The Shay Apartments

I regret moving into this building. 1.There’s a known mouse infestation, with multiple DCRA inspections and Office of Consumer Protection complaints to back it up (both publicly accessible online). 2. Ongoing construction caused a major flood in my apartment, ruining my couch and soaking the space. Management didn’t bother cleaning up. 3. Utility bills are exorbitant—I pay nearly $300 a month due to water leaks and poor energy conservation on the part of the property. Plus, expect a 10% renewal increase. The initial concessions aren’t worth the hassle of constant issues, high costs, and poor management.

Don’t believe the recent good reviews, they’re trying to incentivize new residents to leave them. Since Bernstein took over management of the Shay there was a notable decline in quality of management of the building. They did away with overnight concierge, which was quickly noticed by those intending to steal deliveries, sleep or do drugs in various entryways, and/or rob residents in the parking garage. They claimed to be remedying this by having “increased security” however they couldn’t have increased much, because I rarely saw them and it didn’t seem to deter bad behavior. Maintenance was no longer on site after hours, meaning you’d have to leave a voicemail and then wait hours for maintenance emergencies or if you were locked out (which they started to charge for). Appliances were repeatedly a problem- I put in no less than 4 or 5 work maintenance requests regarding my dryer burning my clothing, or my washer not draining. The water heater leaked multiple times, leaking into the apartment below me. They began to repair it at the request of the person below me, however seemingly forgot to come back and I had to remind them that they had left soggy rags and trash in my unit and hadn’t finished the repairs when it became clear that they weren’t coming back on their own. Hot water was an issue several times (as in I didn’t have any). There was one week where I didn’t have it and had to either stay with a friend, or beg to shower at a neighbors apartment as the building did not offer me any accommodations. My heating and cooling also went out numerous times in the late summer. Yet again it took numerous work orders and requests to resolve, and I had to remind them to come back and fix it after they simply disconnected the panel that controlled the temperature, left it sitting on a table, and didn’t return. I had to ask if I was being offered a lease renewal as it was never sent to me. It was, but at that point I had decided that I didn’t want to deal with the ongoing issues and wanted to move out. They were even more disorganized when it came time for me to move out- to the point that they weren’t even sure that I had, despite me leaving keys with their staff. If not for the competence of their regular day time concierge, I don’t know when they would have known that moved out. Now I am having to repeatedly reach out about my security deposit, as they have neither sent it back, nor given me an itemization or any alleged withholding as required by law. EDIT: After CONTINUOUSLY following up and reminding them repeatedly that they are in violation of DC law, they withheld part of my security deposit with no itemization despite telling me they were refunding me the whole amount as required by law, since they did not provide proper notice or itemizations within the requisite time period after I moved out. This management company is a NIGHTMARE. Update re their bullshit reply below: they withheld utilities half of which I believe I had already paid for and asked for clarification on the last payment that I made to them, which they never sent. If things are owed fine, however per DC law they have to TIMELY notify of anything being withheld, and explain them, neither of which occurred until I REPEATEDLY reminded them they were breaking the law. They didn’t answer my email about it, the management doesn’t answer the phone and they think responding through a google review is appropriate. The “utility charges” they’re talking about are SEPARATE water and sewer charges (which are prorated for the whole building so you’re paying for more than you’re actually using), a trash fee, and fees to “cancel” the internal service they use to charge for utilities. They LOVE to charge hidden fees while continuously reducing the services and amenities in the building.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Khalilah while searching for a new apartment, and I cannot recommend her highly enough! From our first interaction, Khalilah was incredibly professional, friendly, and attentive to my needs. She took the time to understand my preferences and budget, which made the entire process so much smoother. What impressed me the most was her extensive knowledge of the local market surrounding the apartment complex and within The Shay DC she mentioned the property upgrades The Shay DC had to offer. Khalilah was always prompt in responding to my questions and went above and beyond to schedule viewings that fit my busy schedule. Throughout the entire leasing process, Khalilah was a fantastic advocate. Although I did not lease with The Shay DC, Khalilah guided me through the paperwork and made sure I understood every step, her dedication to ensuring I found the perfect apartment truly set them apart. Thanks to Khalilah! If you're looking for a leasing agent who genuinely cares about their clients and makes the search enjoyable, look no further.

I recently traveled to Washington DC area and search for a new place. During my stay, I was astonished to encounter The Shay apartments and I have to say, I love this place. From the staff to the location (close to Metro and stores) to the amenities, The Shay really feels like home.

The energy here is unmatched by the sleek, modern design of the units; everything is chef’s kiss. The location is SO clutch, too, with all the best spots just a walk or quick Metro ride away. I feel like I’m in the heart of everything, plus the community here is super chill and welcoming. They host events all the time, so it's easy to meet neighbors and vibe with cool people.

It's chill here! The concierges are nice, management is responsive, and maintenance is helpful and expedient. It's clean and relatively calm for being in the heart of Shaw. I didn't think I'd ever get to have a building with a pool unless I moved to NoMa but we have that too! I wish I was on a higher floor or further from 9th Street because the club noise is sometimes too much for me, but the windows block out most of the noise.

I moved into The Shay in late May, and it's been a great experience. The rooftop and pool area are among my favorite amenities, and the 24/7 security is reassuring, especially with my late classes. The staff in the leasing office and at the front desk are friendly and always helpful. Despite being on U Street, the building is surprisingly quiet. I highly recommend the Shay for anyone looking for a great living environment

Management under Bernstein Management Corporation has been an absolute nightmare. The safety situation in and around the building continues to deteriorate. Maintenance requests are slow to fix. Trying to get a hold of someone can take weeks. There is little information sharing, and the management staff is in constant turnover. You're treated as a monthly check rather than a resident. I've lived here for 4+ years, but will leave under BMC.