Cassa Housing

Cassa Housing helped me a lot to find a place to stay! They were reliable, very helpful and professional. Their furniture was very new, and I had the options to have my own room for a reasonable price without dealing with the hassle to find an apartment by my own. The manager is easy-​to-​reach. I would suggest Cassa Housing especially to those who are studying abroad and are in city for a limited time.

We found Cassa Housing when my friend from Spain needed a place last minute for her 4 month English immersion program. It worked out perfectly and we have nothing but good things to say about the service. I helped her make the arrangements with Cassa, so I was worried about something getting lost in translation, but it didn’t thankfully. Her room was great and everything was just simple and easy. And she definitely got her security deposit back– Clearly one person is mad about that. So I have to say our experience was way way different.

I stayed in one of their apartments during my 3 month internship. Honestly, they helped me a lot. For the short term lease, they provide housing with enough furniture. Also, the manager Feyyaz so friendly so that you can call him to have info about anything. I check their couple of apartments before move in. Most of them is located so close to transportation. Dont expect a luxury apartment but to be fair, they provide best price for a short term lease.

update ¹⁄₁₆ to his comment:
the first payment was a check and bounced. the second payment was via paypal and you reversed the deposit. we have not been paid our security deposit.
original post:
Feyyaz Ocalan is the general manager of this property and runs a very shady, dishonest business that operates in direct violation of Virginia state statutes. The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA) Section 55 – 248.15:1 states «The Virginia security deposit, any accrued interest and any deductions, damages and charges shall be itemized by the landlord in a written notice given to the tenant, together with any amount due the tenant within 45 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession». So, he has 45 days to return a tenant’s security deposit. We’ve been waiting six months to get this money back.
After many calls, emails, etc over six months we finally received a small portion of the $ 500 security deposit back and it was deposited via Paypal. We submitted an honest, accurate review of this company on Unilocal and the next day Feyyaz had the Paypal transfer reversed and the money removed from our account. When asked why he did that that his exact words were «remove comment and get deposit». He seems to think that if a tenant posts a review of his business on Unilocal or any other social media outlet that he can ignore state laws and statutes and keep their security deposit. There is no requirement in the state laws to remove social media comments in order to receive a security deposit that is legally and rightfully owed.
I have no doubt he’ll post a comment below about what a liar we are and how we are not telling the truth. The above is the truth and I have already filed a complaint with the Better Business Burea and will be contacting other agencies. And if you read the other reviews you will see that this is not a unique situation, he routinely withholds tenant’s security deposits and refuses to return it.

I stayed with Cassa Housing for a 3 months. My apartment was in Crystal City. Apartment is fully furnished including kitchen staff. Rent is all included which is a good part. I paid my security deposit to reserve it and get back on time. Staff is very friendly and they have very nice social activities. I strongly recommend Cassa housing to all interns and international students. I will be back again for sure. See you all soon.

The owner of Cassa Housing left a comment on my last review which I feel the need to address. My agreement with Cassa housing ended in August. I asked to stay for an additional month on September 1 which I have the text to prove. How is that moving without notice? If you read the other reviews you will notice that Cassa housing failed to respond to any of their tenants inquires about returns of deposit money until months later. For each person they had a different excuse as to why they didn’t return the deposit. Regarding the lack furniture. My roommate and I both asked numerous times for additional furniture. My roommates Dad even deducted money from her rent because of the lack of furniture in what was supposed to be a furnished apartment. Never once did the owner of Cassa say that there was a lack of furniture due to our third roommate request. I took those pictures of the apartment the day I moved in. I was placed in substandard apartment bottom line! It’s also a total lie that that Cassa reached out to me by email to try and resolve any issues! I left dozens of voicemails and sent texts, so if you couldn’t reach me by email why not pick up a phone and call me. That would be the professional thing to do. Once again management continues to lie and try to mislead people!

This outfit provides adequate housing placements for people needing to complete internships on a short term basis. They organized fun events for the summer and so has the building I stayed. The rooms were kept clean and maid service was provided on a regular basis. Be careful though because they can and will take advantage if you let them. Showing rooms at random times of day is normal. Also, you give them a lump sump on the first day you move in along with the security deposit which you may not get back when you move out.

