I have never seen a rent increase like this. An annual increase of 27%. This is a bad joke. We're not staying here another year most definitely. Good luck to all of you who have to live in skyline towers.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/19/2008
Anyone thinking of leasing at Skyline Towers should be aware of the following: 1) Gangs and low income Sec. 8 people taken over Skyline Towers. Gangs signs all over the place. Gangs loitering around building and halls intimidating people. High occurrence of apartment thefts and auto thefts. Be very careful, as several writers said, "the bookkeeper said the building is for sale so they are accepting anyone to make the building look more attractive for the sale". 2) Security: Security is a huge problem at Skyline Towers. There is security personnel. However, they do not respond. They're usually sleeping in the back of the front desk, or talking on the phone to their girlfriends. The presence of two security personnel at the front desk is just a "front". Every door to the outside is open and anyone can walk in. The vehicle garage doors are wide open (in fact, vehicles from the outside drive through the garage from Leesburg Pike to get to Seminary Road), the garage doors to the stairways are wide open. In fact, the locks don't even work. All the basement doors to the outside are wide open. In fact, doors are off their hinges, or tied open so that the kids can skateboard in and out of the buildings. Anyone has access to the garage and apartment buildings. There is even a sign on one of the doors saying that it is "open 24 hours". Cars have been keyed, towed, and broken into (one tenant had all the tires stolen from his vehicle and the vehicle was left on blocks) and management does nothing. In at least one case, the person who broke into the car and stole the radio lived in Skyline Towers. Be aware that your insurance premium(s) will increase if you live at Skyline Towers. So, talk to your agent first. 3) Fitness Center: There is a fitness center, but be aware of the fact that it also functions as: a) TV room for mothers in burkas with a handful of toddlers in strollers, and nonresidents who want to use the TVs; b)Daycare Center for parents who drop their kids off in the Fitness Center then go out for the evening; c) Community Center for young kids/teenagers; d) Playground for kids kicking balls, flipping the lights on and off, playing with the equipment; bouncing balls off the mirrors, etc., etc. 4) Laundry Facilities: There are washer/dryers in each unit. However, that doesn't mean they work. Make sure your laundry smart card has money because you will be using the community laundromats a lot - that is when they're working. And now, even the community laundromats are "closed for renovations". 5) Emergencies: Be prepared to have management, inhouse maintenance people, OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS come into your apartment on a regular basis (at least 10 times/month. The excuse is always labeled "emergency" The "emergency" could end up costing you a lot of money (not to mention inconvenience and the mess they leave behind). Tenants' property have been broken (e.g., glass diningroom tables, lamps), stolen (including stolen IDs that cost the victim/tenant $15,000 (yes, that's thousand). 6) NO WATER, NO HOT WATER, NO HEAT, NO AIR, NO ELECTRICITY. Management posts these notices in elevators on a regular basis. They label these as "emergencies" also. We have "emergencies" everyday. Be prepared to have no air conditioning in the summers even when the temperature is above 90?? and no heat in the winters even when the temperature is below 30??. You have no control over the temperature. If you like hot showers, don't expect to enjoy hot showers at Skyline Tower. The water is usually lukewarm - never hot. In fact, you're lucky if it's lukewarm. Most times, it's cold. So, be prepared to have a lot of cold showers at Skyline because you're lathered up with shampoo and soap and have no other choice. One writer accurately describes the problem: "Candorville: 3/23/08- POWER DOWN. Anyone who wants the truth about Skyline Towers should go to: http://candorville.com/2008/03/23/ AND CLICK ON THE PICTURE". 7) Fire Alarms: Be prepared for frequent fire drills. And, I emphasize "frequent". In fact, it's so frequent that only a handful of people bother to go downstairs any more. But, they keep setting off the alarms - especially in the early a.m. (e.g., 4 a.m.) during a work week. In fact, most days, management will set off the alarm every other hour because tenants are ignoring it. 8) Elevators: There are four elevators in each building. However, be prepared to give yourself at least ten minutes to get downstairs to get to work on time. Of the four elevators in each building, usually only two work. So, suck in as you squeeze yourself into the crowded elevator and watch where you stand because you might be standing in pet poop. 9) Pets: There is a no pet policy. However, that doesn't mean anything. As I said before, watch where you step. Also, there has been reports of "flea" problems, as well as serious mice problems. (Management's response to mice problems was telling the poor tenants to not have any food in their apartments. Nothing was done by management to solve the problem which is still unsolved.) 10) Cleanliness: Serious rodent problems; RATS, MICE, BUGS, etc. So bad, that Fairfax Health Dept. is involved. Be prepared to see cartons of melted ice cream and other food, broken furniture, grocery carts, etc. in the halls, solicitation flyers, etc. under your doors, overflowing garbage chutes in the halls, holes in the walls, etc., etc. Also, if spots appear on your carpet, it's mold. (And management will try to blame you for the problem.) No, you're not in a "project" or a 3rd world country. Remember, management calls this a "luxury" property. 