The Fairmount at Oak Lawn Apartments — Local services in Dallas

Updating my review as of 6/18 Still beautiful apartments and finishes. I LOVE my physical unit itself, but all my neighbors throw loud parties and the pool stays busy and loud all day and all night on the weekends. The garage doors break a lot, the elevators/hallways are usually trashed, people don't clean up after their dogs, it's just gone downhill.

I've lived here for almost two years now, and have absolutely loved it! The original leasing staff was great, and while it was weird to walk into the office one day to find a completely new group of people, they've been just as wonderful. Maintenance requests get taken care of quickly (usually within the same day), the leasing staff is always willing to help with my weird requests (like when I can't find a package or if I need them to let someone into my apartment) and the rest of the staff I run into is always pleasant.

I don't agree with the other reviews that are claiming the staff doesn't care. Enforcement of a no-smoking policy is pretty much impossible, and some people are idiots and don't clean up their dogs' poop. That's humanity for you, not the fault of the leasing staff. Car break-ins have happened (I think I remember 1-2 during my time here), but those happen everywhere that crooks know people are driving Mercedes. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to follow someone into a gated garage. I don't know much about any apartment break-ins (I think I heard about one?) but I'd guess it was on the ground level, which is also typical for apartments. I feel very safe hidden away in my apartment and appreciate the attempts the complex has made to keep residents safe. (Like the gated access, multiple fob entires and the fact that the units themselves are fob entry instead of an old school lock and key.) Only thing I would say is that the hallways/garage could be cleaned a little more frequently. There have been a few occasions when it's taken several days to see broken glass get cleared away.

The finishes on the units are great. I have a Sonos player in my closet so I can play music through speakers in my living room; there's a little mud room area where I keep my dog's things; the high ceilings make my apartment feel massive; the appliances, granite countertops and wood floor all give it an upscale look. The amenities are fun, too. There's lots of TVs, a pool table, shuffle board, and the pool is good at accommodating lots of people so you don't feel like you're shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers in a bathtub. I also live and die by the Starbucks machine downstairs.

My neighbors are all quiet and polite. I don't get woken up by people coming home from the bars at 2am like I have other places I've lived. (Cough, Uptown, Cough.) The insulation in the building seems to be pretty good. Sometimes I hear quiet voices or footsteps from my upstairs neighbors, but I'm rarely bothered and my energy bill hasn't been bad.

I like the location. I feel safe and am a quick Uber ride away from anywhere I want to go in Dallas. You can tell it's an area in transition -- there are some great restaurants (Sprezza, 18th and Vine, lots of stuff on Cedar Springs) within walking distance and a lot of fancy new town homes popping up all over the place. Although it's a bit of a hole in the wall, Liquid Zoo is also fun if you like karaoke!

I would warn that this is a VERY dog-friendly complex. Which, to me, is a huge pro! The dog park and pet washing station were part of what sold me originally. I love feeling safe not having to leave the complex if my mini dachshund wakes me up in the middle of the night to go outside. My boyfriend has a 75-pound golden doodle and the washing station has been amazing when she comes back filthy from White Rock Lake. It's also fun to meet other residents at the pet park and get to play with other people's puppies. That being said, if you don't like/are afraid of dogs, don't live here. I've run into one woman several times who gets incredibly worked up whenever I pass her with my dogs -- almost to the verge of tears.

Overall, I...

