I lived at Avalon for two years, moved in July 2020…read more
I was really shocked and horrified that despite being unemployed for over a year and a half bc of the pandemic - I paid all of my bills on time but when there was a complication with the rental assistance (from the government) that didn't go through (due to NO FAULT of my own), the eviction process was started. It went as far as scheduling a hearing, despite documentation that I'd been approved for rental assistance . Instead of trying to come up with a payment plan or address the issue, I was served an eviction notice and hearing date. I contacted lawyers, politicians and everyone I could to get this resolved and then y'all have the nerve to send me a letter asking me if I want to renew my lease by increase my rent another $400? $400 for what?
Other things:
-No smoking policy wasn't enforced. If there was a smoking complaint, they'd send out an email reminding people that it's a nonsmoking complex. Sometimes they'd add a sign above the garbage cans - which often smelled like dog shit because that's where people would toss their bags. The complex constantly smelled like weed and there were cigarette butts on the sidewalks. I had to ask for weeks and weeks for them to do something about my downstairs neighbor. It smelled awful in my apartment every night and without "proof" there was nothing they could do.
-The gates in the dog park were constantly broken and it smelled disgusting in there. There was no maintenance or upkeep. Would have been great to be able to safely allow dogs to use it but without secure doors, it was essentially useless. One time I got locked IN bc the doors wouldn't open.
-The 3 months the trash compactor didn't work and garbage was piling up outside was unsightly and unsafe, and when it did work - it was just unpleasant to have the constant big garbage outside the garages.
-Constant theft in the parking lot. There was a period where our cars were all getting broken into. No security, cameras, or surveillance throughout the property despite constantly asking for it. We literally have begged for more security. Constant trespassing, people without parking permits in the parking lot, etc.
-Mask policies were rarely enforced when they were required, throughout buildings but especially the gym. There was a system for gym sign up and then filling out a health survey, not sure how strictly those were enforced. But I'd ask people to mask (when it was a requirement) and it didn't go well. So I'd often go ask the leasing office to enforce the policy. I'm paying to use it - and it's a rule THEY posted - why am I doing their job? I didn't make the rules about wearing masks so be mad at the leasing office. I was verbally assaulted (it's on camera) in the gym by a couple. The solution? The leasing office emailed the people who attacked me. Is the leasing office responsive? Sure. Yes, they respond alright but do they do anything? Nope, just send out emails. Corporate eventually called and... idk listened to me? I have a therapist for that. I wanted the people to fined, lose their gym privileges, or something. Instead, they got a call. I went back to the gym a couple of times but never felt safe.
-When I actually did go to the gym - machines were broken and it was difficult to get them repaired. I asked for a clock in the gym, it took 3+ months to get a wall clock in there.
-Packages are constantly getting stolen. Lost or stolen completely or opened. One time someone opened my Chewy package and stole cat toys... they left the food but took the cat toys. The FB group is essentially just everyone asking if they've seen a package.
-The pool wasn't open the first summer I was here and then didn't have chairs? Last year had chairs but had to make appointments and it was a weird system and the hours were very short. This year the pool is hardly ever open. Yes, there's a lifeguard shortage and maybe I'd be more understandable if it weren't on top of everything else that's wrong. The days the pool are open we're notified ver last minute, it's just for a few hours, the lifeguards are falling asleep, and the pool is disgusting - it's not cleaned.
There are no bike racks anywhere in the community and no where to store bikes.
It seems like the solution is to send out an email, there were no other repercussions or penalties to breaking the lease. Sometimes they'd post in the FB group too - but very few people interacted. The rent keeps increasing but absolutely NOTHING improved. No amenities improved, no increased security, no added benefits of living there, nothing. They violated their lease agreement so many times and were never held accountable. As tenants we're the mercy of landlords and rental complexes, it sucks.
I've lived in other communities and am living in one now, and nothing has compared to the two years in Avalon. I swear people are being paid to rate the complex highly because I would not recommend.