The Village at Toluca Lake

I have a friend here who has lived here for years and I've asked her questions as I was considering moving in.

Since Essex purchased, they do a 10% yearly rental increase no matter the condition of unit without doing upgrades, new carpet, paint or anything. There was once an option but it came with a further several hundred dollar a month increase.

Long term tenants’ rents/increases are higher than the vacant units advertised to the public and when that has been inquired about by tenants they are told "oh that's a mistake, it's more". She shared a number of amazing neighbors have moved.

They’ve become so greedy that last year the management office on site left without informing residents and converted the office to an apartment disturbing peaceful enjoyment for everyone nearby.

2023 Essex offered short term leases when 99% of the building are long term tenants with a large population of single woman. Three men moved in who began breaking into single women apartments; robbed one, touched another until the tenants who were NOT informed by Essex started sharing info for their protection and security given Essex removed the night security patrol. Which is needed given the access to the building is frequently compromised. Most units now have a ring or security camera on their doors at their own expense.

I’ve visited and seen 3-inch cockroaches walking around or dead in the halls. They changed the doors to a keyless system by a company they own. Last year they forced new ins. coverage premiums that they tacked onto rents. Started charging residents for “community” bills such as electricity for the lights that stay on and trash/recycling programs. Essex Corp who owns multiple corps and layers of corp protection owns the laundry co. machines that charge everyone.

NOW they are implementing WiFi at just shy of $100/month that they are FORCING everyone to pay. They are telling residents you can keep your own internet but you have to pay for the “community WiFi” or don’t renew your lease.

Nefarious corporations like Essex must be stopped. If you have any amazing class action lawsuit attorneys tell them to send letters to all the tenants at 211 Valley and 4524 N Clybourn Ave!!!!

Some of these folks have been there 20+ years with fixed incomes and can’t move. Some were hit so hard by COVID - they lived on credit and need time to increase scores to be able to move.

Essex is a predatory company one of the top 6 that are rate fixing rentals across America and packaged as a REIT in the stock market.

It’s so bad, the cleaning lady begs tenants to write positive YELP reviews.

Great apartment