Tribe Property Technologies - Victoria, British Columbia

Steven L.

Steer clear of Gorge Road Apartments. I lived at 252 Gorge Road East and it was terrible. Here goes:

-They have black mould on drywall in the common areas. I noticed it when they took off the baseboards to complete renovations. I took pictures and gave a well written email to Steven DeShane as well as my building manager Bryan Orr so they could consider cutting out the mould impacted drywall while renovations were happening (what better time?). My email was ignored and the next day they were applying the dark grey paint to mouldy drywall which you currently see in the common areas today.

-The drywall joint compound is a known asbestos containing material in the building. I personally witnessed contractors completing work to the building, disturbing these materials, without using any precautions or containments to avoid releasing asbestos fibres within their work area. (For example, a contractor had to cut out 8 square feet of mouldy drywall from the common area right outside my unit, and he did so without any asbestos precautions).

-My building manager forgot that they were supposed to let me into the building on my move in day. I called multiple times and got no response. I eventually got fed up waiting to get into my apartment (I was paying for) and called the emergency number as they were the only people who would answer. Within 5-10 minutes of calling the emergency line, the building manager magically calls me back and swears at me for having done that. Full on yelling. He told me he was busy up the island visiting with friends and wasn't planning on coming back to the building in Victoria that day. Given that I didn't want to pay for a hotel room in a city where I am currently paying rent for an apartment, I told the building manager he needed to make the trip down and that it was not my problem. His response? "ITS GOING TO BE YOUR PROBLEM!". I wish I was kidding. To give the building manager some credit, his attitude was much improved after our first interaction and had no problems with him for the remainder of my tenancy. I can chalk that up to him having a bad day. It happens.

-My car got broken into while in the secured underground parkade. When I asked for camera footage, they told me that the camera wasn't working in that spot (I was right by the entrance, the most common area for theft).

-They advertise the building as having a working hot tub and sauna. I was skeptical and asked about this before moving in and was assured that these were functional and working. In the year I lived there, the sauna was never functional. The hot tub was functional about 20% of the time.

-The fitness facility hasn't been updated since the 90's. Garbage equipment. Much of it is broken and they don't bother fixing it.

-People still smoke in their apartment units and the smell of an ashtray permeates throughout the entire common area. I didn't think this was a thing in 2023.

-When I asked to break my lease, they told me the best they could do is charge me an "admin fee" of one monthes rent ($1818). If they find a new renter, end of story. If they don't find a new renter, I still lose out on the $1818 and am held liable for any rental costs. What a deal...

-In the year I lived there, the fire alarm went off about 10-15 times. This was a blaring sound that would stay on for 30-60 minutes at a time. Many times in the evening when you're trying to get ready to go to sleep. How can there be so many false alarms in one year? What are people even doing?

People were generally nice there, minus one of my neighbours down the hall who was an absolute a**hole to anyone with a barking dog. I heard him threatening to "knock out" my neighbour one time as his dogs excitedly greeted him as he came home.

I could go on with more, but I won't. Just don't rent through Tribe on Gorge Road. Or anywhere. Save yourself the trouble and headache.

Rande K.

I would also rate the Tribe Management company zero stars if that were an option. The level of management and care of our building has never been lower. When I contact the residential caretaker, or the apartment manager, the response rate is either zero or at least two weeks, if not more. Any issues brought to their attention are disregarded, or ignored all together, until hounded to make positive changes. They are incompetent at what they do. They have even mismanaged monthly rent checks, even going so far as losing them, more than once. If you want to live in a safe, clean building, do not choose a company managed by Tribe.

Joseph P.

Update to the review below....Make that 4 months, and STILL no refund cheque for our damage deposit. Renters beware!
.........
After putting up with Tribe's terrible management while living at one of their apartments in Victoria, we are now trying to get our damage deposit back. Now, three months later, still no cheque and just excuses from their office why we haven't received this $$.

We put up with a lot of nonsense from them so this is not surprising. Left our apartment clean and undamaged and this is how they treat you in return. Will now have to contact the government for assistance to get this $$ owed to us.

The one star ratings here ARE on the "up and up". They deserve every one of them.

Steve

Tribe is a slumlord company. My power has become extremely unreliable to the point where I don't feel like it's safe. After two months of trying to get them to do something, they finally sent an electrician who tightened some things in my breaker box and said if it doesn't do the trick, to get Tribe to bring him back to check some part outside the unit that he needs BC Hydro's access to and to investigate the outlets

It didn't, so I requested emergency repairs yet again and the ticket has been sitting idle for over 2 weeks. When I ran into the building manager today and I asked when the electrician would be back, she said he already came and wasn't coming back and that the electrician said there was nothing wrong with the place, which was a bold-faced lie given what the electrician said to me.

There have been so many false alarms here that no one takes them seriously and I fear that the incompetence and negligence of the people running this company will cause injury or death, as if there is an electrical fire, people will think the fire alarm is just another false one.

Do not live in buildings run by Tribe Management

EDIT to respond to the reply: If Tribe took the comfort and safety of tenants seriously, they wouldn't have taken 2 months to get the electrician to show up in the first place or 8 months to give me a fridge that was in such a state of disrepair that it actively caused a disturbance in the unit. They also wouldn't leave further requests for emergency repairs for weeks. The electricity problems are NOT a device issue, considering it's been my PC, TV, sound bar, modem, router, bluetooth speaker, volume mixer, and lights. This response is a lie and is just par for the course of this company

Dwayne S.

Have had Tribe Management for close to a year at our buildings. We had strata fees collected twice one month, emails go unanswered, if they are answered the line is it’ll be looked into but never is. Totally impossible to convince the company to arrange maintenance or repairs. I’ve asked multiple times to get a joiner put on an irrigation system that’s broken, an electrical faceplate installed over exposed electrical, and a plastic storage bin replaced. All of which have been broken for months. If you want to live in a building where the property management company refuses to have anything repaired or maintained, then check out Tribe Management.

Daniel J.

This company is garbage!!! They have outright lied to me in regards to an outstanding invoice submitted to them 5 weeks ago. It is absolutely impossible to ever speak in person to any member of the 'Tribe team'. They seem to think that invoices to be paid come out of their pocket when in fact it is the approved Strata's money. If you are dealing with Tribe....run away!!!! They also made no movement on my invoice until they found out that my attorney will step in!!!! That I have to give Tribe a 1 star rating in order to post this is revolting at best!!!!

Weedle S.

Tribe management has taken over many affordable and not so nice properties in Victoria lately, paint the outside to some kind of post-modern and then increase prices to abhorrent levels. We are taking what was 1300/month is now 2650/month over night and this is including properties that are exclusively for seniors making what was accessible and affordable something that cannot be attained. Scaring many of our seniors who are on the brink of joining their recently reno-victed friends. They are unresponsive and do not much else to improve these buildings and spaces. Tribe management is greedy corporate and everything that’s wrong with the rental market now. I would recommend before paying the prices Tribe is asking to live in one of their buildings, do your research because the same dollars will get you into a nice, clean and modern suite. Shame on you Tribe.

Thomas N.

Aaron Chan from Tribe Management is a fantastic property manager. Cannot recommend him enough to anyone looking for professional/prompt service. Tribe is lucky to have someone like him and he has been excellent to work with.