I lived in Villa Cusma last year and can't say enough good things are the location, beautiful space and management! We moved into a unit that ended up being too small for two people and multiple pets and the Property Manager, Donald Byrne, worked with us to move us into a bigger unit with no issue. He quickly responded to all apartment repairs and he always checked in to make sure we were happy with our living space. Villa Cusma is a great location right off the 5 and a ten minute walk to the harbor. It is a beautiful building with nice tenants and good restaurants/bars within a five minute walk. If you are looking to move to the Little Italy area, make sure to check out this building! read more

I had a very frustrating experience dealing with this leasing company regarding my holding deposit. I requested a copy of my application, and the document they provided showed my signatures through page 12. However, the language stating that the holding deposit was non-refundable appears later in the document, on page 15, with a signature section on page 16. The copy they provided has that signature section blank. When I questioned this and asked for a copy showing all of the signatures, I was told they would not provide it. Their explanation was that because I had signed the application through page 12, the holding deposit was considered non-refundable. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for documentation showing that I actually agreed to the specific terms being used to keep my money. Unfortunately, I did not feel that my concerns were adequately addressed or that the documentation provided clearly resolved the issue. I'm sharing my experience so that prospective renters know to carefully review the entire application and holding-deposit terms and to keep copies of everything they sign and pay for. Overall, this experience left me very disappointed with the transparency and communication during the leasing process. read more

I'd listen to the negative reviews and take real consideration in moving here. there's apartments everywhere you can rent. look into those! I moved in only a month ago and everything has been wrong. I move in and everything is backwards. The lock to my door was outside the bathroom. Towel rack to bathroom door was inside the shower. Plugged an air purifier on one side of the wall with nothing else plugged in and the whole circuit cuts. I place work orders in and they mark it as done and in fact it has not. I have cameras in my apt and shows no one comes in to even work on the place. it's been 2 weeks now I've put in a work order for my shower head to be replaced and they said it has to be ordered. 2 weeks to get it replaced and it's still not fixed. speaking of cameras, I get notification and almost every evening, you have security taking pics of my front door for whatever reason. I email asking about it, no response. I have also paid for application fee and take in consideration I'm already moved in and their portal still says I owe that. I've submitted statement that it's been paid.. and just still a month a later, still waiting for it to be removedI GET PERMISSION TO PARK IN THEIR PARKING GARAGE from one of their property managers and several hours later I get towed which cost me $475 for a day. I then receive confirmation from their mgr that it was their security who called in to get it towed. shouldn't that have been communicated to employees??? I request for call backs from their manager Cara and NOT ONCE has she called me back. POOR COMMUNICATION AND SERVICE. I can't wait for the year to be done and over with and get away from this property and I'd assume all their properties thats managed by them. It's no wonder why they have so many vacancies and you are able to negotiate your rent with them. They're desperate to get tenants in I'm assuming. I've been polite., nice... and I've just had enough. A MONTH LATER! Go find somewhere else to live. oh and that smell people here have complained about that I should have listened to prior to moving in, is absolutely true. It def smells like sewer! i should have taken more time to look around also bc you have no windows really so theres No natural light or fresh air to come in unless if the bedroom door is open from the balcony everyone can look into. Just dark, sad and depressing. Go live your life elsewhere. read more

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0 stars. Don't move here!! I lived here for 2 years in two different units and finally had enough. Elevators is broken every 3-6 months and they take several months to get it back up and working - when I lived on the 2nd floor it wasn't a big deal but once l moved up to the 5th floor I absolutely dread it. They would constantly say that they are trying to get it fixed but would just sit on their ass and do nothing. The last 5 months of staying with Elan Luxo the handle to the trash shoot broke off and never got fixed - instead they opted into us going down to the floor below us to use their trash shoot which was also broken. Ventilation in the all of their units absolutely sucks. At most you get your patio and bedroom window if you're looking for any type of ventilation/fresh air. Washer/dryer in both units that l've stayed in were disgusting. Mold build-up upon move-in. (All photos are from my second unit/ 5th floor-apt502) Handles to literally everything were broken or missing. Billed roughly an extra $120-$160/monthly on top of your base rent on just the trash alone. You share the dumpster with Harumama which means you're paying for their trash essentially. Also Harumama employees park their cars/motorcycles all throughout the parking structure (handicap, no parking zones, in front of their back door) which is annoying when residents are trying to get in and out of the parking structure. All of this and you let management know about any of it and they brush it aside or don't even get back to you. The only good thing about this place is location. read more

