Capri at Isla Vista Apartments, isla-vista-cal

I would strongly recommend looking at other options in Isla Vista before signing here. My experience with Capri was frustrating from the very beginning. I applied based on a specific room and price, but when the lease was eventually sent to me, the rent was already about $100/month higher. When I questioned it, I was simply told that the original room was no longer available. This had not been communicated to me beforehand. Sending someone a contract at a materially different price from what had been discussed, without clearly flagging the change, is not an acceptable way to handle a lease. During the leasing process, some important communications were sent through temporary email relay/alias addresses where messages became difficult or impossible to access later. I actually had to forward important emails to another account to make sure I did not lose them. Considering these communications concerned a legally binding lease, I found this extremely questionable. The condition of the apartment when I arrived was also very poor. There was dust and dirt throughout the apartment, stains on the windows, and my bedroom had clearly not been properly cleaned. I took photos and videos immediately after moving in (attached a couple). After I complained, it took around three days for cleaners to come. Even after they supposedly cleaned the room again, I still had to clean most of it myself. The most absurd part came at move-out. Despite leaving my bedroom and the common areas in substantially better condition than I received them, Capri deducted $173.33 for cleaning/paint-related charges. I repeatedly asked them to provide the inspection photos and documentation supporting those charges. They told me the photos and vendor documentation would be uploaded “shortly.” They were not. I followed up repeatedly and was ignored. It ultimately took around three months, multiple emails, and explicitly citing California law before the disputed money was finally reimbursed. In other words, if you rent here, document absolutely everything when you move in. Take photos and videos of every room, wall, window, piece of furniture and existing damage, and keep copies of every email. Had I not done that and persisted for months, I have serious doubts that I would have recovered the money. The property itself is also expensive compared with other options in Isla Vista. Parking was approximately another $100/month, so the real monthly cost adds up quickly. I would strongly recommend walking around Isla Vista and comparing other buildings before signing anything here: there are many alternatives nearby. Sound insulation and privacy were another major problem. The walls and partitions are extremely thin. Some rooms marketed as “single” rooms are separated by a plastic partition rather than a normal wall, with gaps near the ceiling. Sound travels straight through, as can light and shadows. If the room borders the kitchen or living room, expect to hear essentially everything happening outside. I would also take the high Google rating with some caution. During the year, management repeatedly encouraged residents to leave positive reviews in exchange for entry into raffles or opportunities to win discounts and prizes. I personally received these requests. Prospective tenants deserve to know that when interpreting the overall rating. Management changed during my tenancy, and the newer management was somewhat better than the previous one (the one sending disappearing emails). But given the pricing, the condition in which I received the apartment, the lack of privacy and sound insulation, the way the lease was handled at the beginning, and especially the months-long struggle over unjustified move-out deductions, I would absolutely choose somewhere else.

The rooms are well designed and managed, with ample space in bedrooms and a good kitchen area. A bit dirty on move-in, but the maintenance staff was incredibly helpful. Overall, a great place to live in Isla Vista!

Move in was super quick and easy! Brett was super responsive with helping me get my keys. When I moved in, I noticed my table was crooked and window screen had fallen out, and the maintenance staff fixed it immediately. Only complaint is the oven doesn’t have temperature marks on it, which makes it a little hard for cooking, but overall not a big deal. Place is very new and modern. Entrance hallway bigger than I thought. And i LOVE the dishwasher.

My son has lived here for 3 years now. There was a slow to respond manager but now there's another lady who is really responsive. It was a nice quiet experience for him, he had good roommates, the property is kept well, he liked the maintenance person. All in all, easy place to live and get to school and town quickly. The buildings are older but kept up nicely. The building looks nice on the exterior too, I would not be embarrassed to say he lived there. Parking prices are pretty standard, rent amount is about what any other property is so close to town and UCSB. Overall excellent experience. Would stay another year but he's graduating.

Landlord sucks, they do not care and don’t answer questions. Packages were stolen and they wouldn’t let me see camera footage even tho camera was pointed at my door. I had multiple issues with my randomly assigned roommates not limited to them wiping pubic hair on my toothbrush and they will not help at all. Washing machines will siphon funds from your account and was broken 70% of the year. I have some sort of heating element under my room that keeps it 80 degrees all year round, and there’s no ceiling fan or light in the sliders. Overall way too expensive and management sucks. But if you want somewhere quiet with an individual lease it works. Most of the 5 star reviews come from the goveaway at the begging of each year and aren’t actual reviews