Tonight after getting home from traveling my key fob to get into my apartment is not working and I’ve been calling the after hours number for 3 hours for someone to let me into my apartment. Unacceptable. They only responded after I told them there was a water leak because apparently they only care about water leaks and not residents who can’t enter the apartment they pay $2,000 a month for. I just got this notice via text (see pic) at 10:15 pm, I finally gained access to my apartment at 9:30 pm when I initially reported being locked out at 6 pm. When I first moved in August 2023 the apartment was not ready even though they promised me for 2 weeks that it was. Then for the first 2 days I lived here the door wouldn’t lock when I left. My a/c is also not working for the 5th time this year, every time they just say it just needed some Freon… well obviously if it keeps needing Freon there’s a leak or bigger issue leaving my apartment over 90 degrees multiple times plus higher energy bills because the a/c will run non stop. There’s a constant smell of weed because they let trash move in and people smoke constantly eventhough it’s a non smoking community. I’ve reported multiple times when my entire apartment reeks for days like skunk. I learned that there was a “corporate apartment” that was the cause of some of it, but it’s still happening. The elevators break constantly. They don’t enforce the garbage can rules so people leave their leaky smelly trash bags in the hallways which stinks up the entire hallway and attracts rodents and bugs. Also the trash “valet” we pay $35 per month for will only pick up one trash bag per day, anytime I put two IN the trash can they require the second bag always gets left. On Friday and Saturday nights you will not be able to park below the 4th floor if you get home after 11 pm because they have zero parking enforcement and the bar-goers know this and follow residents in, take our spots then cause a commotion trying to get back into the garage in the wee hours of the morning to drive home drunk damaging our cars on the way out. Recently I fought with the office for over a month to get a valid renewal contract because they tried to force me to sign a new contract with a higher base rent than I agreed too. Then they tried to tell me I refused to sign my renewal contract, I said no I refuse to sign an incorrect contract, I have no problem signing a correct and valid contract. They’ve cut the office hours to 3 days per week and sent all the services off-site so there’s really nobody on site to help with anything. The garage gates are always broken. They spent idk how many tens of thousands of dollars redoing the clubhouse and offices which were already beautiful to begin with to impress new residents instead of fixing the actual issues like the pool which is dirty, has tiles falling off all the walls of the pool and many of the outdoor equipment is broken. I used to love living here, I recommended sooo many people to live here, now I’m extremely upset that I signed another 15 month lease, I travel way to much to move right now so I really didn’t have a viable choice, but this will be my last lease renewal. Oh also, if you live anywhere near the gym you will be able to hear and feel the thumping of people running on the treadmills at all hours of the day and night plus the weights dropping. They routinely give less than 24 hours notice before entering your apartment for non-emergencies (see pic, noticed received 2 pm for 10 am apartment entry). I have a right to privacy!! Their trash hours are asinine. The guest call system never works. They just expect everyone to cater to their dysfunction. Not everyone works a normal 9-5 or are home everyday, I travel a ton and am only home maybe half of the month, IF that. Don’t leave some lame ass response saying please call or email us at blah blah blah… I have MANYYYYY times, read those. And maybe try to respond to the communications I’ve already sent. The last 5 emails I sent about the weed smell and parking issues have...

If you are thinking about moving to Avenue on Fairmount...reconsider. Not only did I find one rat but TWO rats in my apartment (which was located on the 3rd floor). When addressed with management they had the nerve to say “maybe one ran in when you opened the door - they’re really fast”. False. I am very positive I would have heard/seen a rat run through my front door. And for the amount I spend each month for rent here, this is unacceptable. The first time I found a rat, I was sitting in my apartment when I heard/saw something run across my living room (keep in mind I do not have any pets). I couldn’t find it anywhere at first until my friend lifted up the couch cushions and we saw the thing jump out from underneath. We never saw where it ran because let’s be honest, I do NOT deal with rodents and I was freaking out as any normal human would have. The maintenance team was called and they searched everywhere in my apartment and nothing was found. Traps were set out just in case but nothing was seen again. For a few months anyway.

Recently, I went out of town for 2 weeks and came back to a strange smell in my apartment. My mind went straight to “dead rat” and sure enough... I was right. Thankfully, I left one of the original traps behind my couch and that is where the smell was coming from. I had a DECAYING rat under my couch (see image attached). So disgusting (and unsanitary). The maintenance team was helpful in disposing it and sanitizing my apartment. The main issues here are the management team and the rats. Not only did it take hours before Kelly, the property manager, returned my call... she did nothing to help the situation. The even worst part? I called Essie(?) at their corporate office to express my concern and she said she would call me back because she said this was “unacceptable”. Guess what? It’s been a MONTH and I have yet to receive a call back. I’ve called and left messages but no returned call to date.

I also had an issue with water leaks coming from my neighbor upstairs at least every other month. Seeing how ridiculous the complex is... I took pictures in case I was charged for water damage at move out. (Note: take pictures or videos of EVERYTHING if you choose to move here).

Basically, the message here is look elsewhere unless you want to pay $1500+ a month to deal with a lazy, incompetent management team or have rodents in your apartment. If you ever need help with anything, don’t bother calling. Ansley, the assistant manager, only “apologizes” but doesn’t offer a solution. As for Kelly, the property manager, she is hardly ever available to address issues. She can be very condescending as well.

I did not want to have to write this review but I gave this team plenty of time to correct this and nothing has been done. I would hate for someone else to have to deal...