Lake Carlton Arms

Kaybee51

Resident • 2010 - 2011

Great Place to Live

I have lived on the big lake at LCA for a year now (lived here from 93-98 also) and absolutely love it here! I have great neighbors, a beautiful view and it is really peaceful on the lake. The management is very responsive, I feel very secure as a single woman here; I can take my dog out for a walk at all hours and feel safe. It is a huge complex, so of course not all residents live like "Leave it to Beaver" households. The units are also the largest for the money; I have the largest one bedroom and my electric runs from $50-65 and I keep it cool at night. The grounds are really beautiful and well kept. I plan on staying for a long time and have recommended it to friends, one of whom moved in and loves it too.

Current Resident 871278

Resident • 2011

Great place if you want to live in a commune

Management of this property dictates every aspect of your life, they barge into your apartment whenever they feel like it, and constantly inspect your patio. They "look out" for speeders and threaten to write you up if you speed (speed limit is 15mph.. so if you live in the back should take you about 5mins to get home...) Ill be moving out in a few months, would not recommend living here..

shorty0500

Resident • 2009 - 2012

This place is great. Its safe, well-maintained, low rent and plenty of amenities. My neighbors are responsible and we get along great. The walls here must be thick because I don't hear ANYONE EVER. Parking is good too. I park in the same space every day. People are always walking their pets and maintaining their patios. Maintenance responds immediately. I even had a mishap where I left my flat iron on in the bathroom and I called the front office and they went and turned it off for me so I didn't have to be late for work. That was cool. And they throw a holiday party every year with food, drinks, beer and wine. Been here 3 years and I love it.

Current Resident 225259

Resident • 2008 - 2010

Overrated - Definitely Read This

We jumped at the chance to move into LCA when we took a tour and noticed the landscaping, good sized apartments, and lakes (we both like to fish). For the first few months it was fantastic, and nothing but peace and quiet. But, with the plunging economy, and the complex apparently hurting to rent out their units, they started running specials and reducing rates. With the reduction in rates comes the low lifes. Loud and obnoxious people everywhere. Hoodlums driving through the neighborhood with the radios rattling your windows and doors every night. Neighbors playing loud spanish music with bass penetrating through my wall almost every night. Same said neighbors have, at any given time, 8 or 9 people living in a 2 bedroom place. Me and the people in my building have filed numerous noise complaints as well as other complaints such as them leaving their garbage on their balcony for the birds and stray cats to dig into and spread trash everywhere. Nothing is ever done and they continue to be loud and slobs, yet as soon as the front office found out we adopted a dog they threatened to boot us out and we would still be liable for the rent. It makes no sense to me that loud, slob neighbors that have numerous complaints against them go unscathed, but the quiet conservative tenants that pay their rent on time every month adopt a dog, and are threatened. Oh, pretty sure the above neighbors are selling drugs out of their place as well. I have counted up to 5 or 6 cars in one night that pull up, and are joined by one of my neighbors in their car for a brief stay, and then part ways. Me and my fiance no longer feel safe in this apartment complex. She can't even walk our dog by herself anymore. When I walk the dog by myself at night, I feel the need to carry concealed (I am a legal permit holder). The fact that they charge 20 dollars per month per pet is insane. That brings us up to almost 800 dollars a month for a 1 bedroom apartment, albeit a spacious 1 bedroom. When trying to save money for a down payment on a home, this is not the place to be. Another thing that boggles my mind is the 125 dollar electric bill for a 1 bedroom apartment. We keep our thermostat at 78 degrees when home (82 when at work), and our water heater is at its lowest possible setting. 125 dollars for a 1 bedroom apartment? The reason for this, in case you are wondering, is the 30 year old A/C units they have pumping lukewarm air through these apartments. You complain, the maintenance guy comes and pumps some freon into the system to make you think it's fixed, until the next electric bill comes and there is no change. The pools in this place are beautifully kept. We used to go to the pool on our weekends, until we figured out that they are the best place to throw low budget birthday parties for your kids! Almost every weekend you can find a family of 30 in the pool area. If it isn't a party, it's people who don't even live here that give a fake address, drive up to the pool clubhouse, and hop on in. Positives: beautiful landscape, quick and friendly maintenance crew, spacious apartments Negatives: older folks leaving while young and obnoxious thugs are moving in, loud, security team is just for show, too high of rent, pet rent (FOR WHAT? Where's all that money go? No pet park or anything in this place), A/C is old and outdated, Appliances are old and outdated (noticing the trend? Don't forget this place was constructed in the 70's - it shows), way too many speeds bumps if you live in the back of the complex, ants (and we pride ourselves on being somewhat neat freaks), raising of rent every year for no reason. Oh, and Joni Schond in the front office is anything but friendly. I'm not sure how a person can be so condescending towards others and treat them as inferiors, and still sleep at night. This place seems appealing at first, but in all actuality it's all superficial and the beauty this place boasts is only skin deep. At first it seems great, but a few months in you will find yourself wondering why you are paying such a premium to deal with the same BS that you will at any other apartment complex in the bay area. We will not be renewing our lease for all of the above mentioned reasons.

