TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, ROACHES AND RATS RUNNING RAMPANT

I've been living in these apartments since October 2023, and I've wanted to move out since I moved in– I wish I could afford to leave. It's a NIGHTMARE.

BAD MOVE-IN EXPERIENCE:
We arrived on our move-in day around 9 am and went to the leasing office. Our leasing agent, Tykerria Foster, immediately gave us an attitude. She asked us about our move-in packet (an email that she was supposed to send us), and when we said that we never received one and were unaware that we even needed one, she then treated us like it was our fault. The conversation continued and we informed her that we were needing to go up to Chattanooga, TN to get our things (hence why we had wanted to start our move-in process earlier than later), and Foster then proceeded to give us false time frames, telling us that if we weren't ready to move in to our apartment by 3pm, then we wouldn't get our keys until the following day (despite the fact that the office doesn't close for several hours after 3pm). It was a mad dash to get everything out of our old place and loaded onto a moving truck in time (we had to leave some things behind because there wasn't enough time). We barely made it back in time... and our apartment wasn't ready... UNTIL 6 PM!!!! When we finally got our keys, the apartment reeked of chemicals. It was apparent that everything had just been painted over. The cabinets and counter tops were sticky (they low-key still kind of are, it's gross). Foster seems like a miserable person who just wants to make other people's lives hell for no reason.

ROACHES:
The building is infested with roaches, I wake up every morning and go to war, we have tried everything.

RATS:
I see rats running rampant all over our parking lot (there is one that has been squished into the concrete [it's been there for months now]). They have burrowed underneath our mailboxes, and at least 50+ rats are living in the dumpster. Every time you walk over to throw away trash, you can hear them all scurrying away. The apartment complex has not addressed this issue to us and appears to be doing absolutely nothing. It's only a matter of time before they tunnel into our apartment.

DISGUSTING LAUNDROMATS:
There is no in-unit washer/dryer; you have to pay $5.20 PER WASH + DRY to use on-site laundry facilities that are FILTHY, half of the machines are BROKEN. Dirt and debris is COVERING the floors, and no A/C (it was 98ºF in there during the summer months).

FEES WITH NO NOTICE:
I just found a random $84 fee on my account. I got no notice that I had a balance for "sewage???" Why wasn't this fee there when I went to pay my rent last month, and why was I not IMMEDIATELY notified that I had a balance? That balance had been sitting in my account for two days. I assumed that paying my exact rent balance every month was enough, but I guess it's somehow not?????

BAD NEIGHBORS:
Our upstairs neighbors have two pitbulls (dogs that the apartment complex does not allow). Obviously, the complex enforces none of the rules that they set in place. Our neighbors let their dogs hang out on their back porch all day long, and they bark CONSTANTLY. The dogs have also pissed on our back porch a total of FOUR TIMES!!! We have notified the complex MULTIPLE TIMES, and they have done NOTHING. Our downstairs neighbors allow trash to pile up in their portion of the breezeway. It got so bad (6+ trash bags) that the breeze way was COVERED in flies, and rats would run past us as we went up the stairs to go home.

INCOMPETENT MAINTENANCE:
Our sink was leaking for over half a year; the maintenance men had to come out and "fix" it 5 times before they could figure out what was wrong with it.

CEILING LEAKS:
Our bathroom ceiling suffered a huge leak 3 times, and maintenance came and essentially put a Band-Aid on a broken limb. We definitely have mold.

The apartments were built in the 60s, I believe, so they are not the most modern. That said, they do have good appliances and wifi thermostats. They are incredibly spacious. Sometimes you can hear your neighbors if your neighbors are being particularly loud, but it is not egregious. The neighbors also keep to themselves. There are many families and non-students, which I find nice because it reminds me there is life outside of Emory. Sometimes the maintenance staff is not as responsive as I wish, but I have always had the few problems I’ve had resolved. The admissions office, however is terrible. They have by far been the worst of my experience.

When I first came to this property, the staff was really kind and helpful. However, after a few days of moving in, I quickly regretted my decision to live here. For the first few months, roaches were an issue no matter how many times I called pest control (luckily I only see one every month or so now). There are no washer/dryer hook-ups so you have to go to the communal laundry rooms. Unfortunately, neighbors tend to leave their clothes in the washers and dryers far after the cycles are finished and some leave them overnight. Also, I have an alarm system and specifically requested that maintenance NOT come into my apartment without calling me first so I could disarm it. They came into my apartment without my permission (and once for pest control I didn't even order) and set off my alarm, forcing me to come home from school in the middle of the day to handle it. I just found that disrespectful. Lastly, the walls are PAPER THIN. This is terrible for when you are trying to study. My current neighbors decide that 11 PM is a perfect time to start yelling and having dancing sessions which is annoying. Smoking inside the apartments is also allowed here, so if you have asthma or some other condition or just don't want second-hand smoke, too bad because the staff won't do anything about it. While the location is convenient (across from some fast food restaurants and stores and near the highway), it's honestly not worth the price.

Ashford is a great community and comes with all basic amenities. Regular emory shuttle service passes closer to the place.

This complex is investing heavily in modernizing and has renovated nearly all the units over the last 2-3 years. They are sprucing up the grounds and just put in a car wash adjacent to my unit. Additionally the Emory Shuttle and Marta stop right in front of the apartment complex.

I have had no major issues, so I can't really comment on how management responds.