Overall, RCG was a great company to work with. They are very responsive to problems outside of normal business hours. (I had to call at 3 am once and someone cheerfully picked up!). The apartment was in great condition and we had no problems with move in. Also, they have fixed several cosmetic issues during this year without being asked; it made the space more enjoyable to live in and shows that they are attentive to the condition of their properties -- they don't wait for something to break before they fix it! The one aspect of renting from RCG that I did not like was how early we had to decide about renewing. For a May 31 end, we had to tell RCG our decision by February 1st. Because of employment changes in the works at that time, my roommate and I had to decline to renew (even though we would have loved to stay) because we could not commit so far ahead. This policy is quite unusual for Cambridge, where 60-days is more typical. read more

RCG has been an excellent landlord for the six months that I have been a tenant in Central Square. They respond quickly to any maintenance requests, big or small, and always clear the walkway to the building of snow very quickly. We moved into the apartment on a very busy moving day, and when we were mistakenly given the wrong set of keys, someone from RCG met us at the property within 30 minutes to fix the mistake. Renting from RCG has been a very positive experience, and I would absolutely rent from them again if the opportunity were to arise. read more

I rented from RCG for 1 year before moving. Pros: Timely maintenance: One of the most important things when living in the old buildings on the East Coast is having maintenance issues fixed quickly and effectively. RCG does this very well. Good Phone Response: When I called their office, they would handle whatever my problem was or answer any questions ASAP. Easy Use: I never had any problems with payments, hidden fees, or a "That is not our problem" attitude. Cons: Unclear communication: Some times the communication of what was expected of me as a leaser was not very clear. Slow emailing: When communicating through email, I would have to wait quite a while for a response. Overall, I would recommend RCG. Getting everything lined up and the papers signed can be a bit slow, but once you are their customer, they take good care of you and your apartment. Just be sure to call them instead of email if you run into any issues. read more

I lived at 24 Royce Road for one year. The building was infested with bed bugs- the exterminator came 3 times while I lived there and the problem was still not resolved! The hallways, entryways and common areas are dirty, poorly lit, and hardly ever clean. Some of the apartments are great (except for the bedbugs), some are tiny and barely livable. The entire basement and back stairway area reeks of cat urine as well. Most of the tenants are undergraduates and there are constantly loud parties, garbage in the hallways, people puking on the front steps or in the hallways, and other nuisances. Maintenance response was always ok, but everyone else who works in the office is rude and unprofessional- they don't return calls or emails, and don't seem to be at all interested in resolving any of the issues with the building. They try to raise your rent every year, and no utilities are included. If you have to rent in Boston, especially in Allston, stay away from RCG! Its not worth the hassle and you might get bedbugs! read more

They built our new condo building incorrectly. It down pours in our units. Our condo association can't sue them because they sit on the board due to the fact they own units in the building. We are sequestered to live in mold, and rain water forever because we unknowingly bought the place and now can't sell. read more

Their agents know nothing, and I think they like to keep it that way. They were not able to answer any of our questions, except for a few, and we were brought on tours along with other groups of people and consequently lied to about the application process. We were told that we were first in line, and would be able to rent the apartment, based on this fact alone. It took a lot of work to get our spot, we have a great rental history, etc., but were denied the apartment in a very rude manner. It was only afterwards that I read all of these reviews, but it seems we lucked out. read more

My wife and I moved into an RCG-managed apartment over the summer. The apartment is the nicest we have lived in, and having moved around yearly for work this is saying a lot. In addition to a great location, the management company have been extremely accommodating with our requests. The few small repairs we have requested were made in a timely fashion. Most importantly, everyone we have dealt with in the Salem office has been genuinely friendly and invested in ensuring the space is what it should be. The welcome package that met us on move-in day was not only helpful for getting us acclimated to the new location but included valuable vouchers to local businesses, giving us a chance to try out some things and a free pizza voucher was much appreciated during our hectic time moving house. All in all, a great management company to work with. If required to move again in the coming years, I would enthusiastically rent another RCG property. read more

