Lencshire House

I needed somewhere to move in a pretty short time span, and trying to get value for money in DC is always a nightmare. I think for the price and the location, the quality is what I'd expect, but I think for other types of people this wouldn't be as good of a fit.

I have found nothing but extremely fast management responses, and in fact, the leasing office manager here was very responsive and helpful in my move. The maintenance staff has been super speedy and kind, especially since at the time… of writing we are still in pandemic mode. The move was easy enough, and the laundry facilities work just fine, even if they are a little pricey.

For the downsides: there are cockroaches. I've only seen one of a truly worrying size, and they're always dead when I see them. I'm sure the building sprays as much as they can on the outside, but I'm on the ground floor and this is a dirty city. I've seen less than ten total in the month and a half I've been here, which is annoying but fine for me. The bathroom shower is so strong that the water leaks out unless the curtain is super glued to the wall, meaning there's a bit of puddling after every shower.

For what it is, and considering the age of the building, I'm very comfortable with living here, but I wouldn't want to stay more than a year, to put it that way. Still, I would disagree with some of the previous reviews that the place is "infested" with cockroaches, and if you're short on cash and time, this is not a bad place to live short term. Read More

This place is INFESTED with cockroaches, and the company does not keep its word to its residents.

I lived here for over a year. This place is a bit cheaper than the rest of the apartments in the area, but you get far less than what you pay for. This building is literally infested with cockroaches. I was lucky if I did not kill a cockroach once a day. It was a terrible feeling to dread bringing over guests and have them see roaches in my home. It doesn't matter how clean of a home you keep, the… building is overrun.

In addition, you have to get everything in writing at this complex. Because I was not given access to the online payment portal when I moved in, my rent the first month was a day or two past the deadline. The then-property manager, Donna, assured me that she would have it taken off my bill. Months went past and I would email her about and and ask about it when I saw her in the building, and she would assure me in-person it just takes a long time to come off. Once the building switched property managers, I went to Terrance to ensure this would be taken off my account balance. Despite having emails to Donna clearly indicating the situation, she had only responded orally when I saw her daily and the company refused to honor the guarantees she gave me. The fact that this company would go back on the word of its own property managers to make a buck says a lot about the management here. If you're going to live here, ensure that all communication is in writing, as they do not have the integrity to keep their word otherwise.

Finally, the residents here are certainly unusual for the area the building is in. At one point while living here someone was under house arrest, and police are frequently called to the building for disturbances. Overall, while some of the staff and residents are very kind, this building is scraping the bottom of the barrel in the area. In retrospect, it was absolutely worth another $75 a month to live in a nicer building in the area without cockroaches, where the management keeps its word, and where residents aren't assumed to be liars. Read More

This is one of the most reasonably priced buildings I've found in the area, and a really good value for what you get. What drew me to it was the really surprisingly inexpensive rent for a pretty large 1-BR. The apartments are fairly spacious and well laid-out, with nice hardwood floors and a bit more "character" than the newer cookie-cutter buildings. If you're looking for lots of amenities, you won't find it here--there is no gym, pool, etc. However, there is a really nice roofdeck with… awesome views of the National Cathedral and surrounding area.

Another big plus is the staff. Donna, the leasing agent, is very warm and personable, and so are the front desk staff. Maintenance has always responded to my requests very promptly (I believe the Maintenance Manager lives in the building, and I see him around and notice that he knows most of the tenants, which is nice). The place definitely has a sort of "family feel" to it. There are a lot of long-term residents living here, and most people seem happy with the place. I have yet to encounter any grumpy or unpleasant neighbors, which says a lot.

Finally, the location: this could be a pro or a con, depending on your needs and likes. Personally, I love being in this beautiful, quiet corner of upper NW. What makes it even better is the opening of the brand-new Cathedral Commons development, with a bunch of new restaurants, shops, and best of all, a fantastic Giant grocery store (yes, it really is the best Giant in the city). BUT there is really no metro within walking distance (yes, the Cleveland Park metro is technically "only" a mile and a half away, but it's a very long mile and a half, especially coming back uphill the whole way). However, there are a lot of bus lines with stops literally steps from the building's front door. You can take the bus up and down Wisconsin Avenue, to the Tenleytown metro or Georgetown...or the 96 to Woodley Park, Adams Morgan, U Street, all the way to Union Station. The N2/N4 buses are only a block or so away (they take you to Dupont Circle).

All in all, while this is an older, no-frills building, it offers a lot of positives at extremely reasonable prices. Read More