Vara Apartments

Varun Rathi a month ago

What a disappointing way to end a tenancy. After we moved out, Vara sent us a final account statement that swallowed our entire security deposit and still claimed we owed another $73.46. The bulk of it was buried under “utilities,” which basically means shared building utility charges like water and sewer, not the things most people think of as utilities. We paid electricity and internet separately. Renter’s insurance and trash were itemized separately. So yes, apparently we got one final parting gift: a giant shared utility bill from a building where the sidewalk and exterior areas were routinely filthy (which is polite way of saying littered with dog and human feces), and the main cleaning strategy seemed to be blasting everything with ungodly amounts of water. Fine. Annoying, but fine. Then Greystar Receivables started contacting me repeatedly about the remaining $73.46 and threatened me with collections. Again, this was less than a couple weeks after we received the final notice. Over $73.46. After we had paid rent on time throughout our tenancy. After we had already paid tens of thousands of dollars to live there. What a joke. The move-out process was also a mess. We returned our keys in the drop box, and then Vara emailed us saying they had not received them and told us to return them “as soon as possible” to avoid additional charges. I also got a call from the office asking why I had not turned in my keys. Luckily, I had taken a photo of the keys when I dropped them off. Only after I showed proof did the office check with maintenance and realize that maintenance had already picked up the keys from the drop box and moved them. Which, respectfully, should have been step one. Instead, they emailed and called as though we had failed to return the keys, when the keys were already in their possession. No real apology. No accountability. Living there was fine enough at times, but the move-out experience left a terrible final impression: excessive final charges, sloppy internal communication, a false key-return accusation, and collections threats over $73.46. I would not rent here again. p.s. The “trash concierge” situation was its own special kind of gross. Calling it “concierge” does not make it luxury. It means bags of trash sitting in hallways, turning the walk to your apartment, as another review perfectly described it, into a smelly walk of shame.

Henry Quistado 12 months ago

Don’t be fooled by the “luxury” branding. Every weekend, the block outside Vara SF turns into an open-air homeless market—hard drug use, shouting, passed-out bodies, and dirty needles littering the sidewalk. It’s not occasional—it’s every single weekend. Residents feel unsafe just entering the building. The worst part? Management does absolutely nothing. No increased security, no response to resident complaints, just silence—except when it’s time to raise your rent. You’re paying premium prices to live next to a neglected, dangerous street scene, while management pretends it doesn’t exist. Stay far away.

Kobie Spaeth 7 months ago

Lived here for 5 years now. It’s everything I’m looking for in an apartment - in-unit washer/dryer/dishwasher, the walls seal out any next-door neighbor noise. Perfect central location, is walking distance to basically anywhere I usually go and a 5 minute walk to the BART for anything else. Building staff are absolutely 10/10 and consistently go above the call of duty in communication and fixing of any issues - a particular shoutout to the maintenance manager Kevin and building manager Kurtis who have gone far out of their way for me

Lashannae Smith 5 months ago

I want to take the time to help someone else prepare for a possible outcome of having a non responsive leasing team. I was resident here and I moved out July 30th it's now January 22 and I have not received my full refund back. I'm owed 2,500 dollars back and I'm currently waiting for the leasing manager to get of his lunch to talk to me. I haven't been able to get ahold of anyone. Apon living there they charge you for garbage pick up even if you don't use it some months. A lot of unnecessary charges and a bunch of late fees if you don't give the rent by the 5th but they can just hold on to your money and not answer to anyone apon move out it's not ok at all.

Deborah Lima a year ago

I moved into Vara when it was JUST built and this August will be 12 years in my apartment. I have gone through a few staff changes, but they always seem to get the right fit as far as management and the maintenance guys are also the best. I love the “resident portal” for all things, but recently, my bank gave me grief that caused a potential large problem for me. Kurtis, our “main dude” helped me get through the mess with such calming grace, it left me so confident that I had nothing to worry about.. problem solved. Always has a moment to speak with me when I need him. Thank you Kurtis, Colby and all the gang, I love my sanctuary inside the Vara! Been here so long, my fern will not fit BACK inside the slider! Y’all are stuck with me!