Where do I start' First off, let me say that I am not one of these kooky tenants who complains about everything. With that said, Turtle Ridge is less than desirable. Save your money and don't give it to the Irvine Company! Turtle Ridge is not worth your hard earned money!
1. The walls are paper thin. You will hear your neighbor turn on the shower, turn off the shower, flush the toilet, run the dishwasher, run the washer (which sounds like a 747 flying overhead), talk on the phone, have obnoxious partygoers over until 6 in the morning, slam the front door, shut the bathroom cupboards and unfortunately have overnight guests over who must have taken classes on how to "fake it" loudly in the middle of the night. Now, I must say that one of my neighbors to the side of me had a small baby and I never heard a peep out of them. But, be aware that if you get a nightmare neighbor, you're totally screwed. You will not sleep.
2. If you complain to management about the noise, they will "take care of it" by writing meaningless letters to tell your neighbor to be quiet. Your neighbor will not be quiet, and then management will write another meaningless letter and on and on and on it goes...the Irvine Company does not kick people out, so your neighbor will continue to be noisy without consequence.
3. Take special note of the clause in the lease that says the Irvine Company has a right to not enforce any of the rules. Because they will not enforce any of the rules. When I first read the lease, I thought great they have tons of rules and this will be a quiet place. Well, apparently the clause that says they don't have to enforce the rules takes priority.
4. When you tour the place for the first time and ask if it is noisy and can you hear your neighbors, the leasing agents will tell you the apartment complex is built to "condo specs." Don't fall for this trap thinking that "condo specs" must be a good thing. "Condo specs" means there is nothing beetween you and your neighbor but cheap plywood. So, it is like living in a dorm, and actually worse, because the dorms I've lived in back in college were a lot quieter.
5. You will leave the place sparkling clean when you leave, and the Irvine Company will make up every excuse in the book to keep your deposit. And yes, believe it.
6. They will keep raising the rent on you, while new tenants who move in will pay cheaper rates. For example, the Irvine Company always claims that "market conditions" determines the rental rate. Fine. But you're a good tenant, pay your rent on time. You will still get a rent increase. Those that came in to rent over a year after I was already there were paying over $210 less per month than what I was paying for the same unit.
7. The Irvine Company sneaks in the water and trash bill. When you rent the place, the leasing agents will likely fail to mention that you will receive a $30/month water and trash bill.
8. Beware of breaking the lease. If you get a job transfer, have nightmare noisy neighbors, etc. and want out of the lease they will charge you at least $3000.
9. If you must rent here, get a unit with a driveway, becasue the parking is terrible. Your guests will never find a place to park.
10. When you drive into the complex, everything looks great. The grounds are pretty, the pool is nice. But this is all a facade. Spend a few nights in Turtle Ridge and you'll realize that you'd be much better off elsewhere in a non-Irvine-Company-owned place!
By the way, any of the glowing reviews of Turtle Ridge on this web site are surely attributed to Turtle Ridge staff members. I hope this review is helpful and will save someone the misery of giving their money to The Irvine Company!

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/16/2009
Great review! Thanks for your honesty. Everything you wrote is so accurate. They never once enforced the rules about anything. They never tow cars out of the red zones. They never enforce the parking. They never enforce the no-late-night-balcony party rule. They do nothing, and won't kick people out because they want the rent money. I have also had horrible neighbors, and they did nothing.
From: johnnyavacado	Date: 02/16/2009
On the paying less front. I have multiple friends who live in Irvine owned apartment communities and they all just received a discount on there rent. They are all married nd have TWO incomes. I am a single guy and I called to complain of this. I mean on a whole in society single people are always treated second when it comes to married people. But this was so obvious I had to complain. The couples all received between $300-500 LESS a month on rent again with 2 incomes. My lease is up this Feb and I am out of here. I wont even complain about other things just thought this was icing on the cake.
From: dakicka	Date: 02/17/2009
I lived here for a good year and a half up until last year and I highly disagree with most of what this reviewer states. While I certainly pay no hommage to T Ridge or it's employees, I would like to add to this post to let people know I had a very pleasant stay while living here. I miss the place and where I live right now is terrible. Unfortunately it's quite expensive to live in Turtle Ridge, but if you can afford it, I highly recommend it.
From: Anonymous	Date: 04/20/2009
Parking seems to be a problem at all the IAC communities, depending on your location. Turtle Ridge will be my 3rd community in 7 years. The ant issue is hit and miss as well. As for noisy neighbors - if this is really an issue for you then be sure to get a unit on the top floor. Overall, they are good properties to live in.
From: chrking	Date: 08/30/2009
Excellent review! Having lived here for 2 years I agree with the paper thin walls & the astronomical rent increases...as well as the dismal and unenforced parking problems. I would also like people to know that the pool is beautiful, they keep up the place wonderfully (BBQ's cleaned every night & the grounds look like Disneyland!)and the apartments are pretty upscale! I guess then I would also like people to realize that Turtle Ridge has some really strong points that you should take into consideration in addition to all the negatives mentioned here. Best of Luck!

Your thoughts? Post a response to this review. Display my response: with my username anonymously Responses appear below reviews and one response per user is permitted.

   Free estimates on moving trucks      Find apartment share/roommates