Name: openigloo: Rental Reviews
Rating: 4.62654 (2683 reviews)

User Reviews for openigloo: Rental Reviews

4.63 out of 5

2.7K Ratings

2 years ago, LaLaNYC714

This app saved us thousands of dollars a month!

We learned of a renters law that we had no idea about and sure enough our landlord was attempting something in the article. Well we looked up the law in our state, brought it up after receiving a 30% increase renewal and then silence for weeks. We thought we were doomed, and we figured they would find some loophole. Well the next email we received had the appropriate increase, saved us thousands a month from an insane increase. This app could be so useful and so needed after covid, but needs to get information from real renters, not just leasing brokers. The truth needs to be known so our cities can recover and tenants can stop being taken advantage of. We can reward the good landlords and empty out the ones taking advantage of us. Thank you!!! Please keep finding the truth and getting helpful information into the hands of regular people and ask for reviews so more renters have helpful information!

4 years ago, Ducky Ducky Quack Rachel

Thank God for This App

We gotta thank Instagram for all of its ads because I’m so impressed with the quality of products I’m finding. This app is one. As a 23 year old who has had to move over 45 times in life, the one thing I would’ve appreciated having is genuine reviews of property AND neighborhood. Over 20 of those 45 properties were Airbnb units, and let’s be honest, none are true to reality. Most places I’ve lived in were infested with bugs and mold but not one review ever noted it. The owner can always claim I’m lying on the reviews then the case is closed. And of course the other factor of neighborhood — something that most people don’t think to review about. Apps like this one is the reason we can get truthful reviews. I’m excited to leave reviews for all 45+ places I’ve lived in (if I remember the exact address) because people deserve to know the truth about the neighbors, neighborhood, the property itself, and other important factors in enjoying a temporary or long-term stay. Edit Upon More Use: what would be nice is if the app lets us label the place we were living in (e.g. rented off Airbnb, college dorm, etc) and allowing us to provide a description. It’d add context to the pros and cons.

3 years ago, RockinLove

Love That This Exists—- finally!!!!

Openigloo is amazing. It’s such a fantastic resource to help find the ideal, safe, comfortable, best places to live. I also love that they help tenants know about their rights - tenants have soooo many rights that get trampled on or go unknown and this resource is helping to educate and exercise these rights! After everything, it’s also great to see that there are actually some good landlords out there - they do exist! Tenants should not have to endure poor treatment, neglect or any unfairness. This app and resource is really important and I can’t wait to see it expand to other cities as well. It helps make life better.

4 years ago, librarysymphony

Can’t actually search for landlords in this app??

The Instagram ads suggest that this app allows tenants to rate their landlords, but the the app only allows users to search for buildings. These are two different things. This is counterintuitive - the same landlord/owner could own multiple buildings, but it would be hard to tell with this app. Instead, this app should allow people to search for specific owners, management companies, etc (in addition to the building reviews of that already exist). Likewise, a browsing feature by location should be implemented for those who don’t have a specific address in mind but want to see reviews of many buildings in a specific neighborhood. As it stands, the ads for this app are incongruent with the information provided. Either the ads need to change, or the app needs to do what is suggested by the ads.

3 years ago, melmundy88

Stole photo for social post and lied about situation

Openigloo took one of the photos from my review of an event that happened years ago and posted on social media as if it happened during hurricane Ida last night. Isn’t this the type of fraudulent misrepresentation the app is supposedly trying to fight in NYC landlords ? But then they go and do it themselves. I’m reading through every line of the terms of service now - I can’t imagine it says in there they are allowed to MISREPRESENT my photos. I wonder where the other photos in their post came from. Did they steal those off the internet? If my apartment was under feet of water not sure I’d be posting content on openigloo in less than twenty four hours. Unfortunately I deleted my review so I can’t look up reviews to see if this content was genuinely submitted to them as the post claims or if it just more misrepresentation.

2 years ago, ashhnaomii

Landlords hate it

Landlord hate it but tenants love it. It’s very crucial as a Black American Woman to have a platform like this as well as for other Black Americans. Redlining still exist and I experience it all the time and I I have been discriminated, denied housing, harassed, denied services, or given less because income, simply just being black. New York landlords (most I guess) maybe 98% perpetrate a system that marginalizes the working class vs middle class and etc. they have so much power and I am happy to have this app available to tenants to mitigate issues in the housing system.

