Our apartment was serviceable, in a great Austin neighborhood, until it became a hellish construction nightmare zone--infested with cockroaches, dangling electrical wires, endless hammering, nails and construction detritus, and antagonistic staff. These apartments have been here for decades, and this was the year that Rainier decided that it wanted to justify higher rents for the next tenant. So it embarked on a (long overdue) campaign to spruce up Oak Park with hideous paint jobs and repaired safety rails. Construction workers were literally outside of our door for 7 months. And I mean literally! Yelp doesn't allow you to include multimedia, but the audio recordings I have are shocking. Hammering loudly, leaving nails everywhere, blasting music, sauntering metal--it was unlivable. I'm talking workers peering into our windows, on ladders directly outside of our doors so we couldn't leave without running into them. Their typical hours were 8:45am - 5:00pm, Monday - Friday. The staff (except Texie, who is a gem) is incompetent, antagonistic, and -- I'll say it-- fascist. We'd complain to no response. The office staff would ignore our emails and basic requests for construction timelines. They'd bungle our rent and charge us arbitrary fees, only to get extremely mad when we'd protest. They'd schedule invasive installations of doors/windows/internet cables that we did not request, all to charge the next tenant higher rent. When we moved out we were charged over $400 in move out fees for minor wear and tear damage. My partner and I agreed to suffer through this as the price to never think of Oak Park again. However, in Oak Park's brilliance they removed us from the online pay system, so there is no way for us to pay this fee online, so I have to keep on emailing them. Can't imagine a more fitting end. Other highlights: Our water was shutoff 10 times in the span of 5 months (Jan-May) because of construction and repairs. Our air conditioning never worked and required a worker about once a month. Eventually we had to get a window unit installed. They refuse to take packages and are now shipping them off to a third party warehouse. Cars get smashed all of the time in the parking lot, like twice a month, and they have not installed any sort of safety equipment or cameras. read more

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Oak Park apartments does a thing called "Water Wednesday" where they shut off all water for residents for at least 2 hours each week "for maintenance". There were times though, when the water would be shut off and NO EMAILS WERE SENT TO RESIDENTS TO NOTIFY THEM UNTIL OKE OF US RAN TO THE OFFICE TO TELL PATRICK TO SEND A GODDAMN EMAIL OUT. I was a resident from 7/2019 to 7/24/2020. My deposit is no where to be found, not even sent out! I called and spoke to Patrick about it, and he told me that the 30 day deposit return was not law and was more of a courtesy. It is the law and it is in our lease agreement. I am writing this review because I still dont have my deposit back! I was also charged $70 for cleaning, and $25 for trash even though my apartment was cleaned prior to moving out. I also was charged for gas throughout the year, without any notice to me, even though my apartment did not use/have gas. I am not fond of the leasing team, with exception to Texie - shes sweet and understanding. The rest of the team, I don't know what they do because they sure as heck as are not worrying about if their residents get their deposits back or if they even have running water. Oh, yeah and there was this one time, when they were replacing the windows in unit (Oct. 2019), when one of the contractors asked me what apartment I lived in because "maybe he'd come visit me later" *:)))))))))))) *scared shitless* Be aware of the shit show you're about to enter. read more

This was a terrible place to live. The kitchen was literally falling apart and "water Wednesdays" were the bane of my existence. They would shut off the water for all residents once a week with no warning for "maintenance". If they have to do major maintenance once a week to keep something barely functioning, what's wrong with the water? Living there during the freeze exposed the incompetence of the management. We didn't have electricity or water for longer than the rest of the city. You should pay people to live there, not the other way around. read more

Our sink has been leaking in our kitchen and I have been continuously draining a bucket to catch to water from the leak. we report it to the landlord, and nothing has been done, except that they have shut off water to our apartment. These are not professionals. They're idiots. Don't rent from them. read more

Rent somewhere else! 1. Endless construction, M-F, all day. It's been nonstop for months and seems to just be for cosmetic purposes. 2. The mailboxes have been broken into several times. Even after they gated the mailbox area, I have found mine and other mailboxes wide open. Getting packages delivered is a toss up. They get stolen and the layout of this complex is so confusing that mail delivery folks just give up on trying to find units. 3. During the winter storm, Rainier left residents in the dark while we went without water and electricity for about a week. Very little compassion or care for residents and can barely do the bare minimum of communicating. 4. Horrible insulation and ventilation will drive up your utility bill and bring you dirt and mold, yet Rainier will still charge egregious fees upon move out. Unless your apartment is literally spotless, expect to be charged shocking fees for this, even for unavoidable damage that they won't bother to fix while you're a resident. Two stars because it's a great location, unfortunately just bad management and way overpriced for all the inconvenience. read more

