I lived at Laguna Gardens for 3.5 years and here are my opinions of the place:

1. The complex is not a gated community, even though it might be advertised as one. The gates have been broken for years.
2. There are hardly enough visitor parking for the number of tenants at the complex. Your car may be towed even if you park in your designated spot :(
3. The pool area is always dirty. There are duck droppings especially during the winter. When the spa breaks, expect it to be out of order for several months. The knob for the spa stock and it made the pumps to run 24/7. I notified the office manager about it as a wasteful problem, but it was never fixed.
4. The gym equipments are old and broken. They can cause serious injuries. The office manager refuses to update or fix them.
5. There is a monthly mandatory utility charge for water/trash. This charge is based on the total cost divided by the number of tenants. This amount is inaccurate since it fluctuates greatly from one month to the next. We paid in the range of $45 to $50 monthly. If you question your bill, the office always indicates that you have agreed to pay this charge when you signed your lease.
6. This apartment complex has perhaps the worst office manager. She is indifferent and plain old rude. Forget about requesting any maintenance, since she simply tells you off so that you think twice about making further requests in the future. Not once did the Manager even pretended that she cared the slightest about the maintenance of the apartment complex. She lacks the minimum qualification needed to
run an office. (I don't mean the new hires in the office as they help change the atmosphere somewhat.)

I would strongly recommend prospect tenants to consider another place. The discounts offered at Laguna Gardens are not much once you consider all the factors. In fact, there are a huge number of empty apartments that have become available as more tenants are moving out. This should be a sign how bad the place is getting.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/05/2009
agree 100%
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/06/2009
While I agree that parking is limited, they have always accomodated the 2 parking spaces per apartment if you have 2 people on the lease, which I do. This is not the only apartments that deal with parking issues for crying out loud. The garages are great and they are included in your rent! Also, I have been keeping my New Years Resolution and using the gym almost daily and it has always been clean and everyhting is in perfect working order, so that I just don't understand you lying about. As for the Manger, she is really a good person who frankly does care, but if you are one of those people who cannot be pleased no matter how hard someone tries, then sure, your going to finally feel like the response you just gave. I keep at this becasue I see a real injustice being done here, and didn't know that my personal e-mail would alert me to responses made to my original review here. Since it does, I will continue to support what originally said and all the "poistives" I, my family, friends and neighbors have consistantly enjoyed as a part of Laguna Gardens. The utilities are a part of life for crying out loud. The Water/Trash/Sewer is based on how many people in your place. So it runs about $1.00 a day per person. Simple. If your lying about the number of people in your place then your a cheat. I am a Grandmom of 2 and a Mother of 3, and again, I make a very good living and am well schooled. I would not have my family using the pool area if I felt it was both unsafe or unhealthy which it clearly is not. It is a lovely pool area and we have enjoyed many a sunny day out there. What a load of crap to insinuate otherwise. I resent anyone implying I would have me and my family live in some horrible place. While my Daughter has been relocating from Oregon, we have seen a tremendous amount of vacant apartments all around this area due to the economy and people not being able to afford their rent. So that is not unusual at all! As a matter of fact, she wants to be here but they have no 2 bedrooms avalable right now, so how can what your saying be true? I have never advocated for any place like I am here and now, but I find it truly upsetting that someone is out there saying things to detour others from a place like this and it just feels like you personally had a bad experience and most likely they had one with you as well. Not all residents are friendly and easy to please, lets face it. The way you keep lying and coming up with more to say the more it reigns true. I would just say to those who are looking to come and see for yourself. Go to the pool area, see if you hear any noise, or see anything unsanitary. You will see for yourself how nice it is here and you will get to meet this so called bad Manager and find the opposite to be true. Check out the gym and sample the equipment. Thats the best anyone can do, is come see for yourself and don't take the complaints of a handful of haters to heart. As oneof those people who have wished a few would go, it can be the fault of the resident and they will try to sabatoge the place if they can, and that is clearly what seems to be going on here. Unbelieveable. I will stand my ground.
From: ocgirlie	Date: 02/06/2009
I have rented apartments for 15 years all over LA & Orange County. Laguna Gardens is the worst place I have ever rented in EVERY WAY. The majority of reviews on this place describe many of the issues. 1. Parking 2. Safety 3. Lack of maintenance 4. Unkind office management. The 1 or two positive reviews on this place are just untrue. The bottom line on this place ...is it South Central LA ? no. Is it affordable?...yes. Is the location ideal?..yes. Are there safety issues here? yes. Does the management suck? yes. Would I ever encourage ANYONE to rent here? NO

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