Shelby House — Local services in Nashville-Davidson

My experience at Shelby House was extremely unpleasant. I moved into the building in December 2024 out of desperation when my previous building had a mold problem but was met with nothing but new troubles at Shelby House.

Despite specifically asking about guest parking when moving in, they slowly walked back any availability and eventually completely closed off access to the garage to non-residents. That interim period was very confusing, with guest spot policies constantly changing, and no signage in the garage, which led to the building almost towing the car of my friend (I had to pay the truck a $100 drop fee). Shelby House began urging guests towards street parking, which was obviously a total impossibility when living next to Nisaan Stadium.

Where I had the most trouble was with building accessibility. The callbox — when it's even working — opens to an elevator, not into the building. The elevator is down constantly, so I almost always entered through a side door, obviously not ideal in downtown Nashville at night.

I'm someone who travels a lot for work, which meant I often needed to buzz someone in via my phone to feed my pet, and paid the pet fee when I moved in. If the callbox is inaccessible and elevator is down, there's ZERO alternate way into the building outside office hours. I quite literally begged for a second access card or alternate solution so someone could use the side door and was met with apathy and disdain. Despite using the Butterfly system, Shelby is not equipped with any “guest share” options other complexes typically offer. One time, when there were access issues and I was already gone, I was told that it “wasn’t the building’s fault that I decided to go out of town.”

Access also obviously became an issue of safety, and the general energy of the building was very unpleasant. While some of the staff did their best, especially when it came to policies over which they had little control, the building often smells like smoke, and the cops were called for domestic disturbances many times during my residence.

The few perks of this building included a nice, rarely populated gym, and the lovely courtyard, which my unit faced. However, the negatives so drastically outweighed the benefits that I would never recommend this building to anyone. I have lived in Nashville for 13 years and this was the worst housing experience of my adult life. I urge people, especially young, single women, to stay far away...

If you’re a recent graduate or a young professional moving to Nashville for your first job, do yourself a favor and look elsewhere. Our experience with Shelby House Apartments was beyond frustrating, and I feel compelled to warn others before wasting their time.

After our son secured a professional job in Nashville, he was excited to move and begin the next chapter of his life. He found Shelby House online, but nowhere on their website did it disclose any eligibility requirements connected to renting. Naturally, he assumed his stable employment and income would be enough. When we toured the Shelby House, we disclosed the main reason he was moving to Nashville because he graduated in the spring and got his first job. He went through their application process in good faith, only to be told flat-out that I was denied housing simply because I had just graduated college. That’s right — not because of credit issues, not because of income, not because of background, but because I had just stepped out of school and into the workforce.

This policy is arbitrary, discriminatory, and completely out of touch with the reality of Nashville’s renter demographic. This is a city full of students, graduates, and young professionals coming here to start their careers. To punish someone for pursuing higher education and then moving for legitimate work is both insulting and extremely short-sighted.

The worst part? Nowhere on the Shelby House website — no policies, no disclaimers, absolutely nothing — do they disclose this so-called requirement. Instead, potential renters waste time, effort, and sometimes money applying only to be turned away for reasons that make little sense. If this is how they treat applicants on the front end, I can only imagine what actual residents have to put up with when it comes to management, communication, and fairness.

For a property that markets itself to young professionals, Shelby House’s practices are misleading at best and discriminatory at worst. Nashville has plenty of other housing options. My advice: don’t bother with the false promises here. If you value honesty, transparency, and fairness,...

Edit: I’ve now lived here for 6 months and here’s what I got for ya:

office staff is unkind and if you have to encounter them for an issue you are having, they would rather you just move out if you are “unhappy” than to find a resolution. They will also stalk you to wait for you to make an error. My dog stepped into a flower bed at 10pm, I corrected it immediately, he never even marked, and I was written up. They watched me on camera. Another time I was in the hospital, unconscious, and a family member had to care for my dog. I was written up because I didn’t use the call box option to let them in, while unconscious.

a wheel chair bound neighbor was trapped without a way into their unit because the elevator has broken down, quite literally every single week. Or they shut it down “because of weather” when there’s no other entrance to the building without stairs. I have reported it not working properly and been told I complain too much, but in reality- I know I have a lot of disabled neighbors and they deserve the same right as myself.

I had an issue with a neighbor blaring bass for very extended periods and it was happening DURING office hours. I asked if someone could please go and ask them to stop- not once in the 8 hours, did someone go. I had to deal with it for over 48 straight hours. From Sun 10pm-Tuesday 5am.

trash stains down hallways constantly. Areas not restored after initial move in. No trash cans on property, even in garage.

never have had access to the lounge unless there’s an event held by the complex

no access to the courtyard, ever.

why put these sad plants here, the only exit you allow us to use? Obviously tempting for animals to want to go on, when there’s no grassy area for well over 100yards. Oh. Just so they can watch the slightest veer from their window and...