Review variability: The move-out process was smooth, but the sizable bill I received afterwards, markedly higher than projected, draws into question the 5-star review. Will update once this is cleared up. Having gone through the move-out process at Oak Park, I can say that it is for sure a fantastic property run by a fine management company (Rainier), as they made the move smooth, were more than fair, and the office manager Leslie is quite professional, and her team, such as Texie, provide top-notch service. A fine way for me to say goodbye to Austin, and now there is another 1/1 open for May 1st (the year this review was written, 2017), so visit the office and say hi and get onto that waiting list, I got mine on a random walk-in right after it opened up, as this property is centrally located in Hyde Park, right by my favorite danishes in town at Quack's Bakery, and the spot has a nice vibe to it. read more

Imani took her time to make sure that I had all the things I was looking for in my apartment home. By her being empathetic to my needs, I felt as if we were old time friends, made it so much easier to relax and appreciate the apartment for what it offers. I can definitely see myself living in a community like this! read more

Update: They add additional charges not explicitly written in your lease. They also don't notify you if you have a package in the office. Then they send out emails to the entire property telling people their packages will be returned to the sender because their office is overflowing. The washer/dryer units nearest my apartment have credit card readers they added, instead of always having to use coins. In theory, this is great. But the readers very rarely work, and the office just tells you to submit a request to the reader company. This happens literally every week, so they're pointless. What I Do Not Like: I do NOT like that the apartment office is only open 9am-5pm right now. It is very inconvenient for people who work full-time. FedEx, UPS, and the post office all deliver mid-afternoon, so if you need your package before the weekend comes, you'll most likely have to wait until Monday when the office opens again. That is IF you can come during your lunch break in the first place. I was told today that they'll go back to Saturday hours in January when they start leasing again. So do the current residents not matter or....? What I Do Like: Lots of natural light in my apartment Neighbors are really nice! Quiet overall. Never had an issue with noise. Parking is never an issue I live in a 1-1, and there is plenty of space. Pet friendly with doggy bag stations around Very nice office staff (Texie and Patrick rule!) read more

Oak Park Apartments - Apartments Near Me - Austin, Texas

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It is the staff that provide the outstanding experience that has had me renting for three consecutive years and makes me want to continue renting from Rainier Properties. When I started renting here, a woman named Tracy was the manager and she was reliable, dependable, and consistent. Everyone in the complex enjoyed working with her. Leslie who is the Central District Manager has also been pleasant, easy to work with and very understanding. Today, I had the pleasure of meeting Texie and she helped me renew the lease in a way that was simple and painless. She's also a total sweetheart. It made me happy to continue renting from Rainier Management. I hope Rainier continues to be shaped by it's outstanding staff and finds a way to assist its clients through prioritizing service first and in a way that creates mutual respect between clients, staff, and the organization. Cheers, Matthew read more

I am writing this review for the pure fact that most people air the grievances rather than their praise when it comes to their apartment complex. First things first: this apartment complex is almost 50 years old. This place has been around longer than the majority of the resident's parents. It was built in the 70s and has held to the test of time. SO do not expect perfect modern amenities. There will be maintenance - lord will there be. This is the ONLY reason why I am rating it 4 vs 5 stars, because its far from perfect but I absolutely love living here. THE STAFF = 5 Stars. They are absolutely amazing. From the walk in to check out the apartments, to discussing options, and in just general conversation. Trixie is a doll and goes above and beyond to make sure that the residents are taken care of. Also - shout out to Patrick for just being a decent human! All the others are awesome, but these are the only 2 I know by name. That's more on my poor memory than them. As mentioned above, there will be maintenance. The maintenance team is dang dog amazing. They're friendly - one even helped me change my battery a few months ago ((sorry my brain is farting on the name!)) - and they take care of things as soon as humanly possible. There have been small things here and there that I needed replaced (repaint the AC unit in the shower area, bug control, and other odds and ends) and the longest it took was 2 days. They are super quick to respond to the residents needs - which apparently is an issue at other complexes. Lets talk LOCATION. This is the most affordable 1 bedroom set up in the Hyde Park neighborhood that does not look like a bunch of undergrads hobbled together their student loans to live 3 to a 1 bedroom. There's ample amount of public transport and maintained sidewalks. You have HEB about 1.5 miles away, 3 coffee shops in a 5 mile radius, a hipster supermarket .5 miles down Duval, and a really rad sculpture (Elizabeth Ney) museum a block away. Easy to get every where by bike while avoiding major roads and in a lovely mature neighborhood that has big ass trees and wide ass streets. Depending on what side you live on (near the leasing office or away) will depend on how great the outside looks (ref: maintenance). I chose to rent on Oak Park because they have amazing grounds for an apartment complex. Lots of greenery, trees, and bushes integraded into the walk ways - especially near the pool where I reside. BUT if you're on the other side where there is repainting and structure rebuilding, it lack luster. This is something that definitely needs work because the complex would be absolutely on it if it was. My only complaint is that the floors are paper thin. I live on the first floor and can hear EVERY single word of my upstairs neighbor's conversation. I can hear the lyrics of the song and how the plot is thickening in their favorite show. Lucky for me is that my upstairs neighbor is a grad student and does not have much of a social life (like a live in gf). But when he does everyone is gone by 12am. When I mentioned this to Trixie she mentioned that she does not have the same issue in her unit. So maybe, its just mine? Just something to think about. In the time that I have lived here I have changed jobs that has a higher pay and new location 30 mins away. BUT I love living here, so I do not mind driving the extra 10-20 mins a day. All-in-all considered: for the location, the layout, the staff, and the price Oak Park Apartments is hard to beat in Hyde Park. read more

