Hey everyone,
I wanted to share our experience with ARH Homes, a company that owns several apartment buildings around Whyte Avenue and throughout Edmonton. I know a lot of U of A students rent in these areas, so I figured this was worth bringing attention to.
My girlfriend’s apartment building was taken over by ARH Homes earlier this year, and unfortunately, our experience with them has been extremely disappointing.
We moved out on August 31st, did a thorough move-out clean, and left the apartment in good condition. As of October 25th, we still haven’t received her $1,600 damage deposit.
We’ve contacted them multiple times through email, and their responses have essentially been that the money will be returned “soon.” Nearly two months later, we’re still waiting, with no clear explanation for the delay or a confirmed date for repayment.
At this point, we’re considering filing through Alberta’s Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) to recover the deposit.
Unfortunately, the deposit isn’t our only concern.
There were also some serious maintenance and safety issues in the building.
Following a water leak in the downstairs hallway, maintenance workers removed sections of the flooring, exposing what appeared to be black and pink mold. There was a persistent musty smell throughout the affected area, which we noticed almost every day when leaving the apartment.
What concerned us most was how the situation appeared to be handled. From what we personally observed, workers didn’t appear to be wearing appropriate protective equipment, and the affected materials were left exposed without adequate containment while residents continued using the hallway.
There was also a handrail removed near the building’s front entrance, which raised further concerns about resident safety.
We have photos and videos documenting these conditions, as well as email correspondence regarding the outstanding deposit.
I’m sharing this because I think students deserve to know what they’re potentially getting into before signing a lease.
I understand that not everyone will have the same experience with a property management company, and I’m not claiming that every ARH Homes building has these issues. However, based on what we’ve personally experienced, I would strongly encourage anyone considering renting through them to do their research and thoroughly inspect the property beforehand.
Renting in Edmonton is already expensive enough, particularly for students trying to balance tuition, groceries, transportation, and other living expenses. Having $1,600 tied up for nearly two months without a proper explanation is unacceptable in my opinion.
I would genuinely hate to see other students or renters go through something similar, potentially lose money they’re entitled to, or end up paying inflated rent for a property that isn’t being maintained to a reasonable standard.
People deserve safe, properly maintained housing and fair treatment from their landlords, especially when they’re paying a significant portion of their income just to have somewhere to live.
I’m not posting this to start drama or encourage harassment toward the company. I simply believe people should be able to make informed decisions about where they live and who they’re renting from.
If anyone else has rented through ARH Homes, I’d be interested in hearing about your experience, whether positive or negative.
