I have only lived at the Bren Mar Apartments for about 3 months, so my view is limited. However, I have had a considerable number of issues in that short timeframe:
1. COCKROACHES: We've had a roach issue since I moved in, despite keeping the place very clean. We often find them in the kitchen-crawling around the fridge and stove, & on our clean dishes/stored food in the cabinets. We've also had them in the bathroom and living room. We've had Pest Control come every other week to treat the place with spray and bait, and while the issue has gotten better it still remains a significant problem. The first thing I have to do every morning and last thing I do at night is try to catch disgusting roaches I find crawling around the kitchen. The Pest Control staff has been very informative and continues to treat our apt, but the issue is just gross.
2. GARBAGE ON APT GROUNDS: The small garbages along the exterior of our buildings are often overflowing, so you'll see trash on the grass common areas. It's the worst in the hot months. People often discard half eaten chicken wings all over the complex grounds as well. Not only is that gross, but I have a dog that has gotten ahold of at least 4 since I've moved here. This can be severely damaging to a dog's internal systems. She has gotten sick after eating them, but thankfully has had no major issues. I have to be very careful when I take her for a walk in the area.
3. NOISE: Noise travels very easily from apt to apt. I can hear my upstair's neighbors conversations. They also have multiple small children so I am always listening to what sounds like stomping noises.
4. LACK OF MAINTENANCE: I had to personally reinstall the blinds and the shelving units in the closet because they were not installed correctly. The blinds would fall down every time you adjusted them and the shelving units couldn't hold any weight. I have had instances where I have taken off of work to be at the apt for maintenance (as SCHEDULED) and they never showed up. We even called the office halfway through the day to ensure they were still coming, as to which we were told by the staff that maintenance would be over asap. We never even received a phone call to let us know they wouldn't be coming, just a no show. We've had instances where maintenance has come by to fix something, but provided numerous excuses why things are the way the are and did not fix anything. If you aren't home to ensure they do a good job, they have been known not to complete jobs thoroughly. I have had a good experience with one of the maintenance men who was very helpful and did a good job though.
5. LEASING OFFICE-VERY POOR SERVICE: The staff at the leasing office does not always respond to an email in a timely manner, or at all. I've had at least 2 instances where I was told information would be forwarded to management, but have had zero followthrough on the issues. I've also made appointments with maintenance through the online portal and requested a call from the leasing office to confirm they would be entering my apartment on the scheduled day-the leasing office called me once around when I first moved in, but ignored all other requests.
6. TERRIBLE DOG PARK: The dog park is small but would be wonderful if it was taken care of properly. It doesn't have grass, but small stones which get too hot for a dog to stand on if its warm outside and the sun is out. My dog has also gotten her paw pads torn up from playing fetch in this park. People do not always pick up after their dog so it is dirty. There is a water fountain for dogs, but it does not work. There is also an elderly man that sits there in the dark at night, smoking and drinking something out of a brown paper bag.
7. FOOT TRAFFIC THROUGH PARKING LOT: Many people that do not live here use the parking lot as a cut through, so at all hours (including late at night) you'll see people walking through the parking lot. This adds to the garbage and nuisance issues. It seems most people use it as a cut through to get to the gas station or the bus stop.
8. PARKING PERMITS ARE TERRIBLE: They only provide you with a large hanging tag to hang from your rearview mirror, which is illegal to keep hanging while you drive your vehicle. You have to remember every time you park in the parking lot to put this tag up, or your car will get towed. My car was towed once because I forgot to do so, despite my tag being left in plain view (you could clearly see it from the windows, it was laying right below the mirror along the center panel). I was charged $160 and had a very inappropriate interaction with the towing company staff. The leasing office also refused to respond to my complaint or assist with the reimbursement-despite my tag being visible and showing my license which had my Bren Mar address. My boyfriend's police cruiser was also towed because his parking permit expired by less than 48 hours. Terrible customer service all the way around from both the Leasing Office and towing company.
NOTE: Not only does the towing company follow ridiculous policies when towing, but these policies (THAT PUNISH PAYING RESIDENTS) are enforced and maintained by the Leasing Office.
I would absolutely NOT recommend this apartment complex to anyone.
