My roommates and I lived here for two years under two separate property management companies from 2022-2024. As a place to live, it's good. Not great, but good. Decently clean, some cool amenities, obviously very close to campus, having a massive staff means that general maintenance and things are taken care of quite promptly, and you can trust that things will be in working order so to speak. Prices are standard for Cheney, nothing to write home about, and they increase yearly just like anywhere else.
The problems started when our first rent payment was due. As most complexes do, EP requires tenants to carry insurance. If they don't, EP will provide them with insurance. All three of us had insurance through third parties, but EP billed us nearly every month for their in house option. It was an extra $36 a month or so, which is a small amount, but the problem was the fact that we walked into the office to resolve this issue on a monthly basis and they didn't fix it until about 4 months from our lease being up. So we were unnecessarily charged $36 on 20 separate occasions, each time having to come to the office and complain about it.
Upon move out, we thoroughly and completely cleaned the apartment out, making sure it was "good as new." 13 weeks after moving out we received a bill for $1,200 in damages. Much of this money came from $5 dings here and there for things like light bulbs, a battery for a smoke detector, outlet covers, etc. Things most places don't charge for. We left the carpet in great condition and were charged nearly $400 to replace it, and we were charged for additional wall prep, and several other pre-existing damages that were miraculously not noted on our pre tenancy inspection. I spoke with the accountant, who was nothing but kind and very helpful. She ended up helping us decrease that bill a bit, but the practices of this company are just designed to gouge people wherever they can.
All in all, EP is an average place to live at best, but you WILL be hit with astronomical bills and unnecessary costs on your way out. Do they make it all crystal clear to you from the beginning? I guess so, but how crystal clear can a lease agreement be to the average person? Ask anyone who has lived here. Read the posts on Reddit, read other online reviews. This is a constant issue. It's predatory business practice, which is extremely disappointing. Most of the residents of this complex are Students (78% or more of EWU's undergraduate student body receives financial assistance to attend school), military members, or low income families, so it's not like they're taking from people who can afford it either. This complex is managed by a massive corporate entity (GrayStar) who manages properties literally around the globe. It is owned by Lanzce G. Douglass Properties. One quick Google search of the company reveals not a single positive review, and a link to a court case, "United States v. Lanzce Douglass, et al." where the company failed to construct a complex to be accessible for anyone with disabilities. A look at their BBB page shows a litany of complaints and jaw droppingly terrible reviews that make our experience feel reasonable. In other words, these people are in the business of cutting corners and making a profit off of anybody no matter what.
On behalf of everyone who has lived here, don't. Find a smaller company or a private owner to rent from if you are able to.
Also, the awesome pool you see in the marketing photos is nearly never clean. read more