One of the most common horror stories is about bad smells. Some neighbors might cook really strong - smelling and unpleasant foods that permeate the whole floor. Also, there are those who have unruly pets that make a mess in the shared areas. And not to forget those neighbors who like to redecorate or do DIY projects at odd hours, like in the middle of the night, with all the hammering and drilling noises.
The most common college apartment horror stories often revolve around shared living situations. Roommates can be a source of horror. For instance, a roommate who doesn't clean up after themselves, leaving dirty dishes everywhere or not taking out the trash. This can lead to an unhygienic and unpleasant living environment. Another common one is when there are issues with the heating or cooling system. In winter, the heater might break down, leaving students freezing in their rooms, or in summer, the AC not working, making it unbearably hot.
One common type is noise problems. Like the neighbor who has parties every weekend until the early hours. Another is boundary disputes. For example, a neighbor might build something on your land without permission. And then there's the nosy neighbor who always wants to know your business and pries into your personal affairs.
A common horror story is about aggressive neighbors. Some neighbors may not like having Airbnb guests around and show their displeasure in an aggressive way. They might yell at the guests for simple things like parking in a spot that they think is theirs, even if it's allowed. There are also cases where neighbors have been overly possessive of shared spaces like a driveway or a small garden area.
I once had a neighbor who was constantly smoking in the hallway. The smoke would seep into my apartment, and it smelled terrible. I'm allergic to cigarette smoke, so it was not only unpleasant but also a health hazard. I complained to the building management several times before they finally took action.
Well, often in these horror stories there is a lack of maintenance. For example, if there are heating or cooling issues and the landlord just ignores it. Also, problems with neighbors can be a part. If the landlord doesn't enforce proper behavior among tenants, it can make the renting experience really bad. There could be noise issues, or even safety concerns if the neighbors are unruly.
Dirty and messy roommates are common. They leave their stuff everywhere and don't clean up common areas. Another type is the noisy roommate who doesn't respect others' need for quiet.
A common one is bad landlords. They might not fix things on time or try to raise the rent illegally. For example, I knew someone whose landlord didn't fix a leaking roof for months. It made the whole apartment damp and moldy.
Well, in many neighbor horror stories, there's the issue of theft. Some neighbors might steal packages from your front porch or even take things from your yard like plants or small garden ornaments. There are also those neighbors who are just plain rude. They might shout at you for no reason or make mean comments when you pass by. And a particularly annoying type of neighbor is the one who always borrows things but never returns them. You lend them a tool or some cooking ingredient, and it's like it disappeared into thin air.
I heard about a neighbor who would break into other people's houses when they were away. He would just sit in their living rooms, not stealing anything, just sitting there. When one family came back early and caught him, he just stared at them blankly and walked out slowly. It was so creepy.
One common horror story is dealing with a slumlord. They might not fix things like a broken heater in the middle of winter. You'd be freezing and they'd keep delaying the repairs. Another is finding out there are pests after you've moved in. I had a friend who rented an apartment only to discover it was infested with cockroaches and the landlord refused to do anything about it. And then there are noisy neighbors. You could end up next to a party - loving family who blast music all night long and don't care about the other tenants.