Summer House at Lake Apopka — Local services in Apopka

I took a long time to share my opinion. When I first moved in, I was very excited about the place. However, on my very first day, my car was broken into at the neighboring complex where my mom had recently moved. We decided she should move here as well, thinking that the gated entrance would make it safer. This was in March. However, in May, my car was stolen from this complex, even though the parking gate was closed. I reported the incident, but the office showed no interest in investigating, reviewing security cameras, or improving the situation. There was absolutely no follow-up or communication from the management.

After the hurricane, the doors connecting the pool area to the parking lot were damaged and have remained open ever since. If you want to use the pool, you must go during office hours because the doors are still broken, limiting access.

On a positive note, the maintenance and cleaning staff are friendly and efficient.

However, my experience with a downstairs neighbor has been very difficult. From day one, he has complained about my 1-year-old daughter’s footsteps, about me moving boxes when I first arrived, and about my child running or playing. He even came upstairs aggressively to complain during regular hours like 10 a.m. or 3 p.m. I explained that I understood his concerns and that we would avoid noise after 9 p.m., but he told me I should move out because this place is not suitable for children. After that, I noticed him standing in front of my apartment on my security camera, and when I reported this to the office, they only said they would send him an email.

Later, he complained that my dog was urinating on the patio, which somehow affected him downstairs. This was confusing because I always take my dog outside and use pads both inside and outside to avoid any mess. The office staff, who were initially very kind when convincing us to move in, became rude once we lived here. The first person, Rosale, told me that maybe my husband lets my daughter make too much noise, which is why the neighbor complains. More recently, Johana told me she was “tired of the situation” and that I had to keep my dog locked inside, that I couldn’t open the patio door at all because I was violating the lease. When I asked (over the phone) for details about how I was violating the lease, she refused to explain. I went to the office in person to ask for clarification, and she rudely told me she didn’t have time to explain and that if she said my dog couldn’t be outside, then that was final. She even threatened to involve lawyers, which I felt was an extreme reaction. I calmly asked her to lower her voice, and even a maintenance worker who was present witnessed how aggressive she was. When I pointed out that other residents have dogs on their balconies with doors open, she just repeated, “I told you no, and that’s it.”

Overall, I’m deeply disappointed with this complex, especially with the behavior of some residents and the office staff. I had high hopes of renewing the lease along with my parents, but this has been the worst experience I’ve had in any complex.

That said, the apartments themselves are beautiful, modern, and the property is visually appealing. However, mental peace and a good community are far more important, and this place...

If you're considering moving into this community, I strongly recommend you rethink your decision. Although the property itself is visually appealing and offers a luxurious living experience, the management and maintenance services are severely lacking. Having been a resident here for seven months, my experience has been far from satisfactory.

Upon my move-in, I found the apartment to be dirty. I promptly reported the issue to management, but neither an apology nor any corrective action was offered. The common areas, such as hallways, stairwells, walls, and floors, are persistently unclean. Trash is frequently left scattered, and spills are left unattended. The elevator regularly smells of marijuana or wet dogs and is poorly maintained. Additionally, the walls are covered in dust, cobwebs, and even spider eggs. Despite multiple reports regarding these concerns, the property management team—including the property manager and leasing office staff—continually assures me that the issues will be addressed, yet no meaningful action has been taken.

I also requested pest control services, but despite being told on two occasions that the service had been completed, no pest control technician ever visited my apartment. Furthermore, the utility costs for electricity and water are excessively high and have consistently increased each month.

This complex is advertised as a gated community, yet on August 28, 2024, a lightning strike damaged the gate system. Since then, the gates to the pool and other amenities have only been operational during business hours, with no access on Sundays. I contacted the office several times for updates on the repair, but the property manager repeatedly told me that parts were backordered or that the repair company was understaffed and fully booked. When I pointed out that other companies could handle the repair, I received no further response. After months of vague updates, I was finally informed by the property manager, Jeannete, that the gates would not be repaired at this time. This lack of transparency and honesty was incredibly frustrating, and it became clear that management was not prioritizing the safety and security of the community.

As a result, the community has become vulnerable to incidents of vandalism, theft, and police interventions due to the open gates. Despite these security concerns, the property manager claims that residents are only paying for the apartment itself, not for the amenities or their upkeep. This raises serious questions about the overall value of living in this community.

Since the gate system was damaged, residents have been unable to access the pool freely. If we wish to use the pool, we must go through the office during business hours, and it is completely inaccessible on Sundays.

In summary, my experience with this community has been extremely disappointing. The lack of professionalism, poor management, and failure to address maintenance issues make this a place I cannot recommend. I strongly encourage prospective residents to carefully weigh these factors before deciding...

Pros: I really loved my unit. The building itself has a nice appearance and the natural sunlight was great. I had no complaints about the layout or comfort of the space. The hallways and parking lamps are well lit, and I appreciated the convenience of the smart key lock. Thankfully, my neighbors were also respectful, which made my living pleasant.

Cons: Unfortunately, my experience with safety and management weren't great. Four months into living here, my car was stolen while parked inside the gated area. At the time, the gates had been broken for more than a month during hurricane season. Despite reaching out to management, the response was simply “sorry.” I asked them to review the cameras, and while they said they would, there was never any follow-up. From their explanation, the cameras only point toward the entrance, which offers little reassurance. From what I’ve seen in other reviews, car theft/broken into, is not uncommon here. Plus parking is narrow! Only for compact cars. My car has been dented and scratched for how tight it is.

Security is also a concern, as I’ve personally witnessed people jumping the gates at night. The surrounding area isn't the best. On top of that, the upkeep of the grounds is inconsistent. Dog waste is often left behind and run over by the mowers, creating an unpleasant mess. Occasionally, the smell of weed drifts through the parking lot and patios at night.

Another issue is the recent transition to the Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS). While the idea sounds good, the implementation feels unfair. My water and sewer charges averaged about $95 per month for a one-bedroom unit, which seems excessive. I was informed they are separated into two charges, but on the ledger it's not labeled correctly. It just says water/sewer charged twice. When my husband and I tried to dispute the charges through email, management simply referred us to automated responses and offered no real assistance in-person. On top of that, cable and internet are bundled at a mandatory fixed rate of $85.

Customer service can also be hit or miss. For example, I once had an issue with the package concierge system. An employee told me she would meet me in the mailroom but kept me waiting for nearly 10 minutes while she chatted with someone who arrived after me. It felt unprofessional, especially since my issue could have been resolved quickly.There were two leasing agents up in the front!

The resident portal is also limited, you can only see the last two months of charges. If you need your full ledger, you must request it from management, which is inconvenient.

My move-out experience was the final disappointment. After moving out on September 7th, I was charged an outrageous $196.38 for just seven days of utilities (water and sewer). This is double my usual monthly average, which makes no sense.

Overall: The apartment appearance is appealing, but the combination of high costs, questionable billing practices, and security concerns makes this complex far more expensive and stressful than...