Villa Rita Apartments

Pros

• Villa Rita is a great place to live, especially for retirees, people on fixed incomes, or those with disabilities.
• The management is great.
• Residents are grateful to live there.

Cons

• The complex is cockroach-infested.
• Some residents seem to lack basic social skills, appearing as if they were released from a mental-health facility.
• The management is lax and cannot communicate effectively because they handle multiple jobs.
• Maintenance tries to run the place with a heavy hand, which feels chaotic.
• The management never fixes problems, harasses tenants, and evicts terminally ill tenants.
• They enter residences without proper notice and breach tenant confidentiality, leading to slander.
• A homeless person was found living behind a wall during refurbishments, indicating serious security concerns.

Review

A longtime resident who plans to stay in the area for life paints a complicated portrait of Villa Rita Apartments as of February 1, 2025. Having lived there for 14 years, they express deep love for the place and the community, even saying they intend to die there. Yet beneath that affection runs a persistent stream of problems that color daily life: a severe roach infestation, a neighbor ecosystem that feels unsettled, and a management dynamic that often seems at odds with what tenants need to feel secure and heard.

The most immediate and visceral issue is the pest problem. The reviewer describes the property as "cockroach infested beyond belief," a condition that worsens the sense of an unsafe and uncomfortable living environment. The infestation is not framed as a minor nuisance but as a chronic, untenable reality that reduces quality of life. In addition to pests, there are comments about how access to the building feels restricted and tightly controlled - "they can only enter through the front door" - which adds a layer of anxiety about safety and surveillance in a place that already feels unstable due to other stresses.

Social dynamics in the building are another major thread. The reviewer notes a broad and unsettling impression that many residents seem to be struggling with mental health and social challenges, explicitly suggesting that several neighbors "seem like they were just released from Napa State hospital." This observation contributes to a larger sense of unease: the community feels volatile, with a few residents who may not interact in predictable or socially conventional ways. The combination of this atmosphere and the roach problem contributes to a perception of a deteriorating living environment, even for those who otherwise appreciate the location and its conveniences.

The management and maintenance stories are a focal point of frustration. The reviewer describes management as "very lax," with a scheduling reality in which the property manager is juggling multiple jobs and responsibilities across Villa Rita. This arrangement, the reviewer suggests, leaves communication gaps; obtaining information or timely responses becomes a challenge. Meanwhile, maintenance is characterized as having "a strong hand in running the place," which the reviewer frames as chaotic or unsettling rather than reassuring. Overall, the impression is that the management structure is not well aligned with tenant needs, leaving residents feeling adrift when problems arise.

Several reviews highlight serious allegations about how tenants are treated and how information is handled. There are claims that management "never fixes things," and that tenants are harassed. More troubling are allegations of evictions targeting terminally ill tenants, and invasions of privacy - entering residences without proper notice and breaches of confidentiality that amount to slander among neighbors. Taken together, these descriptions suggest a climate of fear or distrust, where tenants worry about retaliation or unfair treatment rather than feeling protected and respected by the people who run the property.

In stark contrast to the heavier critiques, another perspective within the same complex offers a more positive, if still tempered, take. This view describes Villa Rita as "a great place to live" for retirees on a fixed income or individuals with disabilities, praising the management as supportive and effective in those circumstances. Yet even this favorable account acknowledges that, like any apartment community, there will be troublesome neighbors from time to time. The presence of a few difficult individuals does not render the entire place unlivable, but it does complicate everyday life and can dampen overall satisfaction for residents who rely on a stable, quiet environment.

A particularly alarming anecdote underscores the severity of the living conditions. The reviewer mentions a belief that the complex is intent on catching people living illegally in the building, but notes the practice doesn't seem to be effective. The more unsettling discovery comes from a worker who found a homeless person living behind the wall, behind the stairs, during a refurbishment project. The person had a beanbag chair and an improvised hiding space, and no one knew how long they had been there. This incident - disclosed as a reason for a moderate rating - illustrates serious vulnerabilities in the building's security and upkeep, and it elevates concerns about how well the property is monitored and maintained during renovations.

Taken together, the reviews present a layered, ambivalent portrait of Villa Rita Apartments. On one hand, there is affection for the location and some residents' experiences where the management works well for retirees and disabled tenants. On the other hand, a mounting set of criticisms - infestations, privacy violations, eviction patterns, and a management structure that feels stretched thin - creates a persistent sense of instability. The contrast between occasional positive management experiences and chronic, widespread problems with pests, safety, and confidentiality leaves potential tenants and current residents weighing both the benefits of the locale and the realities of daily life inside the complex. If you are considering moving there, these narratives suggest you should carefully assess how your needs align with the current state of the building, and you should prepare to advocate for clear communications, prompt maintenance, and strong protections for privacy and tenancy rights.

This part of Chico, California, offers a convenient and well-equipped environment for seniors looking to settle down. With a variety of healthcare options including physicians, hospitals, and pharmacies within close proximity, residents can easily access medical services. Additionally, there are several dining establishments ranging from fast food to casual dining for individuals to enjoy meals out. For those looking for entertainment, a movie theater is nearby. Places of worship are also located within the area for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this neighborhood provides essential amenities and services that cater to the needs of senior residents seeking comfort and convenience in their day-to-day lives.

Physicians

• Laura Denney Bowenwork (0.1 miles)
• Open System Imaging (0.2 miles)
• Chico Pediatrics (0.2 miles)
• Kimura Carolyn A MD Butte County Psychiatric Health (0.2 miles)
• Truhe Mark A DDS (0.3 miles)
• Aegis Medical Systems (0.3 miles)
• Comprehensive Renal Care Group (0.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Denny's (0.1 miles)
• Wendy's (0.3 miles)
• Chico Taproom (0.3 miles)
• Spiteri's Delicatessen (0.4 miles)
• Panda Express (0.4 miles)
• The Pour House (0.4 miles)
• MOD Pizza (0.4 miles)

Cafes

• Dutch Bros Coffee (0.2 miles)
• Starbucks (0.7 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (0.8 miles)
• Bidwell Perk Coffee House (0.9 miles)
• Java Detour Chico 2 (1 miles)
• Brave Coffee (1.4 miles)

Transportation

• Taxi Dave (0.2 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (0.6 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (0.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Kremer Kevin D DDS (0.3 miles)
• Department of Behavioral Health (0.4 miles)
• Enloe Children's Health Center (0.5 miles)
• Enloe Medical Center (0.5 miles)
• Fountain Medical Plaza (0.6 miles)
• Chico Care Center (0.6 miles)
• Holiday Retirement (0.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Longs Drugs (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• Chico Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Save Mart Supermarkets (1.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)

Theaters

• Tinseltown (0.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Congregational Church, UCC (0.8 miles)
• Our Divine Savior Catholic Church (1.1 miles)