I lived at this apartment complex for almost a year. In that time there were at least 4 major police incidents. Once they actually blocked the ONLY way in and out of my area of the complex. Good thing we didnt need to rush to the hospital or anything. People parked on the grass areas. Children running around half naked. TEENAGERS roaming around with NO supervisoin, drinking and smoking weed! POOR POOR POOR insulation and duct work. COuldnt get the Upstairs below 80 degrees in the summer or above 60 in the winter. Problems with the apartment on move in day, written down and delivered to management. NEVER EVER RESOLVED no matter how often we called. Marina or April would be very nice on the phone and then NEVER send anyone out. When we started house shopping, we told management, and they congratulated us, and told us it wouldnt be a problem as long as we gave them 60 days notice when we found one. We did, and we were told that if they were able to rent the apt by the next month we wouldnt be responsible for the last month on the lease. Now they have deiced they are going to charge us an "insufficient notice" fee AND rent for the last month of the lease even though our next door neighbors who we are still friends with told us about their brand new neighbors who moved in BEFORE the beginning of the last month. When we called to question them, we were told that since we didnt get Lee to put it in writing that we wouldnt be charged rent for the last month if they found tenants that we are out of luck. We explained that it is ILLEGAL to charge someone rent when you are renting the apartment to someone else, and THEN they say, its an error, its actually a lease termination fee. SO, they are charging an "insufficent notice" fee even though we gave 60 days and then even moved out before the end of that 60 days, and have made up a lease termination fee since they cant legally charge us whats on the bill. They of COURSE found some problems with the apartment and kept our deposit, and are refusing to return the 50$ I paid for the ammenities key. They wont even put it as credit on the bill. This place is unsafe, unsanitary, and the management are little more than slum lords. Unless of course you are friends with the management. It was hillarious the night that they had a "Christmas Party" for the residents with "DRAWINGS AND PRIZES!!!" and watching the same people win over and over again. I would live in one of the slums down town before I EVER lived here again. At least there I know what Im getting.

User Responses
From: CahabaSection8	Date: 09/10/2006
Ah, yes! The sound of yet another dissatisfied "Cahaba Fakes" former tenant. In the last week I've seen at least 5 move-outs from Buck Horn Cove. Some of these are occurring well before the lease expires. Folks who can afford to pay the early cancellation fees are doing so gladly. Some (like happyhomeowner06) are being blind-sided by the ridiculous fees. The $250 "redecoration fee" is pure profit, and completely punitive. My apartment was filthy when I moved in. They collected from the previous tenant and did nothing for apartment upkeep. Now that I have given my 60-day notice, maintenance has stopped working on the reported problems in my unit. They don't care that you're leaving early because it means more profit for them. They collect the $250 PLUS one additional month's rent (they call it an early termination fee just to skirt around the laws), and then rent it to some other unsuspecting person. The management has absolutely no incentive to make your stay here pleasant, since they make more money if you break your lease. They don't care that the turnover rate is atrocious. As long as they can keep the units rented (to just about anyone), they are happy. My advice to any prospective tenant is to look elsewhere, but if you absolutely must live here (for economic reasons or location convenience), then get the shortest lease possible and do your best to save some money so you can afford to go to a better place when your lease expires. Hopefully, you will be able to tolerate it for the length of the lease. I could not, and several neighbors could not take it either. They left and I'll be leaving soon too. The day that I leave here with my truck full of personal belongings will be one of my happiest days in years. I will consider my stay at "Cahaba Jakes" a learning experience that I don't care to repeat.
From: kyleax1	Date: 09/13/2006
well first off I must say you did brake your lease, so reguardless of what you are told most of the time any apartment will try to get you with a fee. I also know someone who used to manage an apartment across the hwy at inverness cliffs and they said that 90% of the time you will get a redecoration fee or some type of fee because your apartment is not clean. The trick is you have to hire a maid from the apartment complex to come clean your apartment (around 70) and then the apartment can't charge you a 250$ fee saying your apartment is dirty. They will charge for almost any reason even if your blinds are dusty. You must get everything that you think is important in writing also. And on maintenance you got to think about it..they prob only have a few maintenance guys to fix all 1000 units, which can get backed up. I can tell you one thing though, I have a good lawyer and I know ppl that know how to get around having to pay these fee's and I sure as hell won't let anyone ---- me over.
From: happyhomeowner06	Date: 10/11/2006
update... As we were trying in good faith to negotiate the illegal charges away, being told every other day that someone would call us back...They sent our account to collections! It hadnt even been 30 days since we received the invoice. We finally got someone in Texas on the phone, gave her the name of our attorney, and told her that she would have to send all future comminications through him. Lo and behold, She agreed that most of the charges were in error! There is an early temination fee, which is no more than we expected. The rent for the final month that was illegally charged and the insufficient notice fee were removed. So Kyleax1, I guess Im not the dumbass you claim I am on your move in day comment. Turns out when confronted with silly things like LEGALITIES and tenants who know about them...they will back down off their illegal charges. Also, as far as having just a few guys for all the units...THATS NOT THE TENANTS PROBLEM! Any tentant of any apartent complex pays rent, and that rent includes proper maintenence on their unit. It is managements responsibility to make sure that they have enough people to perform proper maintenence on every unit in a timely manner. They are still claimimg that the 50$ ammenities deposit we paid has to be processed and takes a while, and they cant just give us creid on our bill. We may just consider that a cost of getting the HELL out of this place and leave it be. Ladies and gentlemen, get a receipt when you turn in your ammenities key. period. One more thing for Kyleax1...I truly hope that you ejoy living here. I truly hope that Cahaba Lakes finally employs a management and maintenence team that can make this a great place to live, as from all outward appearances (except of course on Buck Horn) it should be!

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