Just wanted to add an update - we got rid of 3 of our 5 plants per the memo - which I am not arguing isn't technically covered by the lease, but am simply saying is not a kind way to treat residents - but yesterday someone came knocking door to door to distribute lease violation notices to every single resident we could see. our offense? my partner's shoes were drying outside of our door for the past 3 hours. we were told this was an inappropriate use of a walkway. to reiterate, they were literally just set out in front of the door to our apartment. i'm not sure if there have been new hires or what is going on, but we are clean, never late on rent, have a friendly relationship with the people in the office, and as I said have been residents for over 3 years. it's a really bad feeling to be treated this way and totally not inkeeping with our past experiences here. i'm just baffled. ***per your response, we were not given any warning that if we leave a pair of wet shoes on our own doormat for 3 hours we will be cited as violating our lease. you are correct that you warned us we would be fined if we didn't move our plants, so we did that promptly, due to being responsible residents who understand how few rights renters have. it seems that if every single resident of a large complex is given a lease violation notice in the same day perhaps there is something that should reconsidered on managent's end. read more

My roommate and I originally moved here for the location, but I wouldn't put my own mother up here. I could write a book about the horrors of this place but will instead try to be helpful in my concise review. The good: - location (it's kinda all downhill from there) -the units are new (actually, I think this place has been here since the 70s, and it only looks new-ish) The bad: - street noise - pest/bug problems despite my roommate and I keeping our unit immaculately clean - pricey for what you get -pretty sure the only reason we received part of our deposit back was because we filed a complaint with BBB -the complex lost a couple of my packages, including an x-mas present from my sister -there were substantial ceiling leaks the day we moved in The ugly: - The management refused to fix our fridge for about a month and erroneously claimed a) there was nothing wrong with it and b) they had no need/obligation to replace our spoiled food. So, to clarify, we were without a working fridge for a month. - An aluminum drain pipe fell on my boyfriend's head and caused concussive damage. Not only was the management unsympathetic and didn't offer to ameliorate the situation in any way, the maintenance manager (Fred, maybe) laughed in my face when I complained about it and accused my boyfriend of being drunk...my boyfriend was sober at the time and sorry, Fred, I still don't find the humor in this. - The property manager (wish I could remember her name) made some nasty threats and accusations at my roommate during the month-long fridge debacle. Seriously people, don't live here. And if you've had bad experiences, please write a review. The fact that I have the motivation to type this now despite the fact that I haven't lived here since 2010 should tell you something. read more

The things that are pros about this place are location and the pool. Not sure that those things out weigh the cons, especially the antagonistic and unreasonable management staff. One example of several: currently they are doing a renovation of windows throughout the complex. They let everyone know that it was going to be happening slowly over many months, and that we would be notified in advance of them needing very invasive access to our units. Well one day, I noticed that they seemed to be working in a unit very close to mine. So I reached out and inquired about a timeline and was told that in less than 2 days, we would be expected to have ourselves and our pets vacated and furniture moved. The only reason we even found out was because we asked. We told them that we could not accommodate this on such short notice. I work from home, and my dog just had surgery. They said they would try to push it an extra day but then never followed up. Less than 24 hours before, I got the official notice that they would be working in my unit the following day. I went to talk to them in person and dealt with two people who were extremely rude and sarcastic. And basically they told me my request for a minimum of a full 24 hrs notice was asking too much. The guy in particular that I spoke to, Christian, was snarky and should not be working in a customer service capacity. But frankly everyone I have dealt with has been pretty terrible. They are very nice in the leasing process, but once they have you they could care less about your experience. They don't even care about your safety! The mailroom was broken into and I found out about it from the NextDoor app. I had medication and sensitive information that is now just out there, and they wouldn't even respond to my email about it. But I'm realizing that that is just Oak Park for you! read more