My roommate and I have been living in an apartment rented from RGC in Cambridge for 6 months and are moving out because I'm leaving the Boston area. Renting from RGC has been a dream compared with our experience with other landlords in the Cambridge area; RGC has quickly responded via email or phone to our concerns about heating, plumbing, and issues in the common stairwell and confirm that they've received our rent checks with account statements each month. The exterior of the building is kept looking nice with flowers and remulching, and trash and recycling are taken out of the common bins weekly. Their offices are conveniently located in Somerville, which made moving in easy. While I never took advantage of it, I found it comforting that I could go there to meet with in person with someone from RGC if I had problems that weren't easily resolved over email or phone. While we had many of the issues other renters have mentioned (the pre-move-in clean was cursory, lease renewal requested 4 months before our lease expired, and we've had a parade of realtors since our apartment was listed), our experience with RGC has been the best rental experience we've had in the Boston area and we both would consider renting from them again if we were back in the Cambridge area. NB: Rent directly from RGC and save yourself realtor's fees! read more

Even 1 star is too much for these thieves. They will do everything for you to fall in the trap and rent from them. After they have you on the hook, nothing matters to them. Poor maintenance, as it takes forever for someone to come out and fix something. Also your apartment will never be updated. They will do everything to take your money even if it means going to court. AVOID AVOID AVOID. read more

DO NOT RENT FROM RCG!!! 24 Royce rd. If the worst and most rundown Community College in the country had a dorm - this would it! Actually that dorm probl would not have mice and have hot water. Seriously do not rent from them! Theres plenty of apts in Boston! A short list of "inconveniences" from them: THE APARTMENTS ARE IN VERY BAD SHAPE. NO UPDATES FOR YEARS! 1st day were supposed to move in - they gave us the wrong key! stuck outside at 9pm with nowhere to go! Their emergency phone line is HORRIBLE! House not cleaned after the last tenants! Seriously! not even the shower curtain was removed. DISGUSTING! 4-5 months going back and forth for NO HOT WATER! RODANTS! They said someone came to get rid of the mice problem. Nope, still have mouse s*#$ 7 months in the apt. We've tried everything. NASTY. FAULTY WINDOWS! called since the first day here... nothing yet. The bathroom one doesn't even work. Stuck half open with a shampoo bottle! NO RESPECT! They insist to show my apt on the weekends 10AM-2PM even after we've said no many times!!! PRIVACY MAN!!!!! speaking of privacy, i can hear every conversation from the apt above and below me. even a simple phone call--- forget sleeping in on weekends! Neighbors - NO STANDARTS whatsoever. Called to complain about the guy downstairs after 2-3 weeks of incredibly loud music and drinking till 3-4am, and occasional fights, and the property manager said to "FEEL FREE TO CALL THE POLICE" thanks man, i never thought of that! side note- you can get high just standing in the hallway - it reeks 24-7. i don't have the patience to keep writing! THEY'RE THE WORST I'VE SEEN! read more

I lived in an RCG owned property for over two years in the Brighton/Allston area and couldn't be happier with my experience when it comes to dealing with management. They consistently upgraded the property conditions and were very quick to respond to maintenance requests. My property manager Nived was especially helpful in answering all my concerns in a polite and timely manner. Having dealt with other property managers in the past, RCG is by far the best management company I've had the pleasure of dealing with. read more

I rented a 3-room apartment with some friends in Central Sq. Cambridge from RCG. Overall, it was a great experience as the management was able to respond to our requests and communication promptly. Although the building we lived in was a bit old, we found our place to be nice and well maintained. read more

Renting an apartment in central square, have had an average experience. The apartment itself is not nice (terrible insulation, slanted floors, small), and definitely way overpriced. Service from RCG has not been terrible, but not great. read more

I rented a three bedroom apartment from RCG for one year. The apartment was small and nothing fancy, but it had an awesome location in Cambridge, and it fit my budget. RCG made it easy to pay rent (direct deposit), and they were very responsive to email whenever we had a question or a problem. They fixed a number of items for us promptly. We ended up leaving the apartment after one year due to job changes, but I would not hesitate to rent from them again if I were back in the area. read more

