Third Square Apartments — Local services in Cambridge

Third square is truly an amazing apartment building and I am happy to have spent two years there. I am listing pros and cons below. In short, if you want a convenient, low-hassle apartment for one or two years you cannot go wrong with this place. I left to move to Watermark (which has also been amazing so far) to go to a bigger unit and try something new with a view, but I was very satisfied with my time in Third Square.

I lived in the 303 building and was on the first floor and will start with the pros.

Service service service. These guys do not mess around with service at all. My microwave was not working and I filled out the online form. The next day I came home from work and there was a new one. This awesomeness is exactly how my other service request went. The maintenance staff also helped me install my curtains with high ceilings, which was very helpful.

The move-in costs are almost nothing and they returned the tiny security deposit promptly after I moved out. If one thinks about it, the lack of a realtor fee makes up for the rent increase if you stay here just two years which is a decent amount of time.

Overall just a nice touch to things. The appliances are all top-notch and worked without any issues for two years. The bathtub is over sized which had a nice feel as well. Also they have a card-operated laundry room with big washer and dryers in case you need to wash a comforter or large item.

Flexibility...the management was pretty flexible on things, such as my parents dog visiting and always got back to me quickly. The concierge staff were all fantastic too. They were always on top of packages or anything I asked them about.

The gym is nice and open 24 hours a day. Athletics is a hobby of mine and being able to use a treadmill during a blizzard or lift weights was a big deal to me given the normal gyms were closed. (The weights are limited but as a back up gym it is fine.) The pool is nice too but I never used it so no comments on it.

The location is really convenient to MIT, Beacon Hill, East Cambridge and the T and it is pretty safe with some nice restaurants. The streets adjacent to the building are also quiet which is nice if a guests with a car needs to wait or drop someone off.

Cleaniness! The apartment was immaculate when I moved in and the common areas are clean too. No vermin of any kind! The building is dog friendly so the carpets get worn quickly but that is life with dogs. (Being dog friendly is a big plus.)

The parking garage is very convenient and there are always many open spots.

Cons

They do raise rent a lot during renewal. Granted rents are going up in Kendall square, they try to renew you at a peak in the curve. Think the stock market. Over ten years it might go up a few percent but it can vary dramatically month to month. Expect them to try to renew you at a peak "market rate" and raise rent between 10 and 20% If you are solid at negotiating you have a good shot at reducing that a bit. Also it is my understanding that all of the corporate run buildings raise rents significantly so this is not unique to Third Square. If you want to stay in a place 3+ years with little rent increase, then try to find a family-owned small place.

The building is not very sound proof. The walls are thin and within my apartment I could hear things easily with doors closed. The same with noise in the hall. This was not a big deal but do not expect a sound proof place.

My car did have some rusty water leak on it in the garage. The car wash removed it but be careful where you park if you have an expensive car. My car is old and I was...

To provide an update on this "smart home" system installation. The property manager tried to install this system in my apartment without my permission. Installers came into my apartment, disassembled my lock, and tried to connect to my internet. I spoke to the property manager to put a stop to this, and this was a very unpleasant interaction where I was threatened with lease violations and fines. Fortunately the system was not installed, though my apartment was left without a lock for many hours. Several hours and emails later, the original lock was reinstalled. After consulting with a tenant rights lawyer and having the lease reviewed, it became clear that nothing in the lease gives the company the right to install the system without my permission. The bullying by the property manager here was beyond belief.

I would ask the company what "significant" efforts, other than an email 2 days before the installation were made to inform tenants about this system. Of all the improvements that could be made to this property, I question the need for a system to collect my data in my home.

PRIOR POST: We received an email 2 days ago (8/14/23) stating that a "smart home" system with "leak monitoring" and internet-accessible electronic locks is being installed tomorrow (8/17/23). After researching this "smart home" system, I found out, as expected, that data is collected and shared with third-parties. I do not/would not agree to this "smart home" company's privacy policy. When I raised this concern and asked how to opt out of having my data collected, the response from the property manager was "Our parent company, EQR, is viewing this as a community upgrade and not providing an option for residents to delay or stop the installation". Mind you, we had a 2 days heads up for when this installation is happening. Where does my right to privacy as a tenant and consumer factor into this? I am trying to navigate this situation with a 2 day lead time, and the property is certainly not making this easy.

BTW, this is the cherry on a cake of many HVAC issues, exposure to your neighbors odors/habits/noise (i.e. I had a stint of 4-6 months where a very strong odor of frying oil/fish came into my bedroom from the HVAC vent overnight while I was trying to sleep), and delays in addressing/acknowledging maintenance requests (it took them 3 months to replace a broken blind). They have overly outsourced their maintenance team, so unless it's a bulb that needs replacing, things typically require a "vendor" with ensuing delays.

I would advise people who are considering Third Square Apartments to look broadly for reviews of this property to really get a good sense for this apartment complex, and its...

I lived here for 2 years and moved out due to relocation (but would have left regardless).

Pros: Casimir at the front desk is wonderful! The maintenance staff members are hardworking but seem not to get the resources they need to do a good job. The location is convenient and vibrant.

Cons: Most of the other employees at the front desk are awful. They do nothing to keep the noise, smoke, and filth at bay. Also they frequently are not at the front desk. Over 5 times I waited to pick up a package for over 30 minutes. The building itself is dirty and poorly constructed. The hallways are filthy (filthy when I moved in and worse when I moved out, despite promises to replace disgusting carpeting), the pool is filthy, there are rats in the courtyard, the exercise equipment, including TV and sound system, is routinely broken and overall junky, the trash rooms are smelly and filthy, the apartment carpeting is disgusting, the walls are thin, and the garage has paint/rust dripping from the ceiling that semi-permanently stains cars (which the management office knew about before my complaint and never notified the tenants). Additionally, the MANAGEMENT OFFICE IS CONDESCENDING and does nothing to address common concerns. For example, smoking in violation of building rules goes unattended by the management office, they do nothing to address tenants who violate rules (e.g., using the courtyard as a place to party, smoke, and yelling until 430am), and management actually makes decisions that worsen the noise and chance for individuals to use the courtyard as a party place (e.g., putting permanent couches under windows that face the courtyard, despite complaints of noise). When I discovered my car was stained the management office cared more about getting me to sign a form waiving my right to sue than fixing the problem. Lastly, the renewal fees are exorbitant.

This place is...