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Please please please, do yourself a favor and NEVER move into this building. I've been living in this limbo of a place and it's by far the worst apartment building I've ever lived at. Elevator has broken down multiple times. I live on the fifth floor and I've had to use the stairs while high risk pregnant and a toddler. They shut off the water very often and if you get a notification about it, it's pretty rare and on top of that when they do turn the water back on, the hot water comes out white as milk for weeks. There's roaches and flies everywhere and even more in the parking garage. The restaurant downstairs makes the garage feel like hot diaper trash and the air just feels thick and gross. Plus there's been multiple car break ins, I don't know what the point of the cameras are if they don't catch anything. Maintenance is really bad at fixing things or getting back to you. Our AC has been down for about a week and I've had no updates. I'm pregnant and have a toddler and we've really been suffering in this heat wave since the apartment doesn't have any air flow due to a tiny window. I wouldn't wish this place on my worst enemy. Just stepping outside smells of poop covered walls and fermented urine. 0/10 place. Oh and don't bother even calling their number, they'll never pick up or call you back. I'm not even sure how people have moved into this building since they don't pick up the phone... read more

don't come anywhere near this builiding it stinks like raw sewage everywhere !! including my apartment i have reported it 5 times over the last 6 months and nothing has been done my next few calls are to san diego housing and the rental commision it is horrible read more

Attentive Good Ivy is a great manager Great Location If you are looking for a fun building and area to live Elan Luxo is awesome

Although the complex is really nice dont let that fool you. The only living being you will ever see is the maintenance man who also has other places managed by them to fix so wait in line. The elevators break a few times a month and there is no one to contact. All messages go straight to a recording. Even the address to contact them is fake, so if you wanted to go see them there is no one to see. You can email them GOOD LUCK for a answer!. STAY AWAY! The rent is expensive and ZERO amenities. Don't believe a word they say!! read more

Lived here briefly which was long enough. Don't be fooled by past reviews-that was under a DIFFERENT management company!! Building has flooding and odor problems. Constant high pitched alarms going off in the garage. Management allows vacation rental properties on site so constant steam of random vacationers in the building equating in no security. Packages and belongings in garage exposed. Building is in a great location but with vacationers and zero amenities there are plenty of other options in this neighborhood for the same price (and less)where you get more for your money. Unresponsive management. Would not move back here. read more

We lived at this complex for over a year and loved it. It's the perfect mix of urban living with suburban privacies. Floor plans are great and the location can't be beat. Plus they are very pet friendly which is a must for us. As far as the management, we have had nothing but positive experiences with the building managers. Emails telephone calls and texts were answered promptly, and they were very attentive to the wide variety of needs of the tenants. It's impossible to please everyone, but they did the job of at least 4 people and remained professional & friendly the entire time we lived here. My only reason for giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because certain tenants did not respect the common areas or the balconies above them. Seriously, people still smoke these days? Yuck. read more

I lived here for a year, and I would have never left if we weren't looking for a bit more room. The apartments are nice and well kept, and Donald is the best landlord. He's very responsive, attentive and is always there to help any way he can. I would definitely recommend living here, and I would move back in a heartbeat if I were to ever be living alone again. read more

The good: The apartment complex itself is very nice since it is new. The floor plans are functional, only lacking adequate closet space. The location is excellent. The bad: While we love the property, the management is dismal. The onsite property manager is not qualified and is completely overwhelmed. Her lack of responsiveness, attention to detail, and respect to tenants is not acceptable; every time I speak to her it feels like I am in inconvenience. Unfortunately there appears to be no other outlet to voice our concerns, she is literally the only point of contact. I hope this review reaches actual management and they realize the dis-service she is causing them. read more

