Forest Lake Student Housing

The place is quiet and comfortable with few problems.

great place to live

I would not recommend Forest Lake Apartments based on my experience with management and how issues are handled. I was supposed to move into my new unit on August 1, as stated in my signed lease. After signing my renewal, I was informed that the unit would not be ready until August 10th. I was also told that I would have to pay a $350 transfer fee to remain in my current apartment until the new unit is ready, even though the delay was not something I agreed to in my signed lease. When I asked for documentation showing where I agreed to a delayed move-in or this transfer process, management could not provide a SIGNED agreement that states move in August 20th only one that says August 1st move in. They only provided messages discussing the renewal after I had already signed my renewal that states move in August 1st. I then contacted Property owner and advised him what’s going on and told them that Forest lake is trying to make me pay the transfer fee to stay in my apartment and the owner advised me that my apartment will be ready August 3 and he never mentioned the fee he also said I could stay in my current apartment until then. Therefore fee was waived and I will be staying in my current until my unit is ready. I have also experienced ongoing issues with management addressing resident concerns. During a previous situation with roommates, I repeatedly reported an unregistered cat, smoking inside the unit, and marijuana-related items being kept in the apartment. I provided pictures and documentation to management every week or two for approximately three months. Even after inspections, I was told there was not enough proof because they could not determine who the items belonged to and how they could be mine. I was advised to contact police if it happened after hours. After about three months of reporting the issue, I was finally moved to another unit. At first they tried to make me pay a transfer fee but this is not my fault I’m moving and after months on end it eventually was waived and I was moved. My concern is not that problems happen it is how long it takes management to respond and the lack of accommodation when residents are dealing with issues outside of their control. I would not recommend Forest Lake Apartments to anyone looking for management that is responsive and willing to properly address resident concerns. The AC also has not been cooling the house for over a month, and the issue still hasn’t been resolved. There has been no follow-up from management and no accommodations offered to the residents despite the ongoing inconvenience. The lack of communication and urgency in addressing a basic maintenance issue has been extremely disappointing. Keys : My key stopped working and the leasing consultant said it was fixed (didn’t work) thank God my roommate was home . The next day my key still didn’t work I came asked was it fixed and they said yes and it wasn’t came back again around 5:40 and didn’t get helped until 6:20pm. Update : After multiple maintenance requests and “completed / no issues” maintenance replaced the a/c controller and drained the ac recently.

One of the better student apartments near USF. Fairly affordable, good amenities, and far enough from campus to avoid most of the noise and drama. The units don’t match the quality shown in the showroom or online photos. The building is older, and appliances are dated. Unfortunately, maintenance can be hit or miss when it comes to work orders. I’ve had to submit multiple requests for the same issues, like a dryer that wasn’t drying properly and ongoing AC problems. Roommate experience can vary a lot. I was randomly placed with people who smoked constantly and left the kitchen a mess, and it took management a long time to handle it. Choosing your own roommates could make for a much better experience. Edit: I tried to be fair and will continue to be fair, so I only bumped them down from 3 to 2. However, the maintenance is not great at all. I'm constantly requesting maintenance, only for maintenance to not do anything. For example, the dryer takes multiple cycles to dry clothes. I've requested maintenance at least a few times now. The last time, they didn't even bother showing up (or at the very least did nothing) and marked the request as complete. I got fed up and decided to check behind the dryer to see what's going on, and turns out they decided to hook an indoor vent to it rather than cleaning the actual vent. Then the AC stopped working. Same thing: Marked it complete but didn't do anything, and I'd even argue no signs of entering the apartment.

My experience with this apartment complex has been frustrating. My lease stated that my new unit would begin August 1. I contacted the office multiple times in advance to confirm the move-in process because I was transferring from another unit in the same complex. After not receiving a clear response, I was eventually told I would only need to be out for approximately 24 hours. Based on that information, I moved most of my belongings into storage, arranged care for my dog, and paid for a hotel. When I turned in my keys, I was then told that my move-in date had been pushed back to August 10, despite my lease stating August 1. The leasing manager later contacted me personally, explained the situation, offered to let me remain in my previous unit, and said she would speak with her manager about possibly finding solutions. I appreciate that she reached out and attempted to correct the situation. However, this entire issue could have been avoided if my questions had been answered clearly the first or second time I contacted the office. Instead, I made expensive arrangements based on incomplete and inaccurate information. The delayed communication created a great deal of unnecessary stress during an already difficult move. I have no ill will towards specific staff and when they do work with me, they are actually really pleasant. I am giving two stars because the leasing manager eventually made an effort to address the problem, but the communication and handling of my transfer were unacceptable.