/ Standards

What Standards Should Tenants Look for

How to Recognize Housing That Truly Puts Residents First

When touring apartments, most people focus on square footage and rent price. But the real markers of quality housing go deeper, they're found in design choices that affect your monthly costs, health, and quality of life.. Here are the Upright standards that separate housing built with genuine care from those that simply minimize construction costs at your expense. When you find apartments with these features, you've discovered what we call a Beneficial Apartment, housing that gives more than it takes.

Exposed Timber Structure

Look for visible wood beams and columns instead of plain drywall ceilings. This mass timber construction creates a warm, cabin-like atmosphere while sequestering carbon and providing superior earthquake safety. It's the difference between feeling like you're in a home versus an institution.

Floor-to-Ceiling Windows

Seek out apartments with oversized windows that flood spaces with natural light. These windows do more than make rooms feel larger, they regulate sleep cycles, boost mood, and reduce electricity costs.

No Drafts or Forced Air Noise

Listen carefully during your tour. Do you hear PTAC units humming or vents blowing? The best apartments use radiant floor heating, completely silent, no drafts, no circulating allergens. Residents report dramaticly lower utility bills with this feature alone.

Located Near Public Transit

Check the walking distance to transit stops. Strategic location near buses or trains can save you thousands of dollars annually. That's money that stays in your pocket instead of going to car payments, insurance, and gas. True affordability includes transportation costs.

Seamless Flooring Throughout

Notice if flooring flows continuously without transitions or gaps. This premium feature reduces noise between neighbors and makes cleaning easier. It's a small detail that signals big differences in construction quality and daily living experience.

Community Food Hall

Look for ground-floor spaces with local vendors and gathering areas. This isn't just about convenience, it's small businesses creating jobs and keeping money in your community. Housing should strengthen neighborhoods, not isolate residents.

No PTAC Unit in the Window

Check every room for bulky AC units taking up windows? Quality apartments use modern heating and cooling systems that are invisible and efficient. If you see PTAC (Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner) units, you're looking at hundreds of dollars in unnecessary utility costs every year.

Visible Quality Construction

Notice if engineering elements like soffits and deflection plates are exposed rather than hidden. When builders show their work proudly, it demonstrates confidence in construction quality and provides peace of mind about long-term safety and maintenance.

The Dignity of Design

Does the building feel like a hotel or like typical affordable housing? Multiple elevators, spacious hallways, quality finishes, these details matter. They signal whether the developer sees residents as valued community members or just tenants to warehouse.

What Tenants Deserve

The Beneficial Apartment Standard

When you find most or all of these features in one building, you’ve discovered a Beneficial Apartment—a new category of housing that delivers measurable returns:

Financial

Up to $11,000 annual savings through reduced utilities and transportation

Environmental

Carbon sequestration and dramatically reduced energy use

Community

Local business growth and strengthened neighborhood economies

This isn’t a wishlist for luxury housing. These are practical standards that should define all housing development, especially affordable housing where every dollar matters most.

For Future Tours

Questions to Ask on Every Tour

If the answers disappoint you, keep looking. You deserve better.

“What are typical monthly utility costs here?”
“How far is the nearest transit stop?”
“Are there any community spaces or local businesses?”
“What type of heating and cooling system is used?”
“Can I see exposed timber or quality construction details?”

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Help us transform affordable housing into an engine for a thriving environment, community, and commerce.