4 years ago, cm9709

Really wish

I really wish I didn’t have to leave a review in order to see what others are truly saying about the building. Scenario: Just moved to nyc this year, first time renting in a long time (previous home owner sold to move), 1st apt in nyc and had to rent site unseen due to Covid. I’m still learning about the management company and afraid of retaliation if I put negative comments in my review. Don’t get me wrong, it a decent place we live in, but it looks there could be better. However, without seeing what other users are saying it really does no good. Stars don’t mean much. Get rid of the first review for new users to unlock stuff and have verified reviews by people who actually live or lived in the building then it would be a decent app.

3 years ago, Huge fan 1007

Best place I’ve ever lived in NYC

This building is fantastic. I have lived here since it opened in 2014. Thomas is a wonderful landlord—always willing to work with you, friendly (!!), and does not raise rent often. All the apartments are beautifully renovated with new hardwood and tile floors (tile in kitchens and bathrooms, hardwood everywhere else), soft-close cabinets and drawers in the kitchen (!!), stainless steel appliances, FREE laundry in the basement and a FREE storage closet in the basement for all tenants (!!), and perhaps the BEST Super I’ve ever had in Robert. This building is most definitely the best building I’ve ever lived in in NYC!!

3 years ago, Ck brown

Openigloo refuses to delete my account

I downloaded the app to see reviews for potential apartments, when I was done with the app and decided to delete my account I realized they don’t give you a way to do it yourself - you have to email them. Well, it’s been about 4 Months now of me emailing them, leaving comments on their Instagram page, and they STILL refuse to close my account. Is this to artificially raise the numbers of users they have? To have access to data they collect through having the app on your phone? Don’t know, but it seems unethical to not give users a way to delete their accounts and refuse to do so when they reach out. They also let you know they’ll hold onto your data even after deleting the account.

4 years ago, KeiFlys

Finally a platform for renters

These management companies have been getting away with corruption, deceit, discrimination, negligence, abuse of power, conning, robbing, scamming, putting people in hazardous environments, ignoring dangerous conditions, providing the least and charging the most. FINALLY someone created an app similar to YELP but the stakes are higher than the chef burning your steaks. I hope this app turns management companies on their as$es. Renters have needed a platform like this for decades and the apps only going to get better. I wish Allia all the success!

3 years ago, Susie's mother

Great app

This app and idea is amazing. For so long NYC landlords have been terrible and this is finally a way to hold them accountable and hopefully make long term positive changes to our living in the city!! I reviewed my building and even checked reviews of my old apartments here which show the truth and hopefully will make change to those buildings. Also super helpful to know which apartments to avoid the next time i move!

2 years ago, Barrbaric

Invaluable to every New Yorker

NYC is a city where there are two leading stereotypes about housing: 1. It’s bad. 2. It’s expensive. In comes OpenIgloo. Don’t get stuck paying a price you can’t afford for an apartment you don’t like. (Or an apartment that is dangerous, or with a predatory landlord, etc.) Understand the building you’re about to apply to by reading reviews you can trust. Reviewers can be as open and honest as they want to be, knowing they’re free from retaliation as each review is anonymous. Not to mention that their social media manager, while informative, is also hilarious. That’s just a bonus. If you live in NYC, download this app before moving into a new place. Full stop.

3 years ago, anonionon

Great idea, ux needs improvement

Love the goal and contains useful info. Perfect if you have a list of buildings you don’t mind searching for one by one. However no one wants to horizontal scroll through a long endless, endless list that is super slow at scrolling (home screen view). Once you put in filter options it’s much better with your regular vertical browsing. A map view would also be nice. Overall decent app, would bump stars if option to click and browse latest reviews etc vertically

1 month ago, maniacpixiememegirl

AVOID AT ALL COST

Subscribed to see one single building. Was able to access it and read the reviews ONCE before being unable to read them again. Still get charged regularly for that - literally IMPOSSIBLE to cancel because my subscriptions don’t show up on my profile and “Live Support” is nonexistent. Picked one of the pre-written options just to try and get a response from the customer service rep and got none. How is this app so poorly designed that I’m getting ghosted by a bot? Now I get charged every month with a subscription I can’t cancel for building reviews I can’t access. Waste of time and money. DO NOT DOWNLOAD.

2 years ago, Maple123987

An amazing resource!