Honestly, I have no idea why Rainier Management was ripped a new one. I mean, it is a huge company and they own a lot of buildings around the city. Although I've been in Oak Park for only a little bit, I find the staff friendly and the complex quiet and student friendly. It's very convenient to get to campus on the #7 bus and there are a lot of neat places around the complex if you want something to eat or drink. One thing I really love about Oak Park Apts are the built in bookshelves and ceramic tile bathroom and kitchen. It really gives it a more polished feel. Another huge plus, NO BUGS! I hate roaches and I haven't seen one yet. (knock on wood!) All in all, i think this is a great affordable place to live on a student budget. read more

Been living here for the better part of a year and I can say I've not run into one real problem with the place. Hell, I'd go so far as to say I love it here! I'm currently living in an affordable, spacious 1/1 in the real heart of Austin where the staff are super friendly, maintenance requests have all been answered promptly, I haven't seen a single bug (God help me), and it's oh so quiet here. What's not to love? JW read more

Few things are more frustrating than a call from your second year student saying, "We need the documents by 5 o'clock today or we will lose our apartment!" Something the digital natives have never learned is that talking to another human being, especially a non-millennial, either by phone or, for those with unlimited courage, face to face, has powers once believed to be reserved for the gods. My thanks to Brad on Friday and especially to Texia Kersey on Saturday for going the extra mile, for making sure my wife would be able to sleep, for convincing my stepson and his roommate to step away from the ledge. Texia: you are a wonder. Thank you for your professionalism, understanding, and willingness to help. I do not take these qualities or your actions for granted. You are special, fantabulous even! And this stepfather in particular is grateful. Very sincerely with Thanks, Kevin Cain read more

Moving from university estates, river oaks is way better. It has a nice ambiance, the people are so friendly, and the complex is small and quiet. The apartment itself has nice hardwood floors, spacious living room, and the apartment was clean when I first moved in. Texie was an amazing leasing agent, and she's like a mom away from home. She takes care of everything and anything that I need, and she's genuine and I appreciate that. The downsides of River Oaks specifically are that there were constantly a lot of roaches, the chiller system makes it seem like you aren't getting a lot of A/C (could be something to do with the vents), and the kitchen area is small. However, the proximity to campus is wonderful. read more

I've lived in a 1br/1bath here for almost three years now. I'm very, very happy living here. I'm a student at UT, and my prime requirements for an apartment were: close to campus and plenty of natural light. These apartments are unique in that they're older (not sure when the apartments were built), but they aren't dated inside with gross wallpapers or other ancient decor, and the windows are huge. EVERYTHING is painted white. So, my basic requirements were fulfilled. Pros: Close to campus - right next to the 7 bus stop. Pool on site. Lots of light. Good management - I haven't had many work requests, but the ones I've had have been promptly taken care of. I've never had any problems here! Definitely check this place out if you're a student and looking for a place to live. read more

My roommate and I were in a panic trying to find a new apartment by the end of the month. The apartment that we had planned on moving into had been leased to someone else right as were completing the application! Luckily we went to one more realtor who showed us Oak Park! The office staff is super friendly and the paperwork process was easy. We've been living there for 2 months now and it's been great. It's affordable for a 2/1 townhouse and really close to UT and downtown Austin. It's also really quite. I haven't heard any loud music or any crazy parties. We did have some maintenance problems and we let the office now and they put in a ticket right away and maintenance came the next day and fixed everything up! It was really nice not having to constantly hound the office managers to get things fixed for us. A co-worker of mine is actually planning on moving to Oak Park soon because it's better than his place. If you're looking for a not so expensive and decent place I suggest checking this place out. L.Y. read more

I have been here six months and I'm really liking it. I'm a student at UT Austin, and there is a good bus route to Campus (via the 7) and an okay route to Hancock center via the 338 though it is walking distance , the community is quiet and pretty with some trees inside and the management is *very* responsive. I really like it (to the extent I felt like posting a Yelp review after a recent positive experience with management). I wanted all hardwood floors and the management agreed to that though carpets are the default. Downsides I guess: postbox is tiny, no doorbells, some issues with toilet flushing. read more