Current Resident 905740

Resident • 2010

The Best of Everything!

I recently moved back after living here from '93 to '98 and it is even prettier now. The management are responsive, front office is friendly and professional and I love the lake view I have. Nowhere else can you chose to have such large patios. The mix of tenants is good, some kids, some older. I plan on living here for a long time. The size of the apartments are great too, and a variety of choices and prices.

klgonz60

Resident • 2010

Back again

We lived here from 1997-2004, and we have just moved back. I have shopped a lot of apartment complexes and in my mind you can't beat what you get for the money here. The apartments are big, the rent is low, the grounds are maintained, and the office staff/maintenance staff responds promptly. The fact that it has been the same management company plus a lot of the same office staff from our previous time here to me is impressive and says a lot. And as far as people sneaking through the Security gate, they are only human and at least they make an attempt. Most apartment complexes have free access from multiple entries. I hope to live here for a long time and would recommend to anyone.

Current Resident 911597

Resident • 2009 - 2010

Its okay

I currently live here an have been for two years but am looking to get out of my lease when it comes time to renew. Its way to expensive!!! An every year they raise the rent!! Office people are nice an helpful most of the time. The security is pretty good theirs one gaurd at the gate who just lets everyone in an dosnt even write down the address your going to an licence plate like your suppose to do for guests. Their are punk kids who like to break into cars an apts!!! Some kids tried to break into my car one night but i have an alarm so as soon as it went off they ran an I seen them from my window i called the security an they came out an did a report an i found out my car wasnt the only one that got broken into that night.Theirs four apts per building an its a toss up of what kind of neighbors you get Ive lived in two differnt apts since ive been here an my first one was an upstairs neighbors were nice an kept to themselves i did have some college kids living across the street that use to like to have parties an hangout outside a be loud at all hours they ended up getting kicked out though Ants were a big issue in the summer time for the upstairs they get into the attic from the trees that ehy like to keep big an long branches My entire apt was infested with ants everywhere!!! it was a nighmare an the office did absolutly nothing!!!!! i even spoke to the manager an all i got was im so sorry eventully the ants wents away after some home remodies i had to do myself. I currently live in a downstairs an its much cleaner bigger psace my neighboprs are horribly smoking weed in their apts that you can smell in the hallway an theirs snakes on my patio an animals at night that like to dig in the trash an spill it everywhere an ive been calling for weeks an nones done anything about it.Becarful for speeders I got hit from behind pulling out of my parking space none looks when their driving an they speed down the roads like crazy.

bcb87

Resident • 2009 - 2010

I love my apartment!