RCG is a disgrace. I have been living in an RCG apartment for almost 9 months now and have been shocked at how terribly they manage their apartments. The first night i moved in, the people below us came up to tell us our shower was leaking into their apartment. None of the windows close so you constantly get a draft and RCG controls the heat for the entire building so its not up to you how to combat the draft. (Personally, the temperature doesnt bother me too much but i could see that being a dealbreaker for many) My landlord refuses to give out her phone number to her tenants, which, in addition to being completely unprofessional, makes contacting her nearly impossible. The prices are pretty high for the quality of the apartment. And, worst of all, their buildings are dirty and INFESTED WITH BED BUGS. And since RCG does not have the money to properly treat the infestation it becomes an ongoing problem. Seriously, once a month we have to pack up everything we own, empty all furniture, and move it away from the walls, take down any wall hangings, wash and dry anything that has fabric on it (clothes, sheets, back packs, EVERYTHING) and tie everything up in plastic bags and pile it all into the kitchen so they can chemically treat the apartment. Then the building is ok for two or three weeks until bed bugs are reported again and we have to treat again. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A NORMAL PART OF LIFE IN AN APARTMENT. DO NOT live in an RCG apartment. Find a place that has a landlord that cares about the wellbeing of his/her tenants and is available to be contacted when neccessary, a real estate company that has the means to maintain livable conditions within their buildings, and find a company that has good customer service. If you're thinking that maybe I just have high standards, you're wrong. I simply believe that a landlord should make him/her self available to tenants, as it is their job to maintain tenant satisfaction and good condition of the premises. RCG is a terrible company and I would sincerely urge you to look elsewhere. This company is disgusting. Peace out. read more

I have been staying at an apartment being run by RCG for 2 years. I like to compare my experience with RCG in Salem to a bad relationship with an ex. In the beginning, everything is fine. The apartment was nice, my first impression of Anna (at first) was great. Then I decided on moving in. RCG will start with many colorful reasons on why they will be coming into your apartment (never caring if you're there or not, and the time they'll be arriving not always specified). It won't bother you at first. Until these visits are once every 1, maybe 2 or 3 weeks. Then comes the walking into your apartment at 7am in the morning without warning nor reason, or with an incredibly vague reason, i.e. Checking for water damage that doesn't exist. The times I've had to contact the front desk via email for maintenance issues, I've been told that someone would be there tomorrow (but never telling me the time). When asking what time they'll be there, I've never gotten a reply back. They don't always show up, but when they do, the maintenance people are ALWAYS great and helpful. Horrible tenant service is an understatement. The people I've dealt with who are a part of RCG have been incredibly rude. I've wondered several times if I was doing something wrong- my apartment didn't appear nice enough, if I was the one coming across rude, anything. But after living there for 2 years, I just accepted it was the way it was. During one of the company's random visits for 'maintenance check', they had a problem with the fact that I had not taken the trash out yet. In certain situations, I could see how this would be a problem. But one trash bag lying next to the door (it was in the middle of january in New England) is hardly worth a phone call. I'm leaving, and saying good riddance. I wish I could say positive things about this company, I really do. The location is nice, the apartments are modern and nice, but those are the only good things I can say. I can only hope to help the people who are questioning the 1,800$ dollar a month apartment in Salem, MA that's being run by these people. P.S. Parking is two blocks away. Enjoy buying groceries. read more

I rented my first apartment in the Boston area through RCG. I was very impressed with the agency as a whole. Whenever we had any issues with maintenance or anything they were very prompt in their response and sending someone out to help us. The representatives were very polite over the phone and emails were answered clearly and were very helpful. I would most definitely recommend this agency to anyone looking to rent in the greater Boston area! Great company! read more

We've only rented from RCG for one year now, but we haven't had any issues so far. We've had multiple issues regarding the appliances in the apartment and they sent maintenance people right away to replace them. They replaced our stove, washer and dryer, as well as a few other things right away when they broke. However, there have been numerous times that the maintenance people assumed we were not home and walked right into our apartment without knocking, when we were in fact home. This is the only negative thing we can say about RCG as they have been very responsive and helpful 24/7. Everyone who works at RCG is very respectful both in person and on the phone. We would definitely rent from them again and would recommend them! read more