The apartment was large and conveniently located. The furnishings are sparse. Although not noted on their website, you do need to provide your own bedding & towels or purchase it from them at a cost.
After providing the company with my arrival time and location (twice), they promised me that a representative would be there to collect my complete rent payment in exchange for the apartment keys. They eventually had to call the front desk for the keys.
They also came to the apartment to notify us that they had to move all residents out because the apartment lease ended and that we had to move out by the end of the week. To be fair, they did find all of us alternative accommodations, but it was shoddily arranged and quite unprofessional.
Lastly and most importantly, the company has failed to return the remainder of my $ 600 security deposit (est. $ 425). I have sent no less than fifteen emails since I’ve moved out, all of them promising that I would get my deposit back.
Here the saga gets REALLY FUN. So, after I originally posted this review mid-​December, Feyyaz (the head of this operation) contacted me via Unilocal:
Feyyaz: «Hello Adrienne
I know it has been late and you are right abiut the deposit. There is nothing to say. I have been out of the state for a long time and our office could not follownup yours. Do you think we can send your deposit and give us a good review and change it?»
***Do note the atrocious spelling and grammar — absolutely unprofessional.
Anyways, I responded: «The terms of this agreement are: I will edit my review to a four (4) star review. In exchange, you will refund me the full $ 600 deposit for all my troubles and issues with contacting you. You should have my email, for all the messages I sent to your inbox. You will mail the check to this address: [omitted]
After I receive the check and the bank clears the check (meaning it doesn’t bounce), I will change the review.»
You’d think that was pretty standard considering they already reneged on one agreement before, which by the way, IS LEGALLY BINDING.
At any rate, he responded: «sorry we cant. We did once and person did not change the review
Change the review if you want and get the deposit immediately. Decision is yours»
Okay, already this was ominous, but I was incredibly sorry for disappointing my parents in this endeavor, and you know, I’d like to really return the money they paid so I could intern in DC for the summer.
So I bantered back: «Out of curiosity, what is your guarantee that I will receive a check? Your company has a poor track record of living up to agreements at this point. Moreover, what if I want to give a three– or four-​star review? I deserve to have my opinions heard and consumers deserve to know what will happen if they sign a lease with your company.»
Feyyaz had the gall to still defend his operation: «1. your furniture of your apartment rented from Cort Furniture. You have everything for your aparmtnet
2. Only thing is you are right we chnage your apartment. This is our biggest mistake but we also got a very late notice from leasing and try to solve the problem asap.
3. We meet with all of our tenants for move in. I do not remember exactly but if we don not meet you and leave your key front desk, it is because of your arrival time. If tenants come late, we leave you the key front desk even we did not get the payment. Other companies keep them to wait until tomorrow morning to get payment and give the keys.»
So I did edit the review: «The review has been duly edited. I will wait for four weeks for the check, due to the delay caused by USPS during the holiday season. If the check is not in my mailbox by December 30, I reserve the right to change my review of Cassa Housing again. Have a good day.»
December 30 came and gone, and I went back to university, and Feyyaz finally responded: «Adrienne you are receiving your deposit .Is there any chance you can remove [a] part [about not getting the security deposit back on time]? Also how we can make sure that you will not change your review after receiving your deposit.»
At this point I rather had it: «Considering it was me who paid my deposit in full and maintained my half of the rental agreement, I’d say look at my record of past actions. I have a strong belief that people should know what you did to me. Perhaps with more time and other clients under your belt, your reputation will change, but the matter of the fact is that you are essentially paying me what I am legally owed in order to change a Unilocal review. I don’t think there’s any way to contravene that. I have not received my check yet. When did you send the check?»
I’m done with these people. He talks about not being able to trust that I will not change the review; well, he’s broken trust in so many residents by not giving what is legally owed to them. So I suppose his trust in me is misplaced, because I have given up on all this bullshit entirely. Lease with them at your own risk.

Interns and colleges students– Do not live here. Read below to find out why.
** Be wary as you read the reviews below… There is an abnormal combination of one-​star and five-​star reviews… think back to that dreaded STATs class college students– where’s the bell curve? Those red flags should be going off…
The one-​stars must be enraged customers, some of which were so upset that they surely made a few accounts to leave more reviews. The five-​star reviews COULD be enthusiastic customers… But then what kind of business treats some customers with one-​star service and others with five-​star service? Why is there such a gap? A solution: Cassa is pumping this page with fraudulent reviews via friends and fake accounts. After all, all Unilocal needs is an email address and Cassa surely knows this. Remember– these guys are liars and frauds. **
UPDATE ¹⁄₁₃: Upon reading the not-​so-​nice update below… Cassa PULLED the deposit from my account. AFTER ALREADY GIVING ME A CHECK. I have attached a screenshot from my Chase account showing this– routing numbers and my name is concealed.
Despite the obvious legal complications, to take away the entirety somebody’s security deposit for a Unilocal Review demonstrates the lack of moral integrity and incompetent leadership that Cassa operates from. These guys are LIARS and they’re very good at it. The website is a sham and further shows how well Cassa is manipulating others. I warn again– please do not live here. Naturally, they have a D+ with the Better Business Bureau (
).
UPDATE ¹⁄₈: After finally receiving my security deposit back (well 70%, but at this point…), I am updating this review. Apparently, the management lost an employee, to which they blamed my delayed deposit. Upon multiple phone calls and another email, I was finally able to secure my deposit– on condition that this Unilocal review be edited. I initially changed my rating from 1 star to 3 stars, giving Cassa the benefit of the doubt that this was a truly honest mistake on behalf of the employee… However, upon reading multiple reviews saying almost EXACTLY what happened to me, I cannot possibly believe that it was an honest mistake. And given I have already cash my deposit check, one star it will remain.
ORIGINAL ¹¹⁄₁₈: The company takes advantage of desperate college students needing housing for the summer but have no idea where to look. The apt consisted of subpar furniture, carpet covered in stains, a microwave that hardly worked, and stove in which only two tops worked. The leaser and I agreed on a particular price for the summer which was changed upon my arrival. I moved out August 14^th and today’s date is November 18^th and I have still not received a security deposit, despite several phone calls and emails. The management can not be trusted and I would HIGHLY encourage you to look elsewhere.

My friend Taniya recommend me about this place. So I checked it out, really liked it. And I stayed at one of there apartments for six months for my internship! Absolutely loved it. Very comfortable. I was provided with all amenities. If you’re looking for a luxury yet affordable stay, Cassa housing is the one! Thank you Fiyaaz and Ali.

Great customer service, great condos for the price. I stayed at the Dolly Maddison apartments while interning at the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington. Parking was available for an extra fee per month. The amenities, large modern kitchen, and washer/​dryer made this condo feel like home. As far as temporary housing goes, Cassa is your best bet.

I love that company, their houses very comfortable also so close to public transportations.

Cassa Housing saved my life when i was desperately looking for accommodation in the close proximity of DC, which is very hard to find if you are new to DC, have high standards with a limited budget.
They listened to my needs and provided me solutions based on that. They provided competitive prices for centrally located, furnished apartments or rooms in very nice apartment buildings.
Feyyaz or Fazli have both been very professional all through out the process, and they were available whenever I needed assistance or with any issues regarding the apartment.
I was very happy with services provided by Cassa Housing.