This app has been a life saver while trying to move. I have asthma and always ask the broker about mold and bug history. They never know, or claim not to know. This app saved me from a moldy apartment that would have seriously hurt my health. Renters have such little power in this market, and openigloo gives a little bit back.

3 years ago, erickwall

Amazing for Weeding Out Stinkers

Really really good tool to help strike off obvious no-no’s when apartment hunting. The amount of time saved by being able to check city records and tenet reviews easily and cross out poorly maintained, poorly managed buildings is immense. Only critique I have of the app is just better optimizing usability like swiping to go back, or saving buildings to a list.

3 years ago, IGotTooMuchTimeOnMyHands

Great App!

Helped further my research in finding my new apartment! Reviews are anonymous. Leave your first review & gain access to all kinds of helpful info. like building mgmnt open violations, other tenant reviews, buildings litigation history + other valuable ratings. Easy to use. Definitely join their community on social too; each one teach one!

3 years ago, christian murray

Finally!

Things that this turn a centralized and corrupt system into a way where the people can decentralize renting and take back the power of accountability. Buildings, especially in NY, have been ruining people’s lives and shoving them to the streets just for a few more bucks. Open Igloo allows for those people to be called out.

3 years ago, pole position 2 winner 4 lyfe

Not even useful

So, unless you’ve left a review for a building/landlord, you can’t see any of their reviews or ratings? Which is the stupidest thing ever? Because isn’t the whole point that you’re searching these realty companies to get a sense of whether or not they’re any good BEFORE signing a lease? So, like, what good does it do for anybody that I can only see my crappy landlord’s reviews and ratings after I’ve already lived in his apt and reviewed it? Liiiiike, that makes no sense? Dumb app, hoping that a better one comes along that actually has any interest in helping out tenants.

4 years ago, Jaye282990

Great concept

Finally a community to rate buildings and hold them accountable for the bad and good!! I wish they would not have the box to check yes/no and then post a big green ‘Recommend’ or a red ‘Does not recommend.’ It’s too extreme and with NYC apts- it’s not so black and white. There is a lot wrong with my apt but I love the location. Doesn’t mean I want to emphatically recommend it though. Other than that, I think it’s great! Thank you for making this app !!

4 years ago, music lover with taste

Pros and Cons but I like it so far!

Great concept! Truly appreciate finally gaining some transparency into landlords! We cannot solely rely on Streeteasy, Google Reviews, etc. They break down various feedback (bed bug violations, landlord responsiveness, etc). The only thing is I wish I saw more reviews, but I understand that comes with time and exposure to other tenants so they can write reviews. I found them through an IG ad - please keep pushing for transparency and fighting for tenants - we need it!

4 years ago, ClerCs

Finally and app that helps renters

If you are a NYC tenant, this is what we were waiting for. Finally somebody have thought about us! I was so tired to giving all my information to landlords and agents and not getting anything in return! This app is going to make NYC’s housing fair for all. The app is very user friendly and easy to navigate! Well done!

3 years ago, dugsnick511

Saved us from signing a lease with a slumlord

Was about to sign up for a lease in Brooklyn, couldn’t find much on the apartment online but happened to look it up through this app and found all of their litigation history and 311 reports. Could have been trapped in an infested apartment with an awful landlord who is harassing their renters. Thanks open igloo :)

3 years ago, VSKnyc

Thanks for existing!

I love that they give us a platform to share our experiences. I wish I had had this before moving into my last apartment, would have saved me a lot of stress for sure. Once more people use it and more reviews are available, it’ll be a fantastic resource for future moves!

3 years ago, GUE4576433567

Must have for NYC renters!

It is super helpful to know what problems might pop up with a building or management company before you’re stuck in the apartment! This tool lets you read and leave reviews, i don’t know about you but any leg up we can get as renters on landlords is big!!

3 years ago, N Lee 011

Great idea but app needs improvement

I love the idea of this app and hope it begins to be used more frequently. I tried to write a review of my apartment and had a very hard time getting all the way through - the ‘next’ button wouldn’t work and right before submitting my review, the app crashed. I would suggest tightening up the functionality of this core piece of the app in order for more folks to use it - thanks!

6 months ago, Lara66v

No customer support behind this app

The transaction went smoothly with the realtor he was helpful. they asked me to continue paying the rent on this app, i did then after few months they added small convenience fees asked here through the support, sent multiple emails asking what the convenience fees referring to they never replied to any of my emails or the support chat they keep sending me emails to pay rent + late fees. The rent is already paid directly to the management office take me off your email list.