I am writing this as an out-going tenant. The only reason I am leaving is due to life changes taking me away. My experience at Oak Park has been nothing less than exceptional. A large part of that is due to Texie. She was the first person I met in the office, and the instant I met her, she made me feel like home. A year and a half later, I am so sad that I am leaving this place, but I can promise I am not leaving due to unhappiness or complaints. Management is great, the whole complex feels like a treehouse, and the tenants of Oak Park range from a handful of students to young working professionals to the middle aged and even seniors. Thank you Texie, for helping me find my home, and what has been the best apartment I've ever had in Austin. read more

Started living here a few months back and it's been pretty great so far! Big apartments with lots of space, great location, and affordable rent. I do wish there was a better system for picking up packages because their office hours are exactly the same as my work hours. Other than that, they've been great and I am glad this was my first taste of Austin reality. EE read more

TEXIE!!! I can not rave enough about Texie. I have lived at Oak Park for a couple years now and she has always been so amazing. You can just tell how much she cares about her job and taking care of all the residents at Rainier Properties. My boyfriend and I even moved away for a bit but came back because of how amazing Texie was! We knew no matter what she would make sure we were taken care of. Even after we move out and get a house I plan to stop by just to visit her! read more

I have lived at Oak Park for 1.5 years. Overall I am very happy here. The apartments are spacious with big windows and excellent storage. Even though none of the appliances have been updated since what appears to be the 80s, they are well-kept and never breakdown. This isn't a luxury apartment, but its homey and certainly meets my needs as a working graduate student. Also, the price is reasonable for the space you get! They extended my lease for an additional 7 months at the same rate when I asked. The location is awesome. Close to UT and downtown (via I-35), and there are a bunch of cute cafes and eateries within a 5 minute walk (Quack's, Mother's Cafe, Julio's, Dolce Vita, to name a few). Maintenance is pretty good. They typically get to requests quickly. I had a bit of a cockroach issue when I first moved in, then a ton of issues with my AC. However, with lots of pest control and sealing up potential entry points, I have not had an issue in over 8 months, and my AC seems alright at this point. Management varies depending on who is in charge. Management turns over a lot. They can sometimes seem disorganized an confused. The one exception to the confusion is TEXIE!!! She is compassionate and on top of her stuff. When you come in with a problem or request, she consistently treats you with respect, makes your issue feel important, and takes action. In summary.... PROS - Spacious apartments for the price - Big windows - Well-kept apartment interiors for the age of complex - Friendly and diverse tenants - Package pick-up from office - Texie - Pet friendly - Central and accessible location CONS - Old complex leads to issues with water pipes, heating, and cooling systems - Large cockroaches like to roam the complex during the summer at night (I'm a Northeasterner so this was incredibly alarming) - Exterior and complex grounds could be better kempt read more

DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE GREAT LOCATION. This apartment complex is anything but great. When I moved in, by apartment wouldn't cool past 81 degrees until the sun went down. I asked my neighbors if their AC was like this and they both said yes. When I called the front office to inform them that my AC was broken, they told me that was 'just how it was here.' When I decided to end my lease, I was fined for 'trash removal' because my downstairs neighbor moved their patio furniture to my former patio. After informing management that this was not my furniture, and having two neighbors verify that not only was this not my furniture but that it did belong to the downstairs neighbor, they told me that I had 'no proof.' If you're looking for an apartment with a great price and great location, go on goggle maps and find another nearby complex. Unless you want to live in an 81 degree apartment from mid-April to early October, this one isn't worth it. read more

Overall, Oak Park is a bit of a mixed bag. The location is fantastic - it is within walking distance of a park, Juiceland, Quack's bakery, and a bus stop that goes to UT and downtown. There is also plenty of parking, which is somewhat rare in Austin. Hyde Park is a very nice place to live. However, the apartments themselves are a bit...outdated, which honestly is reflected in the price. The office does respond to maintenance requests, but in their own time. The apartments are pet friendly and we never had any problems with neighbors. I will say that if you do need help with an issue, or are interested in leasing, find Texie. I've been at Oak Park for over 3 years and she was the one constant in the office. She is very friendly, genuine, knowledgeable, and will do whatever it takes to help you with your issue in a timely manner. read more

