Retreat at Mountain Brook

I haven't had issues until now. Honestly, I enjoy living here for the most part. But I felt this particular experience needed to be shared:

About a month ago, the power went out in my room and closet (all outlets and the overhead light). I promptly filed a service request, and someone came to fix the problem. He told me that if it happens again, to unplug everything on the back wall of my roommate's room.

I work from home. My office is in my room. My power in my room is critical for me to do… my job.

Not only did we go hours upon hours without power last week due to a tree falling, but as soon as I turned on my computer to work on Friday morning, my entire room's power shut off yet again. I quickly filed another service request and marked it as urgent.

When I didn't hear anything by noon, I called the office. I was told someone would be by that day. No one came. I called the office again at 5 (office closes at 6 on Fridays) and no one answered. I left a voicemail, once again asking for some semblance of a sense of urgency so I don't have to spend my weekend using a flashlight in my room.

I received a call back within an hour, saying someone would come to my apartment the next morning to resolve the issue. I asked if I needed to be here, and he said I did not.

I spent the night at my fiance's house and returned at around noon to find that no one had been there. I visited the office. I was told again that someone would be coming soon. I returned around 4 pm, and the issue was still unresolved. I was told the worker that had my key wasn't here, so I kindly offered to leave my door unlocked, and I was assured that someone would be coming right away.

Still, no one came.

My power randomly cut back on Sunday morning while I was sleeping.

Maintenance didn't come until Monday morning, so my room went the whole weekend without power before they bothered to fix it. If it hadn't miraculously cut back on, it would've been three whole days.

I emailed the office and asked to speak with a manager. I wanted to discuss this and make sure nothing like it would happen again. I was told I would receive a phone call. I never did.

I get it. Being a landlord is hard. I 100% sympathize with property owners and the millions of concerns they have to juggle. But a phone call would've been nice. Read More

I love this apartment complex. The buildings are older, but you'd never guess that based on first glance. After some time living here, you can tell a little bit more (e.g. loud AC unit), but management has done a great job with upkeep and renovations. Maintenance is fast and responsive, usually out within 2 days of a request. I do have a small bug problem, which is to be expected with the age of the building and the proximity to the woods (a must-have for me), and it's nothing outrageous that a… can of bug spray hasn't fixed. They do have regular pest control and I assume that helps. The extra fees on top of rent include valet trash (a major amenity for someone who used to walk half a mile to a dumpster) and water (which is much more expensive for homeowners) and is based on which style apartment you get. Dylan in the office is always very friendly and helpful when I've called, even about frivolous things. This complex seems more expensive, compared to smaller, older apartments with no appliances and amenities, but you get what you pay for. The security gates (as of now) do not work, but unlike many places in the same situation, there is a guard on duty 24/7 to stop cars without a sticker to get their information (although some guards are more vigilant than others). The saltwater pools and other amenities are wonderful and well-maintained, although the gym gets pretty crowded if you're an after work gym-goer. This is a relatively quiet community, and parking here is a dream for a big city like Birmingham. The final thing that I will mention is the drive into the city. There is no need to get on the interstate or highway 280 (a traffic nightmare 90% of the time) and rush hour adds maybe 5 minutes to my commute (to UAB). I will say, not too far away is an area with relatively high crime, but you could say that about any apartment complex in Birmingham, and this property is technically in Irondale, not Mountain Brook. That being said, I have not once felt unsafe here, and I am an incredibly skittish person. I can not recommend this place enough, based on the modern style apartment, the big patios, the location, and the complex as a whole. Read More

Absolutely scandalous to put things briefly. The way this apartment lied to my parents after the hell they put us through (UNANSWERED emergency security calls, flea infestation and improper cleaning when we first moved in, lies about the cost of breaking lease, and now a 600 dollar cleaning fee to replace carpet that was "too soiled" in the home of a nurse and retired veteran) is just too much to comprehend. I'm going in Saturday to pay the fees they assessed because my mom is afraid to fight… back too hard because financial legal matters could adversely affect her NP license, but I want to say in a public forum how horrible and outrageous this experience has been. They rented for TWO years, dealt with countless move ins and move outs of neighbors, 2 and 3 am parties and loud sex sessions from discourteous upstairs neighbors, some sort of beeping fire alarm in the hallway that would often sound for days (on the outside wall of their living room), the promise of a gated community that was an absolute lie as the gate didn't work for the duration of their stay accepting 1 two week period in which everyone had to purchase new keys for a gate that then didn't work, and then, when they decide to leave after speaking NUMEROUS times with the office about cost associated with moving out, they get slapped with an additional 2200 dollars for cleaning and a month charge for breaking lease. This breaking lease charge was assigned after they gave 60 days notice because the office said that 60 days notice would be sufficient to not incur further cost. This was agreed upon despite the apartment no longer being suitable for my stepdad who dialyzes three times weekly and can barely walk, much less walk that parking lot (there was rarely parking available near as seemingly everyone was hosting parties).

I'm so saddened and angry to see my parents taken in this way. Read More

I'd give zero stars if I could. The rent is well above anything in the area. The staff is rude. The apartments are old, the walls are paper thin. You are forced into paying an additional $100 a month over the already high rent for 'sanitation and water' which is included almost anywhere else. STAY AWAY!