near Berkeley. It is very safe, has nice walkways and the staff are reasonable. There is a good study room and even a food pantry for low-income families. The rent is reasonable and the free gas/water/ electricity is an unexpected bonus. There are lots of families with young kids here.

The Village is a great place to live if you are married (or domestic partner) and/or have children. There is lots of programming in the Village and it feels fairly safe. We're very close to Sprouts and Target, and not too far from downtown Albany. However, we're very close to the freeway and railroad so it can be a bit when you're outside but you really can't hear it from inside the apartments. There's also quite a bit of package theft, so just be mindful of that.