Oh, Oak Park... location is pretty much everything here. The apartments are out-dated, the service can be mediocre (or worse, if there's a major problem), the package situation is inconvenient, service requests could take some reminding, and so on. BUT, the location is amazing and we were lucky enough to be in a townhouse apartment, which was fantastic when it comes to space in the area. I will say that if you're going to check out Oak Park, do what you can to work with Texie. She's super-friendly, she gets things taken care of and she lives in the community, which I think really makes a difference when it comes to understanding your concerns and addressing them. Seriously, Texie was a bright spot in some stressful situations and did everything she could to make things better. There can be some turnover in leasing offices, but Texie has been there as long as we lived there (almost 3 years), and she was excellent. read more

This apartment complex has only one great thing and that's the location. This is a high walkable score address in Hyde Park with a bus stop across the street, several nearby restaurants, a post office and a great bakery all within 5-10 min walk. Does location make up for the following: (1) Crime is a problem. Check out the Trulia crime heat map for the area and you'll see a hot zone here. There have been numerous car break-ins, missing Amazon packages and even clothes going missing from the laundry room. (2) Older apartment complex. You can hear your neighbors making out lol. Older also means less energy efficient with drafty windows and patio doors. (They are slowly putting in more energy efficient windows and patio doors. (3) My unit was relatively close to the swimming pool. I could hear the late-night pool parties and some of the users weren't even residents! (4) Laundry room machines are fitted with credit card swipe machines that often don't work. Many times I've spent 10 to 15 minutes just trying to get a payment through. (5) Also beware of hazardous location of built-in bookshelf right in front of kitchen entrance and inconvenience of low shower head where you'll need to crouch down to wet and shampoo your hair. (6) Seems like they have high turnover in the property management office. Property management was slow to respond to emails. However, maintenance requests got done fast. (7) Just like an old car, expect dinks and dents. For example, toilet water tank lid was cracked, bath tub had discolorations, and range had yellow patch with scratch marks. I have pictures of all of these (8) Last but not least, they cleaned but didn't replace the carpet in the bedroom when I moved in. That's so disgusting! read more

Been living here for a little over week... So far so good! Pros: - Location is great! I'm going to attend UT so my husband and I had to find something relatively inexpensive and close to campus. The neighborhood is full of trees and is pretty much residential/suburban but is also short drive away from ANYTHING we want, and UT is 2.5 miles away (short bus or even bike ride) - The place is very affordable for this area in Austin - Lots of sunlight in the apartment - The A3 1 bedroom Apartment is a perfect size for a couple (with exception of the kitchen, see below) and I love that we each get our own closet in the bedroom! - AC works well and the apartment seems to be well insulated - Lots of parking - Complex is relatively quiet. Great, mellow community - Laundry room is good. I've been down there 3 different days (including a Sunday) and it is always very clean and there has been no fighting for machines - Management has been wonderful from day one and we've been dealing with them remotely for over a month. They are incredibly friendly and responsive, and now that we've met in person I like them even more. They always greet us with a big smile and positive attitude -Maintenance has been very responsive and also super nice. They stopped by to deal with the move-in check list I filled out right away. Also, I reported a leak under my kitchen sink last night via their website and by the time I got home today, it was taken care of with a note explaining what the problem was and how it got fixed Some cons: - Rented the place sight unseen. Was sort of disappointed when we first arrived because the complex looks much older than expected. It is not that bad- just look at a google map/street view it so you are not surprised - Not much storage space - The kitchen is tiny. If you cook a lot with your significant other or friends, like we do, you will not be able to do so. Only one person in the kitchen at a time. At least the place has a bar area where we can sit and talk while one of us is cooking from the other side :) -Yes, we do hear neighbors walking upstairs and can tell when someone turns their shower on- but this is apartment living and is to be expected. That said, there is not much noise at all at night when it really matters. My two biggest complaints: 1) water temperature really fluctuates in shower from icy cold to scalding hot- I almost burnt my face last week. Now I realize that if I shower during the day it is not that bad. I guess more people shower during the evening and thus the water temp fluctuates more? 2) Didn't realize people could smoke within the complex's walkways and balconies. I am allergic and it is a real bummer when I am walking up the stairs with heavy grocery bags in a super hot day and take a deep breath, only to take in a strong whiff of cigarette smoke :( Thankfully, the cigarette smell does not enter the apartment. All that said, it is a great place for the price and we are happy to have found it. read more