I love living here. Our neighbors are great and everyone is very friendly. I have noticed other people writing reviews about how they get notices about car break-ins, etc but that is in the neighborhood not just our apartments, they do that to help keep us safe. The security is good, they are always driving around keeping an eye out. but sometime I do notice they just wave people through without writing their tag numbers. We have had no problems with safety and my husband and I both have civics which wouldn't suprise me if they were broken into because it happened at our old house numerous times and we were in a good neighborhood. The office staff isn't great but Damaris is awesome, she will do anything to make sure you are happy. The matenance staff is awesome too; the night we brought our son home from the hospital our air broke and we called them and they were here in less than an hour. I also had my patio repainted the next day after calling to request it. With the water, basic cable, and so much included it is very affordable. We looked at other apartments but nothing else compared to the price and quality we found here; And we walk the neighborhood every night with our son and we feel safe! We love having all the wildlife in our backyard but we aren't very fond of the bugs.

WALEWIS36

Resident • 2006 - 2010

Mahaffey properties

In 1986 we relocated to St. Petersburg from California and rented a townhouse on Coquina Key planning to look around the first year and find out what was best, after a couple of years of looking we found that we had lucked out and found the best from the getgo! Coquina Key property was sold a few years back and we moved to Lake Carlton Arms, yes,24 years with the same landlord!If that does not give you an idea of the value recieved and the quality of service inherent in the operation nothing will. Yes the property is run by humans not androids and people have an occaisional bad day this is to be expected (we've never experienced this, I'm just trying to cut the whinners some slack "it could happen").

Current Resident 842738

Resident • 2007 - 2010

NEWS FLASH!!!

WAS REPORTED THAT MAJORITY OF THE POSITIVE COMMENTS/REVIEWS OR OPPOSING ONE'S ON THIS WEBSITE ARE FACILITATED BY OFFICE STAFF! SO THINGS AREN'T AS BRIGHT AS THEY ARE WRITTEN! OVER 200 APARTMENTS ARE EMPTY TO DATE AND SECURITY ARE CONCERNED THAT BAD MANAGEMENT WILL END THEIR JOBS. SECTION EIGHT PARTICIPANTS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT SUBSUDIES ARE NOW CONSIDERED AND HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO RENT AT LCA. LARGE DOGS STILL ROOM THE AREA. MAINTENANCE CANNOT GET THIER ACT TOGETHER AND SEND SECOND RATE FIXER-UPPERS WHO DON'T GET THE JOB DONE! SO OFFICE STAFF CONTRADICT THESE STATEMENTS AS YOU HAVE DONE OTHERS WITH POSITIVE COMMENTS!!! TRYING TO KEEP REGULAR TENANTS BY NOT HIGHING THE MONTHLY RATE BUT DOESN'T OFFER ANY BETTER INCENTIVES! LIFTING PET DEPOSITS AND ALLOWING FOR PET VIOLATORS DOESN'T QUITE DO IT EITHER! BEWARE!

Current Resident 847140

Resident • 2009 - 2010

I moved down here in July and have not had any problems that they weren't willing to help me with. The staff have always been friendly and maintenance generally comes within 24 hours. There are multiple clubhouses on the property, equipped with pool, laundry room, and fitness center.. and they all have WiFi. I believe all apartments have a lake view too, really pretty in the morning and at night. It is, however, a quiet area ... and a bit remote... it takes a bit of driving to find something to do. I love it here and I would continue to live here if I wasn't relocating for job purposes.

wrk2hrd

Resident • 2001 - 2005

The best apartment complex to date

If you are writing a bad review, then you didn't contact management about your problem. I lived within LCA two seperate times. 1st time was for 1 year and some small change. The second stay was for 3 years. During that second stay I had 4 neighbors evicted. They DO NOT mess around! Why? Don't violate terms of the lease and you will be fine, otherwise you will get evicted and replaced. That's the problem with most properties. They won't evict due to the potential loss of monthly revenue. Not with LCA. They have a waiting list. You can and will be replaced if you are loud, have a big dog, don't have up to date tags on your car(s)...you name it and for that, I LOVE THEM. Highly recommend. Charlotte still running the show there?

KBROOKS151

Resident • 2009 - 2010

DO NOT RENT HERE IF YOU HAVE TEENAGERS !!!!!!!!

