Onni South Lake Union

I am a current resident, and I am extremely disappointed with the overall experience at this complex. Given the cost of living here, the level of service and treatment from management has been unacceptable.

I was particularly frustrated to learn about the “balcony audits,” which restrict how residents may use their own balconies. While I understand the desire to maintain aesthetics, residents pay for this space and should have reasonable autonomy over how it is used, provided it does not pose... safety issues.

Additionally, if Onni is concerned about the appearance of balconies, I would hope they also acknowledge the impact of the construction site they are operating directly across the street. The ongoing noise, bright lights from cranes, and general disruption have significantly affected our quality of life. Several residents have even expressed interest in petitioning for rent reductions due to these conditions.

Another major concern is the use of shared amenities. Prior to signing the lease, we were told that we could bring guests to common areas such as lounges and pools. However, multiple times staff have asked my guests to leave even when the spaces were completely unused. We are always respectful: we clean up after ourselves, keep noise levels low, and ensure we leave the area in good condition. It is discouraging to be told these spaces are available to residents, only to be restricted from using them under reasonable circumstances.

The front desk service has also been inconsistent. Although the complex advertises 24/7 front desk availability, staff are frequently away from the desk for extended periods. I fully support staff taking breaks, but there have been multiple occasions when I waited or returned after an hour and still could not receive assistance. This has forced me to seek help from other buildings or the hotel lobby.

To be clear, there are several staff members who are wonderful, professional, helpful, and kind. Unfortunately, the larger pattern of issues raised by many residents suggests significant management and operational challenges.

At this point, I am actively looking to move out and deeply regret choosing this building. Please do yourself a favor and do not ever choose to live here. I have already told everyone I know to avoid this place at all costs. Lee mas

Warning: STAY AWAY
Warning: Avoid Onni South Lake Union Apartments
If you're considering living at Onni South Lake Union, I strongly advise you to think twice. My experience with this building was nothing short of a nightmare, and it cost me nearly $15,000 to break the lease after signing what seemed like a promising agreement. Here’s why:
False Promises, Rudeness, and Unprofessional Behavior
When we first toured the property, the staff and leasing team were friendly and professional, eager to... help us with anything we needed. However, after our first complaint about the conditions and our request to break the lease, their attitude changed drastically. They became rude, dismissive, and careless. What started as a seemingly professional relationship turned into complete disregard for our concerns. The moment we expressed dissatisfaction, the kindness vanished. They showed no empathy and refused to help, making the process of breaking the lease even more difficult.
Health Issues and Abandonment
Unfortunately, after breaking the lease, we had to leave Seattle for health reasons and never spent a single night in the apartment. We asked Onni to hold on to a couple of our furniture items while we sorted things out, but they discarded them without warning, claiming they only held onto them for 30 days. No one reached out to inform us about this policy. It felt like they wanted to make things as difficult as possible for us.
Unsafe and Disturbing Environment
What they don't tell you is that Onni South Lake Union isn't just a residential complex—it doubles as a hotel. This brings in a constant flow of transient guests who are not invested in the community, and it drastically changes the building’s atmosphere. The lobby and common areas are often crowded with groups of people who do not live there, which includes young women who appear to be using the space for gatherings that made us feel unsafe and uncomfortable. It felt more like a party venue than a place to call home. The combination of the hotel and constant strangers made the building feel less secure and far from the peaceful, upscale environment we expected.
Facilities and Maintenance Neglect
On top of that, the building’s facilities were a disaster. From the broken sauna to filthy pool areas and drainage problems, nothing was properly maintained. The building was not up to the standards that we were promised. The common areas reeked of marijuana, and there were safety hazards everywhere. Lee mas

I have been a resident at Onni for over a year now, and have loved my time here so much! I am moving into a new unit in the building and appreciated the streamlined abilities of the staff, especially Sarah Ahn, in advocating to have the perfect apartment unit held for my partner and I until we could move in. Sarah has been there to support us, offer resources, and answer questions along the way. I highly recommend Onni not only for the amazing resident services team, but also for the incredible... amenities and overall experience Onni provides while living in SLU! Lee mas

Onni is a great new building, but what makes it truly special is its guest services. Khadra, T, and Marlee make Onni a wonderful home to live in. Their kindness, reliability, and care elevate the experience in the building and bring joy to residents. This team makes all the difference in our experience! Whenever any issues or concerns come up, I can always count on them to understand and help. For example, Khadra was working on the night that we encountered a minor flood in our apartment, and... she managed to get us help repairing it even though it was late and we’d arrived home in the middle of the night. Her help fixing this allowed us to prevent further damage and more serious problems, and allowed us to get a good night’s sleep knowing this was resolved by someone who genuinely demonstrated care and concern. It brings us so much peace of mind knowing that we have this level of support! Lee mas

As a resident, I am extremely disappointed with the current state of the hallway in our building. The overwhelming smell of garbage is making it difficult to even walk through the hallway without feeling nauseous.

It is disappointing to see such a lack of concern for the basic hygiene and well-being of the residents. I am extremely dissatisfied with the living conditions in our building and cannot recommend it to anyone until this issue is addressed in a timely and effective manner.

I urge the... building management to take immediate action to remove the garbage and eliminate the odor, and also to put in place a more proactive system for garbage collection and disposal to prevent a similar situation from happening in the future. Lee mas