The Carlyle Apartment Homes — Attraction in Baltimore

I lived in this apartment for two years, and my move-out experience was very disappointing. When I moved out, the apartment charged me for “damage” to the blinds, “damage” to the kitchen counter, and a deep cleaning fee. I can accept the deep cleaning fee because I was in a hurry during my move and did not clean thoroughly. However, the blinds only had one or two slats partially broken from normal daily use. My unit faced direct sunlight, and after two years of heavy morning sun exposure, the material became brittle and easy to break. The blinds were not high-quality to begin with, and I am not even sure if they were new when I moved in. They charged me $105 for this, which I believe should clearly fall under normal wear and tear. During my tenancy, I had reported several window-related repairs, and there was also a fire incident. I remember some of the blind slats being damaged either during window repairs or when the fire department came to check. The maintenance staff ignored the blinds’ condition during those repairs. I personally didn’t mind a bit of light leakage from the small cracks and never asked for replacement, yet at move-out they turned around and charged me for “damage.” If the apartment’s policy is for tenants to pay for blinds, why install such low-quality ones without giving tenants the option to choose their own? And if they install them, why charge tenants again for so-called “damage” when moving out?

As for the kitchen counter, the photos clearly show no cracks, breaks, or burns — only oil and coffee stains that I believe could be cleaned. The apartment still claimed this was “damage” and charged me $150. I never intentionally or negligently damaged the counter. These marks came from normal daily use, the same reason I was willing to pay the deep cleaning fee, but calling them damage is something I completely reject.

Throughout my stay, there were many ongoing problems with the apartment’s facilities and maintenance. Despite being advertised as “luxury,” the building was outdated and repairs were poorly executed. Furniture often broke under normal use. For example, the top roller of my living room closet door broke, and maintenance tried but failed to fix it, did not replace it, and told me to “roll it slowly.” It broke again the next day. Another time, due to humidity, part of the closet frame detached. I expected it to be glued back or replaced, but the maintenance person simply put the broken piece back and said it was fixed. The maintenance team also often acted unprofessionally. They would knock on the door and, if there was no immediate response, use a spare key to enter the apartment regardless of whether the tenant was home or not. This was unsettling and felt like a violation of privacy.

Pest issues were also a constant problem. Cockroaches and mice were regularly seen in the building. Whenever I reported them, the only response was to pick up glue traps from the front desk — there was never any proper pest control or building-wide extermination. In addition, the building had three elevators, but at least one was always out of service during my entire two-year stay. One elevator’s certificate even had “December 2024” printed on it. The elevators that were operational often malfunctioned, sometimes stopping in the middle of a ride, which was frightening.

Overall, my experience was far from the “luxury living” the apartment advertises. Between the unfair move-out charges, the unprofessional maintenance practices, the unresolved pest issues, and the chronic facility problems, I cannot recommend this apartment to future tenants.

Update after management’s reply: The apartment insists their assessment is correct, but I have since confirmed with the new tenant that the kitchen counters were replaced with marble right after I moved out. When I lived there, the counters were wooden with only a thin layer of varnish — naturally showing stains under normal use. Charging me $150 for this is essentially charging me for...

