Floor Plans and What’s Included
Every unit is fully furnished with a private bedroom and bathroom, an in-unit washer and dryer, and a screened patio. Premium and Platinum tiers add granite countertops and LED bathroom mirrors. The property’s own site and SwampRentals’ property guide both state that WiFi, water, and trash are included in rent. Apartments.com’s utilities module for the same address instead lists water and electricity as included. The two sources disagree on this specific point: confirm the exact utility inclusion in writing with the leasing office before relying on either description.
Current Pricing and Lease Specials
| Offer | Applies to | Condition | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20/month off | 4×4 Premium | Sign a Fall ’26 lease | Tied to Fall ’26 lease term |
| $40/month off | 4×4 Platinum | Sign a Fall ’26 lease | Tied to Fall ’26 lease term |
| $20/month off | All floor plans | Show a UF or Santa Fe College ID at signing | Not stated; confirm at signing |
Data: SwampRentals.com’s West Gainesville property guide, the only source reviewed that publishes exact dollar figures for current specials. These specials stack with the base rent above, so a 4×4 Platinum unit listed near $673 could run closer to $633 with the ID discount alone, before any Fall-term special is applied.
On June 5, 2026, ApartmentHomeLiving compared current rents by floor plan against 34 other communities in West Gainesville and 64 communities citywide, finding Cabana Beach 32.1% cheaper per square foot than the West Gainesville average and 40.5% cheaper than the Gainesville-wide average.
How the Lease Works: By-the-Bedroom Liability
Cabana Beach leases individually, by the bedroom, not by the unit. That distinction matters more than the marketing copy suggests: you sign for your bedroom’s rent and stay liable for it even if a roommate leaves mid-term. Residents without their own roommates go through a roommate-matching program described on SwampRentals’ listing. Several reviewers on ApartmentRatings tie their worst experiences to this matching process, describing roommates who left cooking messes that drew recurring pests. If you’re risk-averse about roommate fit, bring your own roommate for a unit where you would otherwise carry the financial exposure alone.
What happens to my rent if my roommate leaves mid-lease?
Nothing changes for you directly: since leases are signed by the bedroom, your rent obligation stands regardless of what a roommate does. The property, not you, is responsible for re-renting the vacated bedroom.
Location, Commute, and Getting Around
The property is 4.2 miles, about a 10-minute drive, from the University of Florida, per Apartments.com’s commute data. Zillow lists a Walk Score of 6 out of 100, meaning almost all daily errands require a car. West Gainesville borders Archer Road’s Butler Plaza shopping corridor, and the neighborhood has multiple RTS bus routes, free to ride with a Gator1 student ID, per SwampRentals’ neighborhood guide.
How reliable is the bus service without a car?
SwampRentals’ neighborhood guide describes multiple RTS routes serving the West Gainesville corridor, free with a Gator1 ID, but doesn’t publish frequency or evening coverage; check specific route schedules against your class times at rts.ridertransportation… before assuming daily reliability.
Pet Policy and Fees
| Pet type | Weight limit | One-time fee | Monthly fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat | 50 lbs, max 2 | $350 | $25 |
| Dog | 50 lbs, max 2 | $350 | $25 |
| Fish | 50 lbs, max 2 | Not stated | Not stated |
Data: Zillow’s pet policy module for the property, the only source with a full fee breakdown. Two cats or two dogs at the stated fee would add $50/month plus a $700 combined one-time fee on top of rent and any specials above.
Are there breed restrictions, and what about the fish fee gap?
None of the sources reviewed list specific breed restrictions, only the 50-lb weight cap and two-pet limit; Zillow’s listing shows fish are allowed under the same weight cap but doesn’t publish a fee for them, so confirm any aquarium policy directly with the leasing office.
What Residents Report: Patterns Across Reviews
Aggregate ratings vary by platform: Birdeye shows 3.4 out of 5 across 944 reviews, while one ApartmentRatings reviewer alleges a third-party review site shows an unusually clean score with no visible negative reviews and no way to post one. That allegation is a single unverified claim from one reviewer, presented here as something to be aware of, not as a confirmed finding.
| Issue | Frequency signal | Severity | Pattern reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| $16 online payment fee | Isolated in sources reviewed | Moderate | One reviewer objected to a $16 charge for paying rent through the property’s portal |
| Roach and pest complaints | Recurring | Moderate to serious | Several reviewers tie pest issues to roommate cleanliness after being placed through matching |
| Maintenance response time | Recurring, contradictory | Varies | Some reviewers report same-day fixes; others describe multi-week delays for repairs like leaks |
| Flooring marketing dispute | Isolated but specific | Moderate | One reviewer disputes a roughly $100/year rent increase tied to new “wooden floors,” calling the material laminate |
The maintenance contradiction above shows same-day fixes reported alongside multi-week delays for structural issues like leaks and damaged carpet.
Is the online payment fee legitimate?
It’s a real, reported charge, roughly $16 per online payment according to one resident review, not a documented scam. The current exact amount and whether a fee-free payment method exists should be confirmed with the leasing office.
Schools Assigned
Zillow lists Littlewood Elementary, Kanapaha Middle, and F. W. Buchholz High as the assigned schools. GreatSchools rates Littlewood and Kanapaha 7 out of 10 each, and Buchholz High 6 out of 10, describing Buchholz as performing about average statewide.
Who This Fits
Cost-conscious UF or Santa Fe students comfortable with by-the-bedroom liability get the most out of the current pricing gap versus the West Gainesville average. Renters without a car, or anyone unwilling to accept roommate-matching risk on a unit they’re financially tied to individually, should weigh a higher-walk-score property or one where they can fully self-select roommates instead. The leasing office is open Monday through Thursday, 10am to 6pm, Friday 10am to 5pm, and Saturday 11am to 4pm, per its Yelp listing.
Leave a Reply