I have a large unit and have been a customer at SmartStop Lompoc for more than 3 years. There has been ongoing problems with mice. The manager provided rodent bait. Eventually I located a place where the wall had separated from the footing and mice could walk right in. The manager filled the gap with spray foam. The mice left droppings on everything in the unit and ate lots of cardboard. Still there is evidence of mice. There are gaps in the walls and ceilings from one unit to another.
The biggest problem has been roof leaks. It probably started in the winter of 2022, but just a few drips and not such bad weather. But this past winter it has leaked every time it rains. There is a line of drips across the middle of the unit. At first I put out buckets, but finally in mid January 2023 I complained to the manager. They cleaned the blocked downspout. The next rain it was just as bad. They put sand bags across the door, but water was entering from the ceiling drips, not under the door. They got their corporate office involved and after a long wait, a roofing contractor inspected and confirmed the roof needed repair. The rains continued and the drips would overflow tall waste baskets. Water runs across the floor. Water ran down the wall causing a 3x8 foot section of drywall to have black mold. I pulled down the moldy drywall and rigged plastic sheet to funnel the leaks out the door. The regional manager, Derek Shefman, tried to obtain a substantial rent adjustment but only secured a nominal one time credit. It is now late May and the roof has not been repaired. I just received notice of rent increase.
The location screams lack of maintenance. The front gate was under repair for weeks, the asphalt is crumbling, the roll up doors do not operate smoothly, the rodent problem is persistent, there are openings between units for rodents to pass through, and the roof leaks. The onsite manager is nice and helpful, but this location and its customers get neglected by corporate. I suggest new customers look for better alternatives. read more