DO NOT RENT IN LAKE CARLTON ARMS ON VAN ---- IF YOU HAVE TEENAGE CHILDREN. THE SECURITY OFFICERS THERE DO NOT LIKE KIDS AND ARE CONSTANTLY ALL OVER THEM. THEY TELL THEM TO NOT RIDE THEIR BIKES ON THE STREET (BUT THE GROWN-UPS CAN)TO RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK. THEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIVING THERE CUSSING AT THEM TELLING THEM TO GET OFF THE SIDEWALK, THEN THE CALL THE SECURITY GUARDS BECAUSE THE KIDS DON'T GET OFF AND THEY IMMEDIATLY PULL UP AND START SWEARING AND ONE PARTICULAR GUARD, CHUCK WHO REFERS TO HIMSELF AS N1N (NUMBER ONE -----) WHO IS WHITE GOES ALL OUT! I HAD TO EVEN CALL THE POLICE ON THE SECURITY GUARDS AND THE FRONT OFFICE WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AS MANY TIMES AS YOU CALL AND REPORT IT, ALL THEY DO IS SEND YOU NASTY LETTERS TELLING YOU THAT YOUR KIDS NEED TO STOP WHATEVER OR YOU WILL BE KICKED OUT!!!!!! DEFINATELY DO NOT RENT HERE IF YOU HAVE TEENAGERS WHO RIDE BIKES, SKATEBOARD OR DO ANY KIND OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE 6 MONTHS AND AM READY TO GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Current Resident 808756

Resident • 2006 - 2008

Wonderful Apartment Experience

We moved into LCA in the summer of 2006 and had a fantastic experience living here. We only moved because we were able to move into a house. The security, maintainance, and pest people were wonderful. Any maintainance issues were resolved very quickly and completely. Absolutely recommend, and have recommended to many friends who are also happy tenants.

Current Resident 917752

Resident • 2007 - 2009

Great place

The apartment is very nice and quiet. The grounds are beautiful and maintenance are on top of things. A friend was living in a nearby apartment complex paying the same and the apartment was smaller and no where as nice. I would recommend Lake Carlton Arms to everyone.

Current Resident 199294

Resident • 2003 - 2009

Love this place.

This place is a wonderful community. I have had a few apartments here. Ive lived here several years and plan on living here a few more. Never had an issue. The office staff is wonderful always very pleasant. The security is always driving around. Maintenance is on top of things once I call the office to let them know of a problem. The property is well kept. The lakes always have great fish when Im on my boat fishing. Never have had a problem with my neighbors and Ive had a few. Whenever there is a problem the office always sends a letter to let us know. I am very grateful for that. The only thing I would recommend to management is this place does need more lighting at night. It gets too dark. Parking, Ive noticed is limited in a few areas. Other than that, love it here.

lutzarea

Resident • 2009

Someone broke into my vehicle and no concern was provided , can't hardly wait to get the hell out of here, this place sucks..Employess have the tendency to steal from you when visting your apartment...I have to lock all my belonging in a safe do to being thives...

Current Resident 238385

Resident • 2007 - 2009

NOPE!

Security is terrible. They stand around letting anyone and everyone in. My apartment was burglarized with $3,000 stolen from every room in the apartment. The burglar drove right past security on their way in (with no LCA sticker) and drove right past them on their way out, car full of my stolen property. I have taken pictures of the un-manned entrance on several occassions. What a joke. Office staff is rude. Rent increases every year. Ants in our apartment. Tried charging me $800 for new carpet due to "pet urine damage" when I have no pets. I could go on and on. The place is unsafe and not secure whatsoever .

PascoPete

Resident • 2007 - 2008

This place is great -don't listen to the whiners.

This is a real community. I lived at Lake Carlton Apartments for 3 or 4 months while looking for a house to buy and I loved it. Safe, quiet, scenic and well maintained. I think this is the nicest apartment complex I've ever lived in. All the staff (office, maintenance, or security) are friendly. It's a gated community. All the old oaks and lakes are beautiful. I don't know how they do it for the price. The rent is very reasonable. I'm guessing it's low because they're so far north, on the edge of town. The parking is a little tight. By 8 or 9 at night, all the slots are usually taken so you might have to park a little further away than you'd like but other than that I was completely satisfied.

