The Colony at Deerwood Apartments

Nov 12th, 2021

We rented here for almost six years. During that time, there was significant turnover with maintenance and in the office. The only holdover through everything was Janetta, who is very nice when she wants something, but is very rude and condescending when residents address issues with her or the complex has an issue with a resident. Another past issue was at one point the online portal used to pay rent was not working. After calling the company owning the portal and not getting anyone (after a 30 minute hold and the call disconnecting) I went to the office to inquire as to whether I would be able to pay the next day and have the late fee waived. The manager could not have been less helpful, asking why I had not paid rent earlier instead of apologizing and solutioning. She was dismissive regarding the portal, saying that they don't have any control over that and transferring my money to the complex was my problem. I ended up having to purchase multiple money orders at Publix, when there could have been a more efficient solution. The office people have zero empathy for residents, no matter who is hired. Clearly there is a culture issue, with the high turnover and horrible attitudes. Another issue is that on Christmas Eve of 2015, the office people decided to lock delivered packages in the office and leave early for the day without any communication to residents about packages. However, when they want something from residents, they have no problem exhausting every means of communication. They justify their behavior by stating that they are not responsible for... basically anything, really. In another instance, there was a flyer on the mailboxes offering incentives for submitting positive reviews to Google. While living there, other residents said they were persecuted by the office staff for leaving negative reviews (I believe some other reviews might state that as well). The situation the review response is alluding to is that two packages were delivered to my previous unit there (we bought a house in October of last year), about a week apart. When I learned the first one was delivered there, I had driven 40 minutes to the complex, knocked on the door and when there was no answer, taped a note to the door advising my package had been delivered there and to please call me so I could pick it up. The resident texted me at 1am to let me know the package would be left outside the next day, which I picked up. Another package from a different sender was sent there in error as well and delivered yesterday, even though I do have mail forwarding through USPS. I received an email and a call from Janetta, who proceeded to tell me that receiving others' packages was not the resident's or office's responsibility, and that she effectively endorses people keeping mail and packages delivered in error. She chastised me over the phone, stating that I need to update my address and if there is an issue where I don't receive a package, to contact the carrier. She also instructed me to not go to my former unit if something is delivered in error, since they don't want to be responsible for it. Strange, since when there we received mail and packages intended for other units, and simply went to those units to give them to the correct recipient. When that happens where we currently live, residents do the same thing. I don't understand what the issue is with that resident, and I do not enjoy driving almost an hour and a half round trip to retrieve parcels that should have been delivered to my home address. When I went to pick that package up yesterday, I called the office when I was around the corner to request that they leave the package outside, and I informed them that I was around the corner. They refused, stating that they did not want to risk someone taking it. The reality is that they wanted to again chastise me for supposedly not updating my address, which is what the person who handed me the package did. There are plenty more issues regarding the units and maintenance. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.
Nov 9th, 2021

I’m really afraid of contacting the Lessing office, stole my 500$ deposit, claiming damages like you guys just need to be a little bit more nicer I’m not going to call. Just please smile and return my 500 deposit like sorry for the 2 tv holes in the wall :( ,there is no way that’s the way to communicate the people can see clearly the reviews , called you few times but I’m really sorry you guys rude and calming that I’m harassing you guys. Over 500$ !
Oct 17th, 2021

Oct 15th, 2021

The people in the front office are EXTREMELY RUDE and unhelpful. Don’t move here unless you want constant battles with maintenance and the women in the front.
Oct 10th, 2021