Andy Huang, a 2023 graduate of USC, said he wasn’t surprised when he saw a Reddit post stating that Stuho had not returned a poster’s deposit.

“I’ve talked to other people, and it seems like everyone’s just having very similar issues with the Stuho management,” Huang said.

According to Huang, Stuho took a large portion of money from his deposit, which he said was unlike any other housing he has lived in over the course of his about six years in the USC area.

Stuho leases over 45 properties, including private studios and one-bedroom apartments, shared apartments, and large houses located in the University Park neighborhood. The property management company advertises many of its buildings’ placements within the USC Department of Public Safety patrol zone and Fryft program operating area.

Problems with Stuho were not unique to the original Redditor or Huang. In fact, two other commenters alleged on the Reddit thread that either they themselves or others they knew dealt with similar issues related to unrefunded deposits dating back as far as 2019.

Under California law, a landlord must provide their tenant with an itemized list including copies of any invoices or receipts detailing any repairs that would result in a deduction of over $125 from the security deposit. A landlord cannot charge for ordinary wear and tear. Huang said that he and his roommate cleaned their entire apartment before moving out.

Reddit user Ineedluck18, who created the original post, wrote that despite many emails and phone calls, they still have not received a response from Stuho or the remainder of their deposit back. They received no clarification about what damages led to the deduction.

Huang did not get a response until threatening legal action. After doing so, he was only refunded a portion of the $1,200 in “damages” Stuho deducted from his $3,000 deposit.

Stuho’s lack of response to tenants has left some tenants wondering whether the management company has a strategy to withhold deposits unless challenged.

“If you don’t do anything about it, they can just keep your money,” Huang said.

Financial disputes have not been the only source of tension between USC students and Stuho.

Ada Li, a junior majoring in public relations as well as studying for a masters in integrated design, business and technology, had problems with Stuho accommodations due to scuffed furniture that came with her housing arrangement as well as a stuck window that she could not open or fully close.

“I was emailing my manager … it took them at least two and a half weeks to fix it, and they kept on not getting back to me,” Li said.

When Li emailed her apartment manager requesting a deduction in rent for all of the issues she encountered, she said she never heard back.

Li explained that situations like this seem common in her building, but other tenants brushed it off. Beyond concerns with furniture, she has also dealt with sightings of cockroaches and a rat.

“It’s actually a nightmare to live here. Every night we come back, we’re scared,” Li said.

Huang said he no longer lives in a Stuho property and doubts he would lease with them again.

“It’s just too much of a hassle to deal with them,” Huang said.

Not every resident’s experience has aligned with those of Li and Huang, though. Dash Brooks, a senior majoring in business administration, listed the many pros that came with his apartment, among them safety and his building’s amenities.

Brooks also said that he has not had any issues getting in contact with building management.

“If I were a junior, I would definitely live here,” Brooks said. “It’s also a great price.”

Stuho did not respond to the Daily Trojan’s multiple requests for comment.