Renaissance Women Property Management

**397 South 11^th St. San Jose, CA
Don’t get me wrong, Joyce is very timely and professional and if there’s a problem she’s quick to get one of her workers (maybe illegal immigrant) to fix it. When I first moved in, non of the rooms had locks on them. Not even a month and my laptop as well as my roommate’s laptop got stolen. Definitely had problems trusting one of my suspected housemates, but there was no proof and we couldn’t get rid of her because she was part of the lease. Joyce charged us 25 for each room to have a lock. THE ROOMS SHOULD HAVE HAD A LOCK ON IT IN THE FIRST PLACE! The house we rented had a jack and jill bathroom. Joyce did not even have a lock for our bathroom door… my rommate’s newly purchased laptop was stolen again! We filed a police report but there was no proof to get a new one without a cost. Joyce installed a bathroom lock, but this time is was free. This could have seriously been prevented.
The house looks like it’s straight up crying. It is poorly maintained, but it was the best we could find and close to the SJSU campus. We pay for the location, not the comfort. I was acquainted with the people who lived in the house previous to us. The house has always been a wreck and is not properly maintained. Some windows are painted shut so they can’t even open. Some also need a can or an object just so it could stay up. Many of the windows also do not have a screen.
When we first moved in we had to do some extra cleaning. The house was not properly cleaned coming in. The carpet looks like it hasn’t been changed in yearrrssss. Joyce only vaccumes it with a powder. My housemate’s parents brought in a rug doctor and Joyce said not to use it because it would create mold. Thus, making a statement that the carpet is never shampooed. We cleaned the carpet ourselves anyways because that statement was disturbing in itself.
The house also has a funky smell. One time someone turned on the heater, and i the smell was enhanced. it smells like something died in the vents or something. Never turned that thing on again.
FIRE DEPT.
We had to call the fire dept one time because there was a gas leak in our house. The fire dept said by law she was supposed to make sure the valve was covered if it’s not in use.
I am moving out in 2 months. I’ve heard she deducts the shit out of your deposit. Make sure you know what every deduction is for if you ever rent from her. Also, I’ve heard she doesn’t usually let people renew their lease. It probably gives her an opportunity to get a new deposit she could keep to herself. She owns more than 40 properties downtown and thenn some.
She’s a nice lady, but in my opinion greedy and selfish. Our house was seriously a dump and her maintenance shows how much she cares about who lives there. Poor maintenance will already call for problems and a small return deposit. Girl just seems to wanna make money. I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry.

I have been wanting to review Joyce Berkowitz (renaissance woman property mgmt) for awhile but never got around to it. She is a slumlord in downtown San Jose. She evicted my old roommate and I for no good reason (we violated no part of the lease). While we considered taking her to court the apartment was such a dump we took it as an opportunity to get the hell out of there (mold, leaks, bees swarming our kitchen. not being allowed to walk, wear shoes or talk to each other after 10pm and being asked to not go out the front door after 10pm. Really.)
I kind of got over it, but I also know a few people that rent from her and she recently evicted 4 acquaintances of mine and my husband and their neighbors for no good reason.
Now that my husband is involved in the property mgmt field I realize how shady this woman is. Usually you get paid extra for finding new tenants, so perhaps she boosts her check by getting rid of and finding new tenants constantly. Who knows. But it definitely takes a special kind of person to displace people at will for no reason.
AVOID!

The proprietor is the best. Professional, friendly, timely, and just a really great person. I’m a current tenant, and if I have a problem, she gets back to me and it’s resolved, period. And she’s nice but no push-​over, she plays the balancing act of friendly but firm beautifully!!! I love that in a landlady because everyone’s treated fairly.