Review for Sun Harbor Apartments

We're renting a 2 bedroom 1.5 bath at Sun Harbor, and have been here since August of 2009, keep in mind its only October and we have 9 months left of our lease) and already know we will not be renewing our lease. We've had problems with management from the very beginning, before even signing the lease. My boyfriend and I did our research...months in advance and strategically picked out an apartment. We picked out a basic model, not because it is cheaper but for the location and we didn't really need the upgrades. Not to mention you get more cabinet space in the kitchen because there is no dishwasher (keeping in mind it does not get used anyway), both bedrooms have a walk in closet, and it was in a shaded area that would help keep down the electric bill in the summer months.

Two days before move in I received a call informing me that there was a huge hole in one of the walls in the apartment we chose and it would take longer than those two days to fix. I was then told they had an upgraded two bedroom with a washer and dryer hook-up and dishwasher, to offer at no additional cost. OK, you figure the upgraded apartment would at least LOOK nicer, new cabinets, tile, remodeled bathroom area...and so on. So I scheduled an appointment to go see it. I also wanted to see what the fuss was all about with the original apartment, and as they had said it looked like someone had taped over the hole and painted it...looking at the exterior this seems reasonable because the side of the building was wet from water drainage even though it was not raining....but why did no one notice it before? Before I had to schedule to have the electric turned on (one week in advance) and sooner then two days before move in? At least they were nice enough to reimburse me for the $70 that I had to pay for an address change with GRU.

After looking at the substitute they had to offer, I asked if there were any other two bedrooms available that I could look at, and the answer was no. Later to find out....there are multiple available 2 bedrooms, and even one right next door!

This substitute was nothing close to upgraded. It has ratty cabinets that are falling off the wall, less cabinet space in the kitchen because of the dishwasher that never gets used, a tiny refrigerator and stove that are out dated and not energy efficient at all, and laminate floors, although the website says there is tile in the kitchen and bathroom. So basically we got a basic model with less storage...for the same price. Fine! Except they lied to my face about it being upgraded, later saying we were not forced into this apartment.

Before signing we brought up our concerns with noise and yappy dogs and they said that there was a "strike 3 and your out policy, and noise is not much of an issue". This is a good thing, we thought. Too bad they don't enforce that. And they also have a section towards the back of the complex designated for residents with dogs....but what does that matter when a few doors down there is a pitbull and management does nothing about this. Also on the topic of noise...the neighbors like to open up there windows and doors (obviously to get a breeze going through the apartment and to cut down on the OUTRAGEOUS light bills) but then do not turn down their tv or radios. We have had to call the cops and contact management about this on numerous occasions, and it still continues.


To address the light bill issue. The apartment is 1109 square feet and all precautions are taken to keep the light bill low. We don't leave lights on, or leave doors open. We keep the AC at 77 (when its on). We don't use the dishwasher, washer or dryer. We use halogen light bulbs and between the two of us were gone about 9 hours out of the day and yet our light bill was over $300 last month.

Also, the on site laundry facilities are virtually useless. We lost $3 tonight and a few hours because 3 of the 4 working washers jammed up. These are never in proper working order. They are jammed or not in proper order more often then in working condition. They also leave you're clothes smelling like wet dog.

There is a pool, but is always so incredibly nasty that I'm scared to go swimming in it.

The lease also states that the curtains or drapes have to be white or off white on the outside, but you can drive though and see pink and blue curtains and even a blanket draped over a rod….this doesn’t affect me much other than to prove that their standards are quickly being lowered.

So basically if you are not bothered by noise, electric bills that are half the amount of your rent, the stench of wet dog, being lied to, management that just doesn’t seem to care, and standards that are quickly being lowered then this is the perfect place for you.

If it continues this way, you will be getting robbed at gun point a few nights a week, like at the crossing at santa fe.