1140 Commonwealth Avenue

This is a good place if you want to live alone and you don't have any mobility issues. It is in good condition for an old building, meaning no AC or 21st-century elevator* but things are clean, lots of light, doors/trash are secure, walls are surprisingly thick, management responds. Windows are mostly non-drafty. You don't get a thermostat, management sets the temp on the warm side which is fine imo. Stove is kind of weird (don't leave anything on it because the pilot lights make the top warm 24/7) but works fine. Laundry is in the basement for the exorbitant price of $3.50 per wash $3.50 per dry. They don't allow subletting or lease takeovers so don't live here if you're going to do a summer or semester elsewhere and don't want to pay double rent.

*Safety rating gets dinged because the elevator actually killed someone in 2020. Be aware it has a heavy slamming door and no safety sensors.

Property manager on call 24/7 and responds quickly. Entrances are secure with locks and cameras. Hygienic, no rat or insect issues. Laundry is expensive but fast and there's never a line to use the machines. No problems with other tenants or noise. Note that the elevator is an antique and very difficult to use (heavy slamming door with no safety sensor) and it killed someone a few years ago, so be careful and get help if trying to move heavy things in it.