Housing Conditions

[trail_hiker]

Hi,I am supposed to start a new contract on Monday. I chose to have the agency find housing for me. I went to move in today and the apartment was absolutely filthy. They is no heat, no washer or dryer, and stains all over the carpet. I called my recruiter immediately and didn't move in but they say they are looking into it. I am wondering if anyone else has had issues with housing like this and what happened. Not sure if I should look for a hotel, or housing, or wait and see.

Thanks for any advice!

[trail_hiker]

Thank you all for the quick responses. I have decided to stay here for the weekend and will contact the TC manager first thing Monday AM before reporting to the unit to start the job. If they refuse to start paying immediately for a hotel or provide alternate acceptable accommodations then I will head home. Question...if I actually start working on the unit and then can I quit the contract due if the new/repaired housing isn't acceptable either or would I likely be penalized since I started working?

I have been working with a 2nd company and will look at getting a position with them next week if the housing can't happen. Another reason why working with multiple companies can be beneficial.

I will keep you updated. I had researched the housing complex and it all had positive reviews and photos. Unfortunate lesson learned.

[NedRN]

Online housing reviews are not reliable. I understand you have some time and money invested here and would like it to go forward but if you start orientation and then quit, it is very unlikely you will get paid for your time. This might work out well, but an agency that cannot handle such a simple task is not one I want to be working for when a real problem arises. Blaming a third party is not acceptable, and telling your agency you are booking a hotel validates that it is. The agency has already told you the situation is out of their control - that doesn't leave you in a good place. You can take a chance and stay, but it is very unlikely that apartment will be acceptable, you are probably going to have to ask for a new one. Next the agency will ask you to look locally (I'm not kidding) and tell you they cannot afford the hotel.

You might as well start looking now (try Craigslist) and get a head start if you really want to make this work (for yourself and the hospital that will be shortstaffed without you). You might come up with something better and make some extra money on the stipend. Look at houseshares - furnished, utilities, and less risk should your assignment cancel later for any other reason. Posting your own ad and identifying yourself as a travel nurse often gets you good stuff that is never advertised.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

I cancelled a contract several years back when they were vague about the housing and I knew something was not right when they refused to provide even an address for the apartment building.

It turned out to be a filthy low income housing complex, which I refused to live in, and the cheapest rental on Craigslist for $400 yes 400 a month. I really wanted to work there and I hated to leave that hospital in a bind but the agency refused to pay me a housing stipend or even for a hotel. The ruse was to make me travel 700 miles and have no options by withholding the address. The shyster, I mean recruiter, who always acted like my new best friend, called me at nine in the evening drunk and screaming and that was when I blocked them from my phone, email etc.

I had another position with another agency and a 2100 housing stipend in two days. I would suggest going that route if you are working with a smaller company for the first time.

If anyone is going to pocket a portion of the housing budget, it will be me.

[wanderlust99]

Travel companies can wire money into your account the same day. I would worry about getting reimbursed appropriately since everything else sounds like such a mess. Are you in contact with the person who finds your housing, not just the recruiter? Ask to speak to their manager. Have had to do that in the past and was more successful that way.

[catholicrn]

I would bolt...Had the exact same experience in Dallas. Got to the apartment. It was completely unsuitable, location and condition. Called the recruiter, he couldn't do anything. I booked the hotel and drove back home the next day. Company offered nothing. They threatened me with having to pay out the whole contract. My sister is an attorney. I had her fire off a letter in response and I never heard another word. It was my first assignment, I've since done 8 contracts and never looked back. I may have been new to the travel scene but I wasn't new to nursing or life. I knew I didn't have to stay under those conditions. If they don't hold up their end, I'm out. There are just way too many companies to worry about it. Good luck!!​