Terrible. Absolutely terrible. Don't live here. Rainier Management is a joke, and the staff here couldn't find their way out of a paper bag. Numerous problems the year I was there, with the biggest and worse when our refrigerator was broken for a month--A MONTH--before they fixed it (it had to be replaced). We had to get the BBB involved and write several certified letters. Nevermind that they only gave us a $25 credit for our entire fridge worth of lost food. For a MONTH. Their management office is unresponsive to phone calls or emails. Their office hours are terrible, especially if you need to pick up a package. They even lost a Christmas present my roommate received in the mail. They frequently shut the water off for "maintenance" without much of a warning. Good luck cooking, bathing, or peeing at any point in the middle of the day if you happen to be home. We had a terrible bug problem despite my roommate and I being very, very clean. You could eat off our floors. We frequently had to make pest control requests which weren't addressed until nearly a week later. The most insulting moment was when the manager (Kristy, I believe?) left me a voicemail threatening me because I'd sent a certified letter from my work (a law firm completely unrelated to tenant issues). Well, Kristy, some of us have to work normal people hours and don't have time to hand deliver a letter to your office. Not that she would have been able to find it in the mail slot. The scariest moment was when my roommate's boyfriend came over during a storm one night. The drain pipe over the parking lot fell on his head and he got a concussion. The office wasn't sympathetic in the least, and the maintenance man went so far as to laugh saying he was probably drunk and yanked it down. Absolutely untrue. The collapsed pipe was on the sidewalk--in everyone's path--for weeks afterward. All snide remarks aside, in the six different apartments I've lived in, this was by FAR the worst when it comes to management and maintenance. Good luck to you if you choose to live here. read more

We moved in our daughter for university. Texie made process easy. She was very friendly & assured us . Texie also mentioned some of cool near by stores. read more

I agree with these posts, the management company will be the friendliest people in the world....until you sign a lease. Once that happens, you are on your own. There was an instance of a leaking ceiling inside one of the apartments and they did not come for over 3 days! The leaking ceiling was result of using the bath tub...yes thats right USING the bath tub. Once they came, they replaced bath tub fixtures claiming that would solve everything. It also took a month or so to replace a dishwasher. Also, do not invite guests over to park, most likely they will be towed and management will just tell you there are signs and thats that. Renter Beware. read more

This could be more the management property, Rainer Management, but I've experienced a lot of problems here. this place is noisy, the laundry machines often break and they've recently mandated paying rent online which includes an extra fee. Frequently they shut the water down here as well. The location is great, the staff is friendly, but the price and property issues are way more than it's worth here. read more

Oak Park is a good community to live in. It is far enough away from campus so that it is not full of rowdy undergrads but still within a quick bike ride. It is pretty quiet for being such a large complex. We have a 660 square foot place and we pay $900 a month, which is pretty competitive rate for the location. Our interior is new remodeled, there is a nice balcony, and it works well for the price. Also the pool area is nice. Ranier MGMT is miles away better than its competitor 512 Realty. We were with 512 last year and we paid more for much, much less. 512 tried to squeeze for every last penny they could, whereas Ranier has fair and upfront policies. read more

Do not sign a lease with them. There are multiple hidden fees and stipulations that are buried in the contract. The maintenance is very poor and the water is shut off weekly. The management is inflexible and unresponsive to requests or explanations. Please do yourself a favor and find a better place than this... read more