I have only lived at the Bren Mar Apartments for about 3 months, so my view is limited. However, I have had a considerable number of issues in that short timeframe:
1. COCKROACHES: We've had a roach issue since I moved in, despite keeping the place very clean. We often find them in the kitchen-crawling around the fridge and stove, & on our clean dishes/stored food in the cabinets. We've also had them in the bathroom and living room. We've had Pest Control come every other week to treat the place with spray and bait, and while the issue has gotten better it still remains a significant problem. The first thing I have to do every morning and last thing I do at night is try to catch disgusting roaches I find crawling around the kitchen. The Pest Control staff has been very informative and continues to treat our apt, but the issue is just gross.
2. GARBAGE ON APT GROUNDS: The small garbages along the exterior of our buildings are often overflowing, so you'll see trash on the grass common areas. It's the worst in the hot months. People often discard half eaten chicken wings all over the complex grounds as well. Not only is that gross, but I have a dog that has gotten ahold of at least 4 since I've moved here. This can be severely damaging to a dog's internal systems. She has gotten sick after eating them, but thankfully has had no major issues. I have to be very careful when I take her for a walk in the area.
3. NOISE: Noise travels very easily from apt to apt. I can hear my upstair's neighbors conversations. They also have multiple small children so I am always listening to what sounds like stomping noises.
4. LACK OF MAINTENANCE: I had to personally reinstall the blinds and the shelving units in the closet because they were not installed correctly. The blinds would fall down every time you adjusted them and the shelving units couldn't hold any weight. I have had instances where I have taken off of work to be at the apt for maintenance (as SCHEDULED) and they never showed up. We even called the office halfway through the day to ensure they were still coming, as to which we were told by the staff that maintenance would be over asap. We never even received a phone call to let us know they wouldn't be coming, just a no show. We've had instances where maintenance has come by to fix something, but provided numerous excuses why things are the way the are and did not fix anything. If you aren't home to ensure they do a good job, they have been known not to complete jobs thoroughly. I have had a good experience with one of the maintenance men who was very helpful and did a good job though.
5. LEASING OFFICE-VERY POOR SERVICE: The staff at the leasing office does not always respond to an email in a timely manner, or at all. I've had at least 2 instances where I was told information would be forwarded to management, but have had zero followthrough on the issues. I've also made appointments with maintenance through the online portal and requested a call from the leasing office to confirm they would be entering my apartment on the scheduled day-the leasing office called me once around when I first moved in, but ignored all other requests.
6. TERRIBLE DOG PARK: The dog park is small but would be wonderful if it was taken care of properly. It doesn't have grass, but small stones which get too hot for a dog to stand on if its warm outside and the sun is out. My dog has also gotten her paw pads torn up from playing fetch in this park. People do not always pick up after their dog so it is dirty. There is a water fountain for dogs, but it does not work. There is also an elderly man that sits there in the dark at night, smoking and drinking something out of a brown paper bag.
7. FOOT TRAFFIC THROUGH PARKING LOT: Many people that do not live here use the parking lot as a cut through, so at all hours (including late at night) you'll see people walking through the parking lot. This adds to the garbage and nuisance issues. It seems most people use it as a cut through to get to the gas station or the bus stop.
8. PARKING PERMITS ARE TERRIBLE: They only provide you with a large hanging tag to hang from your rearview mirror, which is illegal to keep hanging while you drive your vehicle. You have to remember every time you park in the parking lot to put this tag up, or your car will get towed. My car was towed once because I forgot to do so, despite my tag being left in plain view (you could clearly see it from the windows, it was laying right below the mirror along the center panel). I was charged $160 and had a very inappropriate interaction with the towing company staff. The leasing office also refused to respond to my complaint or assist with the reimbursement-despite my tag being visible and showing my license which had my Bren Mar address. My boyfriend's police cruiser was also towed because his parking permit expired by less than 48 hours. Terrible customer service all the way around from both the Leasing Office and towing company.
NOTE: Not only does the towing company follow ridiculous policies when towing, but these policies (THAT PUNISH PAYING RESIDENTS) are enforced and maintained by the Leasing Office.
I would absolutely NOT recommend this apartment complex to anyone.