I've lived her for 5 months now and love it. The building is new and the apartment layouts are great. Seriously, where else can you find a small downtown one bed room with a full size washer and drier, a large coat closet and a full sized walking closet? Nowhere, trust me I've looked. Management is friendly and the building is clean and safe. read more

This place is by far one of the best establishments I have lived at in San Diego. Management goes out of their way to make you feel safe and at home. read more

I lived at Villa Cusma in a 1B/1B with my wife for about 2 years from 2016-2018. Donald was our building manager the whole time and was awesome. Quickly helped us solve any issues with the apartment (there weren't many), very responsive via phone/text. The building itself has great amenities...dishwasher, elevator, A/C, parking, washer/dryer, trash chute...etc. No Pet rent either! The Location is great. Close to the 5 and the 163, the farmers market is a few blocks away on the weekend, you're a short walk away from Balboa Park, Downtown, or the waterfront. I would highly recommend living at Villa Cusma. Best bang for your buck in Little Italy. read more

We loved living here and spent about a year and a half in our spacious one-bedroom before purchasing a home. The layout of our place was phenomenal. It was around 1100 square feet with dual walk-in closets in the master. Additionally, there were two showers (one stand-alone, one over the tub) in the bathroom. This allowed for my husband and I to live comfortably together. Management was spotty until Michael took over, then everything was great! I would highly recommend Villa Cusma to anyone looking to rent in San Diego. read more

I lived in Villa Cusma for 1 year...I LOVED IT!! I would have been there longer if I didn't have to move to the Bay Area for work. I loved the location because it's only a block away from some of the hottest bars and restaurants in Little Italy, farmers market on Saturdays and super close to the freeway to get to the surrounding areas quickly. Donald is the property manager onsite and he is very accommodating. He responds quickly to your needs and he always gave my dog, Lexi, dog treats. Donald also does a great job screening new tenants. EVERY neighbor was extremely polite, courteous and welcoming. No complaints ever...I miss it already! read more

Villa Cusma is the first placed we lived at when moving to San Diego. It is a beautiful well taken care of building with the convenience of modern amenities, parking and perfect location for Little Italy/Downtown. Many nearby restaurants, cafes and places to walk to with easy access to the highway. The onsite manager Donald Byrn is absolutely wonderful. He was very helpful in our transition from Chicago to San Diego. Our experience has been nothing but positive with him. He is prompt in answering all calls, emails and texts and takes good care of the property. Not only is he a great manager but a friendly neighbor. read more

My sister and I lived in Villa Cusma for over a year. Love the place. Great views, modern apartmentsi in a small and charming building. Location is marvelous. And having an on site manager as Michael, who is always taking care of every aspect and makes sure to make Villa Cusma feel as home. read more

This is a beautiful building, just off of the Little Italy strip. We lived in a couple different units and really enjoyed each of them. Lots of sunlight, open common areas, high end appliances and finishings. Also we could see the bay from both units, which was wonderful. Little Italy holds a collection of most of the best restaurants and bars in the city, and Villa Cusma is a block away from it all. Perfectly situated to be back from the noise but still allow easy access. Getting on the 5 is super easy, and the airport is like 5 min. There is a park in the neighborhood on State St where we would often walk our dog, but there is also a fenced in dog park just down the street. It's a wonderful building and would have stayed there if it wasn't for work. Finally, the property manager there is the best person that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. He always went above and beyond, and made living there easy and a pleasure. I never had a problem that he wasn't completely on top of. In addition he would always make sure to ask if there was anything we needed when we passed each other in the common areas. He made the experience of living there feel like a catered experience. A truly wonderful individual and seasoned professional that holds his clients above all else. read more