I want to be fair about my review, as obviously not everyone has the same experiences here. I moved here in August of 2011. When we checked out the apartments, we really liked the location and decided to sign a pre-lease, because we started looking a little late and honestly our choices were slim by then (our fault). On our move-in day, as I was on my way, and had a moving truck following me, they called and asked if we could move in a day later because they did not replace our carpets yet. Well, that's really hard to arrange when you have a moving truck with your belongings ready to unloaded. So we opted to move in without our carpets being exchanged (we will certainly receive our deposit back for this). Several things to note after nearly a year here: 1. Several times living here the power has been lost for enough time for our food to spoil. It seems to be that most of the times this has happened, I have noticed guys cutting tree limbs down as they broke and hit the power lines. Preventative maintenance seemingly could avoid this. Its a major pain in the ass, and it costs me a fridge full of food every time. I even came outside a few months ago to find a very large piece of a tree sitting right next to my car. The maintenance guy (who I admit is very nice) was standing there and said "Damn, you got lucky!". This large branch would have caused cosmetic damages, amounting to more than my deductible. This seems to be the same case with the rotting tree by the pool that had to be removed when a branch fell and destroyed part of the swimming pool. For months I was woken up by construction guys fixing this. 2. My biggest pet peeve is without a doubt the water pressure. In the shower, it just about takes your face off. However the kitchen (where we really need it) is absolutely the worst I have ever experienced. Pouring a cup of water takes about a full minute. If I want to boil water, it takes anywhere from 5-10 minutes to fill the pot at certain times of the day. And the more you need, the slower it gets. My Brita filter actually filters the water FASTER than the water comes out of the faucet. Anyone with a Brita filter knows this is unacceptable. 3. The a/c drain pan is above the bathroom. Twice it has clogged and our bathroom has flooded. This also means we cannot use the a/c until the drain pan is un-clogged. This takes anywhere from 12-24 hours to get service on. 4. When replacing the air vent, I noticed that the ducts are completely filthy. It's no wonder it smells like mildew in here all the time. Inspecting behind kitchen drawers, under the fridge and under/behind the oven, it is pretty obvious this place hasn't been deep cleaned since the appliances were installed. 5. When it was time for our lease to run out, they informed us our rent would be an extra $100/month to renew. FOR WHAT!? This accounts to $800/month for an apartment that is ~600 sqft. Ridiculous, especially considering the major drawbacks of living here. 6. Instead of replacing bad wood molding, they just paint over it. There are areas in my apartment where hand-sized chunks of silicon based paint can be peeled back, only to reveal that they simply used it cover these giant holes in the walls. Behind it is black, rotting wood/drywall. Bugs easily come in through these holes. These exist in the bathroom, all the windows and random corners of the apartment. Additionally, the toilets and bathtubs are not deep cleaned when residents move out. Instead, they are painted over. That's correct, they actually paint the inside of the toilet and the bathtub to make them look new/clean. 7. These are not "cookie cutter" apartments, which is cool. But what that means is that you can have your apartment loaded with wood floors if you wish. The inherent problem is how thin the floors/ceilings are. Our upstairs neighbor has wood floors and a rolling chair. All day it sounds like someone is dragging chains across the ceiling. You can here people laughing, playing music, fornicating, you name it. Overall, the location has made it the only real perk of living here. The cost is outrageous for what you get, and the raise in rent is completely uncalled for. Although nothing has caused any real problems, there have been some major inconveniences and my money could have gone a lot farther at many of the surrounding apartments here. The key is looking early. Customer service wise, they have been nothing but helpful and pleasant. While the physical site is pretty much crap, the service is good (in my experience). I don't think it would be going too far to state that their other (newer) locations are probably a good buy, if the rent is fair. read more

I've rented here for the last year - the administrative staff are very friendly and helpful - anything that needed to be fixed was attended to right away. As far as the space, it's well designed to take advantage of every nook and cranny - and there's a tremendous amount of closet and cabinet space. I love the outdoor landscaping and maintenance of the property. There's a real sense of pleasure when I step out to check the mail - the flowers and the ivy, the birdsong. I also appreciate that the bus stop for the 7 down to campus is right across the street. read more

My boyfriend and I have been at Oak Park since August. We moved out of our last apartment because we were extremely disappointed with the management - overpriced and untrustworthy - and we couldn't be happier with our choice. The Oak Park staff is professional, friendly, and responsive; their policies are perfectly reasonable, well-communicated, and make the whole community fun and easy to live with. Our apartment here is cleaner, bigger, and brighter AND substantially cheaper than our apartment last year in the same neighborhood. In addition we were able to lock in our rent at the same price for next year. We're very happy and intend to be here for awhile! My one complaint is the high bike theft that occurs - my bike was stolen along with many others - the bike rack itself was cut and all bikes from the rack were stolen. They could benefit from stronger (and more) bike racks. Nevertheless, that is a problem with living in a university town - I recommend anyone keeps their bike in their apartment. CA read more

We've lived here for under a year, but are really pleased with our situation and will be renewing. The location can't be beat for our jobs and we really love that they have 2-floor, 2-bedroom options. So much SPACE! The staff are friendly and helpful, even if the hours the office is open aren't convenient to someone who isn't a student. I also wish there was a locker system for picking up packages, since I order a lot and can't always be there for office hours (Sorry, Staff!). The layout can be confusing for visitors and I also wish we had options for laundry in-unit, but that is getting into "dream apartment" territory, and this place is a really great value for a great many reasons (pet policies, location, price, quick maintenance responses, two parking spots). Weigh what your priorities are, but we really like Oak Park and hope to stay here for a few years yet. SD read more

Honestly, an amazing place to live. Spacious, clean, and quiet. Texie and Patrick are the most helpful and supportive leasing agents and have always worked to accommodate my requests and terrible work schedule. The pool is great, the location is perfect for Hyde Park, and the units are bright and airy. read more