I can't agree with the reviews by some of the other Yelpers. I lived in an RCG apartment for two years in Allston. Sure it wasn't luxury but I knew what I was getting when I rented it. It was clean and well located which is what mattered most to me. I think I had a great deal for two years and moved on to a different area where RCG didn't have any apartments suitable to me. I had some maintenance issues (running toilet, cracked window once, and lost my keys - which was a nightmare), but thought RCG responded in the appropriate way each time. I didn't expect same day service, I believe they responded each time within 2-3 days, which I thought made sense due to the severity of the issues. For my keys they put me in touch with a locksmith. I was only friendly with a handful of neighbors but they all seemed to have a similar experience. I would rent from them again if they had an apartment that met my criteria. I also really liked the staff but only had to deal with them a couple times. Too early to comment on my current landlord! read more

I have lived in an RCG managed apartment in Somerville for 2 years. This fall I will be moving to a different part of the city and therefore most likely wont be renting from them again, but this definitely isn't because of their management. Any issues we had that needed to be fixed were attended to in a timely manner. We had an old washer/dryer that started to leak into the stairwell. They bought and replaced it with a brand new model very quickly. Overall we were very happy with their management team, however we are just moving on to a place that may be a bit more updated and in a new area. read more

I have rented from RCG in Cambridge for 3 years and will be leaving to begin work in a different city. Overall, it has been a very positive experience. I had several complaints during my first year (2013-2014) that mostly pertained to one individual, but RCG really took feedback to heart. Since that first year, RCG has been an excellent landlord. Management is responsive, maintenance issues are taken care of quickly, and they've improved the quality of the apartment (i.e. by renovating the bathroom). I had some unanticipated life changes that could have presented real challenges for my housing situation, but RCG worked with us on an individual basis to come up with a solution. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend RCG. read more

Overall, it was a great experience renting from RCG. They had cleaners come weekly to keep the hall way/shared areas clean and in the winter, salted the stairs and parking lot in the back. When they were planning maintenance checks, they were good about providing 24 hour minimum notice and were understanding if we needed to reschedule. Originally, we moved in without doors to the bedroom and asked to have french doors installed to mirror the downstairs apt. Without hesitation, they placed the order (no cost to us) and after a month, the beautiful doors were installed. Our only issue was the heating system. We rented from a very old building so it was forced heat and 2 of the heating units didn't work. After complaining, no one came to fix it. However, we've been told the windows have since been replaced to help insulate the apartment. Wasn't a huge issue for us. read more

I rented a two bedroom from RCG for two years. I was not impressed with the company during the first 6 months of my stay, considering the condition of the apartment to include leaving maintenance supplies in the apartment and the shoddy patches. It took six months for the intial repair requests from my move-in to be repaired. My front door literally allowed snow to blow in through cracks in the frame. Now this maybe due to the owner and the amount of money they were willing to put into the apartment. During snowmaggedon they did a good job in removing snow and only needed to be reminded a few times. They did make some staff changes in late 2015 that brought on a more responsive maintenance manager and property manager. They responded quickly to leaks in my bathroom and addressed issues when the apartment fixtures showed their age. I agree with other reviews that they ask for renewal too early. Asking me if I plan to stay in February when the lease expires in September places unwarnted pressure on a mostly student population, when future plans maybe uncertain. Move-out day you are required to be out by 10 AM. That is too early, you should at least be given until 1 or 2 PM. Overall it was a positive experience but there are several upgrades/improvements required to make the apartment meet the overpriced rates. read more

After the owner of the appartment I was living in died, RCG took over the property. After overcoming some initial difficulties with them, RCG proved to be very helpful and flexible: they let me stay in the appartment until the end of May - as I would have, if the previous owner of the flat were still alive - although they initially told me with one month's notice in January that I had to leave. After some emailing and phonecalls back and forth, explaining them my situation (I was to leave the USA in May in any case, if I had to look for a new flat in the final 3 months of my stay, that would have been really problematic), they allowed me to stay until the end of May. They also helped me closing my National Grid and NSTAR accounts after I left the appartment (and the USA), which was very helfpul as I wasn't living in the country anymore. So, in general I have been very happy about how understanding and helpful they were. read more

I've been living in an RCG owned building since September and haven't had any major issues with the company. They are organized, responsive, and generally attentive. When maintaining the apartment they tend to only put in the bare-minimum's improvements, which isn't necessarily bad up front, but tends to have long-lasting repercussions. This sort of workmanship is fairly pervasive among lower-end housing, but I don't advocate for it regardless. Overall the company was fine and the apartment was overpriced but livable, as long as you don't mind the power outings, pipes bursting, and generally low-end conditions. read more