3 years ago, BStel4851

Advocates!

I DM’d Open Igloo within the app when my landlord wanted to raise my rent 20% in Jan 2022. I wanted to better understand some parameters and the laws about rent increase notices. The team responded quickly and shared their knowledge, and also gave some guidance regarding my response to the landlord. Super helpful and knowledgeable! Grateful to them. They’re great advocates for NYC renters.

2 years ago, openigloo

Irresponsible

I saw their ad on subway and was curious to check my address. I recently had a disgruntled tenant leave a few months ago. He was high maintenance and folks were trying to serve him legal papers He was the only person who would have left a 1 star review When I asked site to provide me with content- they told me they read it and took it down They said they can’t provide me with details because they deleted it Such nonsense So I’m providing them with a 1 star in return Thanks for your non transperancy OpenIgloo! Kate

3 years ago, KCowcer

Wish this app was around earlier!

I definitely wish this app was around when I was looking for my apartment 5 years ago! Now I live in a building owned by the number 2 worst landlord in NYC and am using this app to help make sure others don’t make the same mistake I did. Very helpful tool!

3 years ago, Tokeqsa

6 years ago this app was my idea

This is a great app, I had this idea 6 years ago when my landlord was driving me nuts, so I was looking to review him to warn future tenants what they will face but apparently all the apps were oriented for the landlord not the tenant, but this app has flows and it’s not how I thought to work properly, my idea is not complex and more informative, I’ll save that for me unless the developer is interested my idea. Thanks

3 years ago, The best around 123458800

It’s finally here.

A way to hold landlords accountable. Perhaps the renter/landlord dynamic can begin to change. I’ve been hoping for an app like this for years, having had such a variety of living experiences in NYC, from stress and despair to gratitude and comfort. The more people that use this app, the better.

4 years ago, sash pras

Finally! Renters have a voice!

Thanks to openigloo, renters finally have a platform to be heard! I look forward to seeing the platform grow and giving our voices more power. The user experience was very positive and I’ve shared the link with several of my friends. I will DEFINITELY be consulting openigloo when I move into my next place.

4 years ago, marcellen

Feel confident about renting

Finally somewhere we can hear past and present tenant reviews of an apartment we’re considering renting. Especially in a city like nyc, it can be such a gamble to move into a new building or know where to look to get the info we need. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of it! Thank you!!

3 years ago, jaredg945

Great app

I love this app and the idea behind it. My biggest suggestion is to add a feature to filter by neighborhood, that way someone just starting the apartment search can get some ideas based on other’s reviews. EDIT: the feature was added 😀. Updated to 5 stars

3 years ago, Heymeamy

Required to submit a review

A change/update has been made where it seems you have to submit a review before you can read any reviews. I get there weren’t many reviews previously but this is just gonna make people submit fake reviews. For the customer service person, I don’t want to send an email to get access. Most people won’t, as you can see from the people complaining. Also most people won’t know and turns them completely away from the app.

3 years ago, justakidfromthesouthside

Absolutely amazing app, friendly and informative staff, incredibly helpful

The app idea is terrific and the staff behind that idea are most impressive. They’ve helped me do research on units I wasn’t so sure about and are quick to respond with any building/mgmt issues. 5+ stars!

4 years ago, lindsay612

Nice idea but lacking features

I really like this idea but I would really like some kind of browsing a sorting option. Right now all you can do is search for a specific address. I would really like a map option where you where it indicates buildings with reviews you can click on. Also an option to search buildings in an area and bring up a list and sort by reviews

3 years ago, tommyg914

Waste of Time

I created an account and submitted a review as asked so I could access ratings, reviews, and site content. I still have no access to any content. No response to an email after 48 hours. No reply from chat support after waiting more than 20 minutes. Looking at their reviews it looks like they reply maybe once per month?! Does anyone work there? Their welcome email also lists 5 things YOU can do for THEM yet they offer zero support. Amazing.

3 years ago, NoName871

Be advised.

The building is in good shape and we lucked out with the apartment. The one call out is Brusco, the management company will take advantage of you every way possible. They do not care about who you are or how long you’ve been with them. As you should expect, you are only a dollar sign in their eyes. If you cost them anything, they will take it out of you security.

3 years ago, @sprucedbruce

Great app!

