Think Twice Before Moving Here…read more
I would not recommend Reserve at Garden Oaks to anyone, especially a woman who may ever find herself in a domestic violence or safety situation.
I was a paying resident when I experienced a serious domestic violence situation involving the father of my children. He came to my home, threatened to kill me, and created a situation where I genuinely feared for my safety. Instead of feeling protected and supported by my apartment community, I was made to feel as though I was the problem.
Management initially told me that I needed to move out of my apartment within three days because of the incident. I was already dealing with the trauma and fear of being threatened in my own home, and instead of receiving compassion or assistance, I was essentially being forced out of the home I was paying for because of someone else's actions.
They later gave me additional time to find another place to live and presented it as though they were helping me. However, I still ended up being displaced from my home because of a dangerous situation that I did not create and was not responsible for.
I was also presented with paperwork that, as I understood it at the time, required me to agree not to take legal action against the property in exchange for them not pursuing certain consequences related to my tenancy, such as a broken lease, eviction, or further legal action. At the time, I was under an incredible amount of stress and was not aware of my rights. I felt pressured into signing the paperwork because I believed it was the only way to protect myself from further consequences. Looking back, I feel that the arrangement was more about protecting the property than protecting me as the victim.
I specifically want to address Destiny, the General Manager. Throughout this experience, I felt there was a complete lack of understanding, empathy, and compassion for what I was going through. The focus seemed to be on protecting the other residents, while I was treated as though I was not also a resident who paid rent and deserved to feel safe and supported in my own home.
And unfortunately, my experience did not end when I moved out.
I recently discovered that I still had mail being delivered to the property. I contacted Destiny and asked if I could retrieve my mail. I was told that I could not access my mail because I had not turned in the apartment keys.
The problem is that, due to the extreme stress and urgency surrounding my move, I no longer have access to those keys. I had to leave my home quickly because of the circumstances surrounding the domestic violence incident. Losing track of or no longer having access to the keys does not mean that my mail should simply be withheld from me.
At this point, I am simply trying to retrieve mail that belongs to me. I should not have to continue fighting with management over something as basic as receiving my own mail after everything I have already experienced.
I understand that apartment management has responsibilities to all residents, but there should also be compassion, understanding, and reasonable consideration for victims of domestic violence. No woman should feel that reporting a threat to her life will result in her losing her home or being treated as though she is the inconvenience.
My experience with Reserve at Garden Oaks has been extremely disappointing and, quite honestly, traumatic. I am sharing this because other women deserve to know what my experience was before making the decision to sign a lease here.
If you are looking for a community where you expect understanding, compassion, and support during a domestic violence or safety crisis, I strongly encourage you to consider other options.
DO NOT MOVE HERE.
