My fiance and I moved into Bell Lakes after a living arrangement in a co inhabited house situation no longer worked for our expanding family. At first things were great. The staff before they were bought out, just recently was courteous, helpful, and more concerned with what your needs and wants were. Two months after our moving into our apartment their was stains that came up out of the carpeting. I can't even imagine how bad the dust mites are. More so than just wanted your money. However, when the new management took over, it was all about giving the apartments a new look on the outside...i.e. painting. Which is a nice surface exterior. I've made 4 phone calls to the management team when the hot water had been shut off, due to either a boiler going on the fritz or a water main breaking. One of the times that I called I was furiated because I had a doctors appointment and was several months pregnant. I told them about my situation and that I was more than slightly annoyed that this was seeming to be a regular occurance. They said that many people were complaining. Giving me the idea that they'd heard it so many times that they just were letting it go in one ear and out the other. Then was told they would for compensation, give us a credit towards our next months rent bill. Which when we went in to pay, they (no big surprise) had no record of it, therefore we did not recieve the compensation as they had told us we would. The floors and walls must be incredibly thin, because we can hear everything going on upstairs as well. When the guys who live above us use the restroom...I can hear them urinating, that's ridicioulous. There must not be enough insulation. Whenever they lay out manure they use the type that costs the least which therefore smells very strongly of animal defecation. The month of October in 2006 end was when our lease was up. Although we really wanted to move to a new location, we were not able to do so, due to the fact that I was scheduled to have a c-section with my second child. Therefore, we had a difficult decision to make...stay for a bit longer or risk my health. We opted to stay for a bit longer. Much to my chagrin. When we took our rent in for the month of Novemeber we had a fee of $25 due to our rent being late. We came in on the 5th. As were with the old management team it wouldn't be late until the 5th, however it is considered late on the 3rd with the new management group. We were not told about this new policy when we signed our new lease. We had the money due to our paychecks being in our accounts but, we hadn't made it in until the 5th due to time constraints and doctor's appointments. Had we known we would be charged my fiance and myself would have paid it on the 1st. In our entire time in residency we have not been late on our rent payment even once. We recently visited this website to check out listings for future residency options. So, I found our current residence. Was very distraught to find that there were reviews that indicated a sexual predator had moved into our complex. Figured, lets check it out. Sure enough, he is listed online as a predator with a risk level of 2. Which means he needs to register, also communities must inform their residents and any surrounding day care, schools, etc in the neighborhood. I did some investigating, called the day care that is right across the street. They had no knowledge of it. Also, called the apartment management to inquiry as if I were a prospective resident. I asked what their policy on criminal background checks was. They said if the person had been convicted of a crime, they were not to be approved for residence here. I then specifically asked if there were current sexual predators at their location...a resounding no was given. I am currently seeking a lawyer in regard to this complete disregard for my childrens safety as well as all other residents. Yes, children run around outside, which I know it's Phoenix and it in part is a parents job to watch their children closely for potential predators of any sort. But, for an apartment complex to invite a known sexual predator into our homes of sorts is another story. Not to mention the fact that this predator is not more than one building from ours. There are gates that are in place but in our time living here have not been in working order but maybe twice. And, they've been saying that they are going to fix it numerous times over, hasn't happened yet. Our car was broken into also, granted they did not take it...this time, but there is always next time. They did take our center console, which didn't have anything of real value as I don't trust to leave anything of value were anyone can take it from us. But, the fact that our car was broken into once and the sexual predator situation doesn't help me sleep at night. I would not recommend this apartment location to anyone, under any circumstance due to all of these reasons. I am more than disappointed, I'm appauled by it with a lingering of disgust!

******************UPDATE***************** have been in contact with the Phoenix Police Department in regard to this manner over the past few weeks. I've been informed that the said sexual predator in fact does not live here. That his address was listed incorrect, and they've done extensive follow up research and found that it was a incorrect mistake. Which that does help me feel better in some regards. But, we still feel much the same way about all the other concerns as I've written. As the officer told me it's not ever going to be 100% safe, unless you are in the middle of nowhere. But, the main way a parent can try to keep safe our child/children is to give the adult supervision that they need. With this said, please, note that I had wanted to give an update, to let all who read this know that I'm an informed renter, who is looking out for the safety of my children and potentially the parents of other children.

Happy hunting!

User Responses
From: dfrenchx	Date: 01/31/2007
I also live at Bell Lakes. YES the walls are paper thin. YES it did smell like you stepped in dog doo for about a month because of the fertalizer. YES the water takes 5 minutes to warm up and is out frequently. YES they have charged me for a late fee even though I was told the 5th. YES they bill you for the water even though its not on your lease with them. The current manager is nice but the rest of the office has caused many errors! It does not suprise me they screwed up someones criminal check... :(
From: SKM87	Date: 02/12/2007
blah blah get over it u cow
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/07/2007
SKM87 is the manager of Bell Lakes.
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/01/2008
I am thinking of moving here and have found nothing ut scum and low life running all the complexes in this state. this is the land or protected witnesses and scams. No one appears to be eduacated or have manners. When I lived here in 1971 this was a decent state. I am ashamed to tell anyone I live in the Valley of the Scem

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