11) Maintenance: Don't hold your breath waiting on them. They usually don't show up. Nothing works. Towel racks fall off when you try to use it. Kitchen appliances do not work, etc., etc. It looks good, but nothing works. 12) Utilities: Be aware that you will be subsidizing all the families with generations (includes 5-plus kids) living in a small apartment. Utilities are allocated by floor space. So, you could be away for a month but, if your neighbors (with all the generations and 5-plus kids) are using all the utilities, your utility bill could increase even though you haven't been home for 24 days out of the month. 13) Unruly kids: Watch out, kids could run/skateboard into you in the halls. Duck, you could be soaked with their water pistols, bouncing balls, etc. If you hear noises, it's just the kids bouncing balls against the walls in the halls or playing soccer in the halls, screaming, etc., etc. Management does nothing. These are the 5-plus kids in the crowded small apartments that you're supporting by paying their utilities. 14) Construction is never ending: Be prepared for construction noises as late as 11 p.m. on work nights. Management's financial problems are so severe that they're hiring outside contractors during off-hours. Projects stop and go as the rents come in. You'll note that there are different styles of windows in the buildings. Work was stopped because of money problems. As one writer said, "it is not unusual for you to find these people sleeping on debris in the halls". Before you sign, make sure you talk to people who live at Skyline. Management at Skyline will do and say anything to get you to sign. Once you've signed the lease, it's "Sorry. What the leasing agent told you is wrong." But, you're stuck in the lease. Make sure you get everything in writing, the staff turns over frequently. However, the apartment size is okay. So, you might be willing to put up with all of the above. Also, management is so desperate for tenants (after receiving numerous "notices to vacate" (50-plus) from the tenants who can afford to live elsewhere and the numerous tenants who broke their leases after one month) you might be able to get a deal - if you're willing to put up with all of the above and more. (Management is having such serious money problems that they have started making deals with foreign embassies and are now accepting low-income SEC. 8 tenants. Yes, you're subsidizing THEIR utilities.) But, be aware that whatever deal you make, you're making a deal with the -----. They will "sock it to you" after you've spent the money moving your things in. Be aware that your rent will increase in the double-digits (As management says (and I quote); "The going rate for rent increases in the area is 3-4% each year, but we see ourselves as having an UNLIMITED percent". They will also start charging you for things that used to be included in the rent amount; e.g., utilities, parking space, parking space for your guest(s). Management has found another avenue for revenue by renting to people in the Skyline Professional Buildings, so you will be competing with them for the parking spaces. So, the rent for the parking spaces will only increase. 90% of the people have been breaking their leases within one month of moving in. Watch your account very carefully. Their so-called bookkeeper has been charging tenants for the same thing and saying they are overdue when they're overpaid. Doesn't know what he is doing. Be careful when you give your Notice of Intent to Vacate", they will try to force you to pay 3x the utilities. "They will also try to charge additional fees on your departure". DO NOT PREPAY your final utility bill. They will keep your security deposit even when you have a clean final walk-thru. As one writer said: "have your attorney ready.
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/20/2008
Who, but a Terrorist sympathizing scum bag would want to move into this dump?
From: mariam0673	Date: 08/02/2008
that's odd...my rent was only going up 3% at renewal time...maybe there's more to your story to explain why the enoemous increase...or maybe you're lying...many people on here are full of it...like i said before, this place may not be luxury, but it's far from the ghetto...i feel what we have here are a handful of bitter people...maybe some were never even tenants...it's not like this site is able to verify who's posting...those of you that are so unhappy should consider moving to MD.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/05/2008
The person above me seems is not concentrate in the real problem, a community how is paying a lot of money and deserves the best!
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/09/2008
Our lease also just increased 20%. I believe the increase is partly due to discrimination (not racial; we are WASPs) on the part of EQ manangement. We expect a certain level of safety and service and call them on it when we don't receive it. We know one person (WASP) who has paid much less rent than other tenants for the same amount of space - somehow has it in with management; even pays less in utilities for same size space. Have you ever compared what you pay for the various utilities (excluding electricity) with other tenants who have the same size units? EQ management claims the amounts are suppose to be the same because they allege that utility charges (excluding electricity) are allocated the same to all units of the same space/size. I have found this NOT to be true. When we asked about it (showing them proof - our utility bill and other tenants' utility bills, they said "the charges are what they are" and nothing would change that.
From: skylinenorth	Date: 08/12/2008
20%?? Isn't that against the guidelines in VA? My rent was only going to go up 3% if I renewed for a year or 15% if I went month-to-month. I've never heard of 20% increases in rent...how can that be?

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