I recommend Madison, but with some warnings. We rented our apartment in Oct. 2005 and did not receive the executed copy of our lease until 11 months later. All we got originally was the copy that we signed--not the copy with both the signature of the manager and us. I requested it several times. They wanted to raise our rent $80 per month to renew after the first year, plus the renters insurance price is increasing. When we moved in, we had to pay a hundred dollars deposit for card entry to the so-called security gates, but the gates were recently out of order (open) for more than two months and anyone could just drive right onto the complex. The gates are open more than they are closed. I don't call that security!

We have been good, quiet tenants & always pay our rent exactly on the first of the month. I don't know why they don't appreciate good tenants & want to retain them instead of using price gouging tactics. There is only one person in the office who seems to care at all about tenants. We have had plenty of stuff to complain about (parking lot noise late at night, loud parties at the neighbors, neighbors' barking dogs, dog poop on our doorstep, etc.) but have tried to be tolerant and have not complained to management. As for maintenance & office staff, recently the icemaker was leaking & making a huge puddle on the floor. We had to leave towels on the floor to soak up the mess & had to change out the wet towels twice a day. We were constantly having to launder wet towels, costing us extra electricity and detergent. They (office & maintenance staff) kept promising to fix it but it took almost two weeks before it was repaired. Incredibly, the floor didn't cave in from the moisture! We have had a battle with bugs: ants, silverfish, roaches & spiders. Pest control hasn't cured the problem.

We were finally able to negotiate a lower increase and renewed for another year, but we won't stay after the end of the renewal. Two years is ENOUGH! The location is good for our job commute & convenient to shopping, but give me a break! For the amount of rent & fees (the water rate is outrageous too), we could buy a house and have a lot of money left over every month.

User Responses
From: dagnabbit	Date: 08/01/2006
You think that's bad???? They raised my rent by $120 a month.
From: 123123321321	Date: 08/31/2006
Here's the scoop. Specials are offered to entice you to rent. Increases are part of life. Yes $50-150 are typical in Atlanta, especially as the house buying trend is slowing. This puts the ball back on the owner's court, no longer the renters where it has been for many years. Pest control is always an issue in the south. That area is so wooded, it's always going to be a battle, even for the cleanest of people. Please keep in mind that Fair housing laws help and hinder...especially when you are getting major increases, which are based upon how far under the owner's set market rate you are. This is national, not just there or just Equity. Lastly, if you could by a house for the rent that you are paying...do it. I bought a house in the hood and pay nearly $1400 per month. This was a $200000 house in Fulton. Trust me...renting is much cheaper. Don't forget that you start paying for trash removal, water, sewer, repairs, etc.....good luck.
From: string99	Date: 12/22/2007
I don't know where you think this apartment is, person who obviously works for Equity, but it's behind a Target and next to 316, so it's not like it's in the middle of a forest. Most bug problems stem from the fact that the apartment is poorly built and maintenance is terrible about responding to any problems.

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