Austin Ranch is now a Motel 6.

If you have kids, you need to ASK about transient leasees from out of state who are unknown and unaccountable and who have no background check at all. They could be anyone from a reputable CEO to a sexual predator or a violent felon.

Austin Ranch started a "Corporate Leasing" program with several individuals sharing the same apartment on an intermittent basis with the apartment leased to a corporate entity.

These individuals come and go and no one knows who they are. Their rental cars take up several spaces at a time and sometimes take our parking space that we paid for.

Since we have kids, we do not feel its safe to have unverified and unaccountable inhabitants living near us. Its a potential problem.

When we inquired about these people, we were ignored by the leasing agents.

The next day we got a letter from the staff about "violations" we had committed that were done by someone else that lives above us. No one else in our structure got a notice AND when I ran into the same staff member as noted above she asked me about the "violations" that were not ours.

Furthermore, no one else in other apartments we know got the same notice despite the fact that they do the same thing.

Armed with this information, I questioned the same staff member about these facts, they LIED and said that they had "done an audit" and the "notices had been sent out to everyone."

If you have kids, you need to ASK about transient leasees from out of state who are unknown and unaccountable and who have no background check at all.

They could be anyone from a reputable CEO to a sexual predator or a violent felon.

If something occurs, you should let the Colony Police know about the transients who use Austin Ranch as a Motel 6.

One more thing. We examined our lease and even if you die or are called up to active duty, you still owe them the rent for the last 60 days. There is NO OTHER WAY TO GET OUT OF THE LEASE early.

Manager's Response
From: Manager	Date: 07/09/2008
We are very concerned with this posting and would to shed some light on it. Austin Ranch has offered corp housing since 2001. Every occupant is screened for criminal background and it not allow to stay here on site is they do not meet our criteria. The corp. housing company, which we only use a select few that are reputable, will lease the apt for a period of time and the occupants rotate. Every time there is an occupant change we do a background check and update the file. We can see how this would look to you if you were a neighbor to a corp. unit. Let us reassure you, we have a responsibility to our residents and are held by Fairhousing Laws to process everyone the same. There are no loop holes. If you have any concerns about a neighbor or apt on site please call the police and they will take it up with management. In the TAA lease contract that most every apt community in the state of Texas uses says that if you are called to duty you are release from your lease with no penalty and in case of death a family member will need to submit a 30 NTV and remove belongings from apt. You can relet your lease early by providing proper notice and paying 85% of 1 month's rent. Some properties require that you pay back any discounts you received and or the entire lease. Here is the number to TAA at 972-385-9091 if you have any questions about the contract. ~AR

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/26/2008
I am a former resident, and am glad that I got out of there. People really should be complaining to Lucy Billingsley (Trammell Crow's Daughter) who in fact owns the property. While this website is great, people in the community need to gather and take this directly to her. Otherwise, everyone just wastes their energy. Nothing will ever get taken care of.
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/26/2008
Most companies perform background checks and drug tests before they are hired. It is unlikely that "sexual predators" are employed by top Dallas companies. Also, parking space is paid for by the company, it's not as if they are getting a free lunch, money is spent the same regardless... These complaints are unwarrant.
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/26/2008
I don't work at AR, so don't get my reason for saying this wrong. With all the bad reviews here, there is one jusitification for them. All apartments offer corporate leases to corporations in which the residents of the apartment do not undergo any form of background check. They are temporary. The system is flawed, but AR is one of millions out there that do this. Also, the clause of the lease contract is standard TAA lease. You can't get out of it, unless you are active duty....in fact not even upon death (yikes...I know, it's crazy!). Okay - so the place my be party central, but these things are just standard apartment procedure. Anything else, AR staff - you're on your own, but I thought I would point out these things.
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/26/2008
WHITE TRASH NEWS FLASH! If we wanted to live at a Motel 6 where people from out of state could come and go - we'd have done so. Who said it was a "top Dallas firm?" I think AR has some sock puppets on here!!! Its pretty clear that normal residents with solid community roots are second-class citizens at Austin Ranch as compared to people employed by "TOP DALLAS FIRMS".
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/02/2008
It's a TAA lease that I think all apartments in Texas use. So, don't get mad at Austin Ranch it's a lease like anywhere else. Corporate Apartments are everywhere and they do background checks on everyone before they move them in also. I worked for an apartment community part time in college. Austin Ranch is doing nothing different then all the other ones out there.

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