Of all the apts I've rented in my 20+ years of renting, this was by far the best place! I lived at Villa Cusma for over 2 yrs. Never in my life have I been thanked for being a "good renter." However, the management at Villa Cusma really let me know how appreciative they were. If it weren't for having bought a home, I would've continued to rent here indefinitely. The location can't be beat and I really miss this. Walking distance to Embarcadero, Balboa park, good restaurants and cafes, and the Sat farmers market. Even walked to the Gaslamp (but I prefer walking over driving). Short taxi/lyft ride to the airport but airport noise was not an issue from my 2nd level apt. It's also not too close to the train or trolley tracks so noise from these sources were never a problem either. Only disruptive noises came from 1 particular neighbor above who liked to drag furniture around between midnight and 2am. Otherwise, the walls are solid and I never heard my next door neighbors. The property managers have always been friendly and responsive. The 1 bedroom apt that I rented has a nice layout, spacious closet space and modern kitchen and appliances. Pet-friendly and clean. Parking spaces are assigned. Secured entrances/exits and cameras to monitor suspicious activity. Always felt safe living here. I would go back if I decided to rent again. read more

I have been living here for about five month now and I am so sad that I am relocating to another city. Neighborhood is awesome, management is helpful, apartment is modern and the building is perfectly clean. The only problems one might have is the small closet ( there was only one in my apartment) and that it's close to airport and highway, so it might be noisy ( for me was okay). If I make back to San Diego , this place will be my number one option! read more

We just left Villa Cusma due to moving cross country, but loved our time there! We lived in two different apartments (1 bed/1 bath & 2 bed/2 bath) - both had balconies and great views, as well as friendly neighbors, and the best property manager - Donald! He was always a pleasure to work with and just chat with regularly, very professional, and made our moving process so easy. Villa Cusma is close proximity to great restaurants and shops, and the waterfront, without being too noisy or crowded. We will miss our regular interactions with Donald and would definitely recommend Villa Cusma for anyone looking in the Little Italy area! read more

Lived here for just about 1 whole year now. Honestly believe it's our forever home. Absolutely stunning view and incredible neighborhood. But without a doubt, the best part is management. Michael and Jen low how to handle this building perfectly, i'm convinced no one could do a better job. Love coming home to this place surrounded by happy neighbors. such a special place read more

I used to live here and enjoyed it! I found management to be professional and very helpful with the move in and move out. Loved the location and the easy access to I-5 and all the great restaurants of Little Italy. My apt. had a great view of the bay and downtown which I miss a lot. Overall, my experience living there was very positive. read more

I have been living at Villa Cusma since relocating to San Diego a year and a half ago. I made the decision to renew my lease after a year not only due to the amazing neighborhood and beautiful apartments, but because of the management here. Michael and Jennifer are the best! Michael was so helpful when I was hoping to find a larger apartment in the complex. They really go out of their way to make everyone feel at home. read more

I lived in this building with my wife for 3 years--we enjoyed our time here. The building manager Donald is excellent. He is always very professional, responsive and available. If you have any issue at all they address it quickly. This building is in a great location--a lot of cafes, restaurants and places to go out nearby. read more

Villa Cusma is the ideal location in Little Italy. The views are spectacular and being able to walk everywhere is a bonus. Neighbors are friendly and Donald, the manager, is super nice. I would highly recommend Villa Cusma to anyone considering apartment living in Little Italy. read more

I've lived in the Villa Cusma apts for over a year. My beautiful apt with great views of skyline and harbor is the perfect balance of contemparary look and a feeling of home. With the convenience of modern amenities and perfect location for Little Italy/Downtown, you can't get better than this. I've also been surprised by how accommodating and flexible the management has been throughout the process of my upcoming move. Cathyanne has gone out of her way to help my transition be as smooth as possible. You just don't see that kind of personalized service much anymore. My dog and I have loved it here and we'll miss it when we move. read more

I have lived here for over a year and a half now and I'm so happy that I found it when I did! It has EVERYTHING I looked for - which wasn't easy to find - a balcony (with a view of the water and city), high ceilings, new countertops and appliances, a washer/drier in unit, A/C, and parking garage. I even had one of the agents who I worked with prior to moving in here reach out to me around the year mark (smart guy), but when I told him what I was paying he said I should hold onto it because rent is only going up downtown and I had a great spot. Donald, the Property Manager, is incredible. He is always helpful, responsive, and has on multiple times helped me when I've locked myself out and was in a bind. I had to get used to the noise at first - the freeway entrance is right here, and sometimes on the weekends you can hear noise from Porto Vista, but once I got used to it I was fine and barely notice it now. Also, that's city living :). I love it here and am so glad to call it home. read more