Need help weighing my options with housing etc.

Anyone here great at problem solving? I'm trying to weigh my pros and cons of my living situation (I live alone but my rent is high). If anyone feels like chiming in with suggestions that would be great. Here's what my list looks like so far:

Pros:

Love my neighborhood - tree lined streets, historic homes, restaurants and coffee shops and retail shops within a couple of miles of walking distance; live across the street from a park

One bedroom has a real fireplace (non-operations due to property manager's choice)

I don't have anxiety attacks when I live in apt bldgs; plus, I made some apartment building neighbor "friends" for the past two years

I go on walks around the neighborhood in the spring, summer, and fall b/c its so walkable with treen lined streets even though its urban in the city

Property Management allows tenants to use rent payment app company that pays tenants' rent in full, then tenant pays the app company back the rent payment in installments instead of one lump payment. *This is my favorite pro, since I'm still in grad school working multiple jobs.

Cons:

Property Management company doesn't prioritize tenants' well-being; online app for tenants to use to request maintenance appointments yet those appointments get canceled without explanation and not completed; tenants smoke pot illegally or smoke cigarettes - both are not allowed by city ordinance already.

Lease has two sections that explain that when you break your lease before their required 60-day notice, you will be charged the break lease fee and and have to pay rent on your unit even after you vacate it, until your lease date. I.e. if your lease is up in June and you break it before April 1st, you have to pay rent from Feb-May anyway.

Fall is my last semester of grad school, so unless i save $ or find a full time job that pays well, I can't afford to stay in my one bedroom apt. anyway. **This is the biggest con and one I can't control the outcome (i.e. get a full time job in time)

I will have to move out of my expensive neighborhood and either find a cheaper apt or find a roommate situation that is a good long term fit.

OR, find an apartment caretaker job for an apt bldg in my neighborhood before I have to give my 60 day notice. Those jobs only require a high school diploma, good credit and good rental payment history (I have all 3).** This would be my ideal situation b/c apartment caretakers are a necessity and usually get a rent discount and never leave their apt situations for that reason.

I am fed up with my property manager b/c a new tenant moved in and she leaves her boxes of junk in the hallway outside her apt (a lease violation according to the property manager's OWN LEASE stipulations for being a good tenant, talk about irony!). The caretaker is a 27 year old guy who has NO backbone b/c he's a nice guy and a pushover. She just ignores his pleas to move her boxes inside her apt or to the basement storage closets for tenants.

We have the city fire inspector going to our building in 2 weeks for the annual inspection and per city ordinance if her crap is still out in the hallway, the city fire inspector will fine the tenant AND the property manager and my guess is, that junk won't go away.

I am a good tenant but I have complained to the property manager about not following his own lease stipulations with examples like this tenant who is new. Her junk has been in the hallway for 3 weeks and the 27 year old caretaker won't move it to the basement like he is supposed to. He just makes excuses to avoid his responsibilities.

I am torn with what the best course of action is regarding my finances drying up after the fall if I can't find a full-time job. I'll just keep working my multiple jobs. Ideally I can stay where I'm at and find a job in the next 2 months. OR, find a cheaper place to live as an apartment caretaker in a building located in my neighborhood or at least nearby my neighborhood?

Any thoughts? Thanks.

My first thought was that moving might be dictated by where you find a job after grad school. You might have to move.

Second thought would be to check if a new apartment would be covered by the app you are already using.

Do the cons (neighbors smoking, boxes in the hall) outweigh the pros in your opinion?

I’ve lived in the apartments most of my adult life. There are always pros and cons. Often more cons. Usually things start great and then go downhill no matter where you live.

Now about your choices. I’ve never lived or heard of anyone allowing rent app. So I’d definitely check if other places allow that in your area. Well you might not heeded if you work full time but that’s up in the air at the moment

Every apartment had this or similar rule about breaking lease. I’ve never heard of apartments just allowing to break lease. They always charge fees and make you pay remaining months. Having said that, you can go around it on occasion. When I bought a condo I had to play a bit of a game with apartment complex I was moving out of, then I was able to move out without paying any kind of penalties. But I had to play this game right and I got lucky. But usually you do owe them.

Personally I’d stay where I am at and try to get a full time job. It could be any job and then I’d see if I can get a better job if that one is not the best choice. I’d not be looking to move anywhere else at the moment (moving costs money). Job with apartment management might be actually an option too.

Can you start looking for a full time job now? Try to line it up ahead of time?

But I had to play this game right and I got lucky. But usually you do owe them.

I have thought about the roommate option. I met a few potential roommates with no luck. One gal had a tiny "sunroom" and her condo is about 800 square feet. Sorry but that's not big enough for two people to live together. If I could find a home owner who is renting out their basement that has a separate entrance that would be great. If I can't find a doable roommate option I'll have to stay put. Obviously multiple income streams is my most realistic option since I cannot get a full-time job right now due to the pandemic. Believe me, I've tried. The rent app does not list the properties it covers. I guess landlords have the option to contact with this rent app, which they do at their own discretion. The rent app is not advertised on apartment listings that I've come across. So, I'll stay put if I can't find a better option. At least the rent app gives me some flexibility with splitting up my high rent payment into two payments. Not knowing where else this rent app is being used is riskier for me to leave my current place.

I did get the radiator fixed and had a valve installed on it that regulates the temperature. So that was a big win.

Did you just took a chunk from my post and reposted it? Did you have a comment on it?

I agree with what some of the others have said. Finding a job may dictate where you go, and the roommate option is there. I suppose its about what is important to you.
What things are higher on your priority list? Maybe making your list into high priority to lower priority would help? Start with something that there is no compromise on (eg good location, living alone etc).

I hope you manage to work it out for the best!