cowboybear1

Resident • 2006 - 2009

Pearly Gates

We moved here over 2 years ago and it has been one of the best times of our lives. My wife and I are both Disabled and LCA has made the small modifacation need for my wife's scooter so she can get around the complex. The office staff is great any time we go in to pay rent or ask for maintenance. Every time i come home i feel like i am going thru the pearly gates. for the biggest part i feel very safe and secure here. the ground are well keep and the place is lighted at nite. the Christmas decoration and the party are very good and i always have a good time. i always feel like a valud tentant here and the 2 rent increases have not been very high at all. the staff here tries very hard to make this place a good place to live.

happieecat

Resident • 2008

We LOVE it hereQ

My husband and I moved from Tucson, AZ to Lake Carlton Arms apartments in early September of 08. I know it is still very soon, but because we have had to call a few times already to have a few small things here and there to be looked at, we can definitely say, it's been a wonderful experience thus far. Maintenance and staff, are always very friendly and helpful. The time it takes maintenance to attend to a call is normally no later then 24 hours and has often been within a hour or two within placing a work order. I think that qualifies as excellent customer service. The lakes and grounds are very well kept. It is a quiet and gorgeous place to live. When we arrived, we were happy to move-in to a very nice clean apartment with fresh paint, new carpet. Also worth mentioning, is the two bedroom that we are renting has a excellent amount of storage. Besides two nice size bedroom closets, we have a pantry, storage room in our hallway, and a closet when you first walk in. Have I mentioned the views? Our living room and dinning room face a beautiful lake that is so close! We just have to walk down the front stairs and within probably 10-15 feet we are at the water! It's heaven! Both my husband and I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice apartment with great views and nice amenities, excellent staff and maintenance for a fair price.

satisfiedrenter4804

Resident • 2008

lca

ive only lived here for a year and i think its a great place. everytime i have a problem maintance is here to fix it. the office personal are good people. i think if some of you people should take a little pride in where you live and clean up your patios. also i see people letting them there dogs ---- all over the place and dont bother to clean it up.but one thing i do wanna know is WHERE ARE ALL THE FREAKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bunkie1060

Resident • 2008

Great place to live

I agree with "Made my choice" 9/6/08.....I too looked all over N. Tampa/Carrollwood area. She is absolutely correct about how much better LCA looks and feels. I have been here for two yrs and just signed my lease for another. I read other reviews complaining about the office and maintenance staff. I have never had a problem with them. The office staff has always been very friendly and kind. Even when I called for stupid questions like "where is the lint filter on the dryer?" I only had to call maintenance a few times....my garbage disposal stopped working and the door handle on my slider broke....both just old, not defective. I called them in the morning and it was fixed by the time I got home from work. Once I called them because there was an ant hill out by my fence, getting bigger and bigger. They came right away and not only got rid of it, whatever they put down or sprayed there sure worked because that was almost a yr ago, and the ant hill has not returned. As for the security.....I have called them once because there was some guy yelling at a woman across the street and he sounded pretty scary at 2:00AM. They sent a car over immediately and sent the guy on his merry way. I have no doubt they would have called the police if warranted. I think the place is great and kept up very well. I definately recommend it!

Current Resident 738160

Resident • 2007 - 2008

not the safest place

I agree that this place has beautiful scenery and maintenance request are usually answered in a timely manner. the place seems quiet and there is security at the front so at first i thought that it would be pretty safe here. However, I constantly receive letters informing the residents about incidents ranging from residents being laywaited to people waking up at 4 in the morning and finding intruders in their bedrooms (not exaggerating). i live by myself in the back and the lighting in the complex is not that great. no matter where you go there will always be risks but this complex is too big (153 buildings)and have too many trees. it's very easy for someone to hide and be malicious here. If you do choose to live here I recommend something in the front of the complex for safety and convenience.

Prospective Resident 803105

Prospect • Visited 2008

Completey Rude Staff!!

I can't even begin to tell you how rude the staff is at this property. I simply called this morning to ask them a question about the property and was quickly cut-off, answered very unprofessionally. Some people need to learn to get off there high horse.. The customer is most important. This property has definately forgotten that!