I am not one to usually review anything or any place on the web but I am feeling compelled to write this because my parents and I have been lied to by Rasheed and Michael who work in the leasing office at the The Carlyle Apartments in Baltimore, MD. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND that any Loyola students, Johns Hopkins students, or any other prospective residents live here. The first few months I lived at the Carlyle were fine and I did not have many problems. But starting in the summer of 2015 and within the last 8 months, there have been many issues with the building and the front office staff. The building is falling apart, it seems as every few weeks to every month the water is turned off, there is noisy construction being done in the building or on my hall without notice, the elevators sometimes are not working without any notice or explanation, and minor inconveniences within my own apartment (tiles coming down in the bathroom, bugs, A/C breaking). Those situations were inconvenient and bearable to a certain point, but what has compelled me to write this are the unethical businesses practices that my parents and I have experienced with the office staff. First, when I moved into the apartments we were told by the woman who set up my rent that there would be no problem with receiving a parking space for when my parents came in to town. When I went to request it the 1st time I was given one. Every time after that we were not given one until my mother talked to Michael the manager of the building 8 months ago when we were questioning whether to renew my lease. The months leading up to the conversation, 8 months ago, I received 2 leasing agreements that had 2 different pricing discrepancies where one was much higher and one was much lower. With the 1st option having 2 rental options and the next which I received months later (after not renewing with the 1st options) having multiple leasing options. When my mom went in to question him about the lease she said that she would not renew my lease unless they would be able to give my parents a parking space for when they visited me. He promised that they would be allowed to receive a parking space as long as we paid the rate of $10/per day and to call him if there were ever any other problems. We had no problem with paying the rate. I SIGNED THE LEASE WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT MY PARENTS WOULD RECEIVE A PARKING SPACE. The next time after that we received a space but for an extra $20/per day (WE PAYED IT). Since then my parents and I have received excuses, lies, and no sufficient explanation as to why we could not receive a parking space. IT HAS BEEN A SAFETY HAZARD FOR BOTH OR JUST ONE OF MY PARENTS (WHO ARE BLACK) TO HAVE TO FEAR FOR THERE SAFETY PARKING THEIR CAR AT NIGHT and ALMOST A MILE AWAY FROM MY APARTMENT IN A PREDOMINATELY WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD IN BALTIMORE. AS A DAUGHTER OF A BUISNESS OWNER AND HAVING WORKED FOR MY MOM I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE HONEST WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS. I WOULD NEVER TELL A CUSTOMER OR CLIENT SOMETHING THAT WAS UNTRUE UNLESS I KNEW FOR CERTAIN THAT WHAT I WAS SAYING WAS LEGITIMATE (if I didn’t know the answer I would ask my supervisor and apologize to make up for my mistake). THE DISHONESTY DISPLAYED BY THE CARLYLE LEASING OFFICE STAFF ARE INCONSIDERATE AND UNACCEPTABLE. This situation is an unneeded stress that COULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED if the staff was upfront with us and had just told us that they would not be able to accommodate my family when we talked 8 months ago. I WOULD NOT HAVE RENEWED MY LEASE. Because of the LIES, DISORGANIZATION, and WEAK COMMUNICATION within THE CARLYE LEASING OFFICE I have to say THE CARLYE has become a place that is NOT CONCERNED FOR ITS RESIDENTS but is the RESIDENT to an INCOMPETENT (LEASING OFFICE) STAFF TRYING TO MAKE A...

Update: They have improved everything since last year (the manager has changed and the staff are very nice now). We had an issue with our dish washer and they changed it right away. I suggested they make the package delivery automated and they have just recently implemented a new convenient 24/7 package room and delivery system. They renovated the heat system; we have had heat and hot water everyday during last few months and this year the heat bill was decreased significantly. Worst apartment I have ever lived in! I don't know what the management is doing; you just see the staff changing like every month! and they seem to be doing nothing! They only "sometimes" take care of new tenants and once you start living here, nothing is taken care of. When we applied for Carlyle they asked for application and reservation fee to lock the price; they said they will contact us if a unit becomes available; and then nothing.... we called after a while and they said the leasing staff has changed and we cannot find your application! We had already lost our opportunity to go somewhere else and we felt being fooled for paying those fees upfront...... anyway, we ended up in a unit not similar to what we had reserved.... And now as a tenant, you could guess you would not get any service! The mailing room hours is ridiculous and changing everyday! Even if your package has been signed by one of the staff with a good chance it will be lost; they not only won't take any responsibilities but seem to be bothered when you ask them to look a second time. I ordered a "surface pro laptop" once and could only found it by chance thrown on the floor in the middle of the common room! No notice.. nothing! I was just soo lucky! The maintenance staff never repaired anything; we just learned to cope with things or repair ourselves! They don't tell you how much on top of the rent they will bill you; but literally you have to pay $200/month more than your rent for heat, trash, water, sewage, service, etc... and the heat is shut off randomly many days during the winter (like 5,6 days/month at least). Many days, the hot water runs cold when you are taking shower. The staff just pretend everything is going smoothly and you are the only one who looks frustrated; I have lived in several apartments before and never complained. I lived in Broadview for two years just on the other side of the street and it was just so much more organized and welcoming. The only reason I moved to Carlyle was the washer/dryer inside the unit and the bathroom being outside the bedroom but I shouldn't have done so!!!!!! Forgot to say, it's expensive...