This app is great for planning to move. We’ve had terrible landlords in the past. It looks like this app can help us going forward. Thanks for putting this together. You all deserve an award. Also, the team is quick to help and pleasant to work with.

3 years ago, MonsoonMandy

So happy this exists

Apartment hunting is SO difficult in NYC. Having the added visibility into landlords and complaints is so important before signing a lease. Open-igloo was really helpful for putting my mind at ease when I moved in the spring. Highly recommend it to everyone!

4 years ago, M Monks

Best NYC Rental App

I can’t tell you how valuable and convenient this app is to reference the building you plan to move into or considering in New York. It’s shows you open violations, tenants firsthand experience and saves you from making a mistake! So vital in this market & moving forward.

4 years ago, E.n.a.j.

Shameful

I just received a notification asking me to rate my apartment based on whether I could hear my neighbors coughing through paper-thin walls. That is beyond tasteless right now. A year ago, many people in my building had covid and we could hear them coughing. I was glad we could. It meant we knew they were alive and could check on them to see if they needed anything. Does anyone really need this app right now? Renters in NYC are spoiled for choice and this app is just encouraging people to kick landlords when they’re down.

4 years ago, felk91

Finally!

Finally an app that allows tenants insight into what they are actually signing up for with a year long lease! Could have used this when I moved to the city years ago. Super user friendly and straightforward. Can’t wait to use this in my next apartment hunt!

3 years ago, hello_gfd

Super helpful in researching apartments

I just got this app because im looking for my next place and ive avoided wasting time looking at apartments with bedbug history, violations etc. highly recommend. Cant wait for the whole city to rate their buildings.

6 months ago, C21CS

Reviews are wrong

I am looking at a new unit I am thinking of moving into and I noticed one of the reviews included my own review of my current unit. As I read the other reviews, I realized they were all from my current building. This app is clearly querying the wrong reviews and mixing in reviews from my current building. I logged into the web app, and the reviews appear to be showing correctly and not incorrectly showing any reviews from my building. Everything else about this app is amazing, but this is a MAJOR issue as reviews is the primary value proposition of this app.

4 years ago, Ghj2345

Great idea for an app

In NYC there’s no way of telling what you’re about to walk into when it comes to renting. Igloo is a great way to get an idea of what you are about to deal with in apartment searching. Hopefully this app makes landlords and management companies get their act together.

4 years ago, Bujui

Great App !!!!

I actually came upon this app on social media and I think it’s great.I find it so helpful that you can see a brief detail about a property or rental. This is exactly the type of app I needed. It goes into details about property violations and if they have been exposed to bed bugs. Great app I approve !

2 years ago, zepcat

Finally! I wish OpenIgloo the best

A few apps have tried to do what OpenIgloo is doing. It’s not easy and there is much resistance by NYC landlords to have a more fair playing field. If this app sticks to their guns, this will be the best thing for New Yorkers that rent, ever.

Description

The openigloo app gives you the power to search for apartments that belong to highly-rated buildings and landlords. Browse millions of US addresses, read reviews from real renters, and filter out the buildings with bedbugs, open violations, litigation history, and more. Download today to research your next building or landlord and find a home that is right for you. **openigloo features:** Read and anonymously share rental reviews for millions of buildings and property owners that are preloaded into the application. Access Exclusive Apartment Listings -Browse thousands of exclusive apartments listings (in select cities) -Contact the listing agent directly and set up a viewing -Filter listings by neighborhood and amenities Search and Browse Buildings Profiles: - Search for apartment buildings in your city - Read constructive and balanced reviews from real renters - Discover how a building scores on maintenance, pest control, cleanliness, hot water, heat, and landlord responsiveness - Access real-time city data like building violations, bedbug complaints, eviction history, litigation history, and more (if applicable/available) - Find landlord approval ratings to get a real-time pulse of how tenants think the building is being managed. Search and Browse Landlord Profiles: - View a landlord’s building portfolio and see the aggregated scores of all the buildings they own - Learn how many buildings they own, if they are up to date on their property taxes, and whether they are involved in any tenant litigation cases Write and Read Reviews - Anonymously share your rental experiences with others - Help your community by sharing information you wish you knew before moving in - Upload photos, videos, and documents to help corroborate your reviews Have some feedback? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] Crowdsourced tenant feedback, combined with open-source city data, makes it possible to get an inside look at any building and any landlord.