I had them as property managers and they are a fair company. They tell you everything that they plan on doing in advance and never come into your apartment unexpected. They fixed all the problems with our place in a timely manner and never hiked up any of the rent. They even gave us a portfolio in the beginning of our stay with stamps and envelopes of where to send our rent check every month. I have had nightmare property managers in the past but this company was a fresh of breath air from them. read more

My girlfriend and I lived in an apartment from RCG real estate. The best way to simply describe RCG is terrible management. When we told them we were leaving, we didn't get any response from the email we had always communicated with them by. Two days later, we get a letter on the outside of our door that said they 'Didn't wish to continue leasing with us.'. A reason was not stated, we can only wonder. RCG breaks several tenant rights, such as showing up without warning during all hours of the day, without a 24 hour notice (which is a breach of tenant law). If emails are sent asking for approval of arrival (instead of phone calls, which we asked them to preferably do), they will show up regardless of a reply. They started randomly sending realtors through the apartment when they realized we wanted to leave. It's very unnerving to have strangers literally just walking into your apartment, WITHOUT warning, when your relaxing from your day off from work. If someone got the okay from the company to walk into someones apartment, and the company didn't officially verify it with the lesser, it could potentially even be dangerous for this person. The price of the apartments isn't even close to being worth it, when you bring management into it. If you want little drama and hassle, look elsewhere. There's other gorgeous, wonderfully managed apartments out there. read more

You are in excellent hands with RCG. RCG is professional, reliable, great communicators and truly takes pride in meeting the needs of the tenants. My experience with RCG exceeded my expectations of renting, as this is my first experience as a tenant. RCG has certainly set high stands for future renting experiences. Throughout my living experience, and even the application process, RCG has been nothing but patient and helpful. All our questions, concerns, and requests are answered in a timely manner and are answered and addressed quickly. RCG keeps tenants in the loop of information happening within the apartment, the neighboring apartment, and the company itself. I was extremely worried about the stress of moving and finding a new place in the Boston area. Thankfully, I fell in the hands of a company that will go above and beyond to make sure your experience is pleasant, memorable and successful. Big thank you and shout out to RCG! read more

I have lived in Apartments in the Boston area for over 30 years; Presently, in a Building owned by RCG-LLC in Somerville, MA for about 6 Years. Without a doubt, they are the best owners of any Properties that I have ever resided in. I think what makes them stand out above any other Real Estate Company in the Area is their professionalism, and employees. They respond rapidly to all requests and inquiries, be it of an Emergency nature, or something not that serious at all: Their attention to detail is unsurpassed! I was once locked out of my Apartment towards the end of a 26 inch snow storm, and someone helped get me into my place within an hour of first frantically placing a call! And they are diligent about taking care of their properties both outside, within the building, and inside a unit. Their employees are not only Professional to a "T", but sincere, pleasant and of high character. And they make excellent choices of new tenants that they allow to move into their Buildings. I have no reason to heap false praise upon RCG; I have never been more impressed with a Realty Company then I am of them and think it only fair to give them props. read more

For fear of sounding dramatic - DO NOT RENT from RCG!!! This company is a slumlord. They have very few decent buildings, and even in those the management is extremely poor. They begin by charging extremely high rents, are extremely unresponsive to tenants' needs, and in the end hold on to the security deposit no matter what you do, or do not do. When I moved in they refused to paint the apartment after a previous tenant lived there for 4 years. After I moved out, however, they held my security deposit by saying that they will have to paint the unit. I checked with my neighbors who had moved out and they did the same to them, however, when the new tenants moved in they found the unit unpainted, and with holes in the walls. So it seems like it is standard practice with them not to return your money. I also know that they have been brought to court by their tenants on several occasions, and although I do not know the outcomes of the cases, this should serve as a warning to potential tenants. After all, who would want to engage in a legal battle with the management company! One other thing to note is that in the office they hire very young, inexperienced people, who do not have decision making power, yet serve as a buffer zone in all the battles between the management and the tenants. The company pays them low salaries, thereby generating a very high workforce turnover, which only adds to the frustration, as those people really don't know what they are doing in the first place. The bottom line is that although I have been renting in various cities for the last 16 years, I have never encountered such poor property management and with such low moral standards. read more