Hi renters,

Welcome to Rent Check PHX. In today’s issue, we’re talking about nightmare apartments—specifically, my year living among cockroaches and disruptive neighbors in Phoenix.

We also talk about a proposed rental assistance program in Arizona, along with readers’ thoughts on it. And we look at some homes available for rent, including one with a mini golf course in the backyard.

I’ll see you again next Wednesday. Hope you learn something useful, and don’t forget to forward this to a fellow renter!

Jessica Swarner

Newsletter Editor, Rent Check PHX

I spent a year living in a nightmare Phoenix apartment. Here’s what I learned

My time living in a nightmare Phoenix apartment—complete with cockroaches and disruptive neighbors—taught me the true cost of staying put. (Francesca Daly/COURIER)

It’s the fall of 2019. I’m living in an apartment in central Phoenix with my college roommate, and I’m ready to move in with my partner of four years.

He and I start looking at apartments, and we find a complex in Arcadia that seems to check our boxes—something affordable in a nice, walkable area. We figure that even if the unit we get is small, we’ll spend most of our time at nearby restaurants and coffee shops.

We tour a unit, and everything seems fine. The complex’s pool is big and clean, the apartment is decently up-to-date, and residents smile at us in the hallway. We sign a one-year lease for a one-bed, one-bath at about $1,200 a month.

But not long after we move in, the cracks begin to show—and soon we’re questioning whether we should end our misery and spend over $1,000 to break our lease.

Here’s what went wrong

🚿 If you like a simple but updated look: This 1,300-square-foot home near Roosevelt and 12th streets has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, along with a fenced-in turf front yard. It has an updated kitchen with cute backsplash and renovated bathrooms with decorative tiling. The backyard features a fire pit, and there is a carport for parking. Rent is listed at $2,199 a month, and cats and small dogs are allowed.

🏠 If you prefer new house vibes: This home built in 2023 has four bedrooms and two bathrooms for a total of 1,797 square feet. It’s in the north Phoenix Copperleaf community near Dove Valley Road and North Valley Parkway. The house includes an electric vehicle charging outlet, covered patio, and turf lawn. The neighborhood offers a community pool, park, and a sports court. It’s listed at $2,645 a month, and cats and dogs are allowed.

⛳️ If a putting green wasn’t enough: This home near Lincoln Drive and Tatum Boulevard costs $15,000 a month to live in—and it has a mini golf course in the backyard. The four-bed, four-bath is 4,000 square feet and has an outdoor kitchen, a pool, a hot tub, and a basketball court. Who among us can afford this … but just in case, it’s available April 1, comes fully furnished, and allows cats and dogs.

If you come across any interesting, weird, or surprisingly affordable listings that you think should be featured here, please send them my way!

Email here

Listings available as of Feb. 18. I’m not paid to share these listings, but that doesn’t mean I can personally vouch for them. Please do your research before applying and signing a lease!

A bipartisan bill in the Arizona Legislature would create a statewide rental assistance program to help people experiencing short-term hardship avoid eviction.

The program would:

pay up to two months of rent or $5,000, whichever is less
benefit households with at least one child that are experiencing “an unexpected and temporary financial emergency”
not require recipients to repay the money

I asked our daily newsletter subscribers what they thought of the bill, and here’s what they said:

💬 “Excellent. There are so many good people who just do not have the resources when a sudden health or financial emergency hits them.” — Judy R.

💬 “I wish they would expand this to help seniors as well.” — Cathy L.

💬 “It will certainly be abused and there will never be enough funds to cover applications!” — Terry A.

💬 “That is definitely a good plan. If the federal government isn’t going to step up to the plate, I am proud that Arizona is suggesting a plan. I hope it’s not met with a lot of disapproval.” — Deb S.

Join the conversation

*Paywalled content noted with 🔒

🏠 President Donald Trump’s order to keep corporate investors from buying homes has an important exemption—it still allows them to build homes dedicated as rentals. (The New York Times, 🔒)

🏡 These six bills could actually make a dent in Arizona’s housing crisis. But will the Legislature pass them? (Phoenix New Times)

🧑‍⚖️ Some lawmakers are pushing to exempt historic neighborhoods from the recently passed “middle housing” law that requires municipalities to allow multi-family housing. (KJZZ)

☀️ Utility companies killed a bill in Arizona that would have allowed renters and homeowners to use small, plug-in solar devices. (Arizona Mirror)

📦 How many people who live in Arizona are actually from here? And which cities have the most out-of-towners? Here are the numbers. (The Copper Courier)

🍊 Feng shui experts say these seven decor objects can bring good fortune into your home. (Apartment Therapy)