MAA Benton

Former Resident 57697

Resident • 2024 - 2025

Unethical & retaliatory management – avoid at all costs

This company thrives on deceptive practices. They back-billed me months of utilities without notice in violation of the lease, and their move-out statement was full of inflated and bogus charges. Mold was never properly remediated just painted over, putting residents health at risk. When I spoke up, management retaliated with harassment and threats. The gates don’t work, crime is constant, and corporate refuses to take responsibility. This property is unsafe, mismanaged, and exploitative. Tenants deserve better than a company that silences complaints instead of fixing dangerous problems.

Current Resident 1358880

Verified Resident • 2023 - 2025

MAA Benton is very okay. Not bad but not great or even that good. The leasing agents are nice and maintenance always gets done very quickly, but my rent has been raised every year while corners are being cut everywhere. Also I have not identified any major issues (always quick fixes). The gate never works. As of the time of this survey I've lived here for 30 months, and the gate has properly worked for 3 of them. When the gate does work, it does not close and multiple cars can come in behind you, and intruders can get in. I've almost been rear ended coming in because I stopped to look both ways, as anyone should, and the person behind me was sneaking in. I'm paying a premium for a "gated" apartment complex but the gate has worked 10% of the time I lived here, and it is not even effective. My 2nd issue is dog ----. It's everywhere. I am a dog owner, who is responsible and picks up my dog's ----, but 75% of the dog owners here are not. MAA Benton needs to actually fine people who don't pick up dog poop. I'd be glad to have mandatory DNA testing for my dog. The fines that MAA Benton charges if someone is "caught" is $25 dollars. That is not enough to deter lazy people. They'll just pay the $25, but again, no one is ever "caught". People need to get caught and the fee needs to be steep (multi hundreds). It also needs to be a lease violation and grounds for non-renewal. There is a huge feral cat community living in MAA Benton. There needs to be a huge TNR effort. I see kittens constantly, the feral cats have gone from 20 to at least 100. There are very vicious and MAA Benton has more than enough money to get the FREE spay and neuter surgeries and have a feeding plan as the colony dies off. I honestly might be calling chatham county animal control soon to make them aware of the issue. The parking spots nearest to the buildings need to be painted as "RESIDENT ONLY" and MAA needs to hand out parking passes. Hell the overflow spots can even be labeled with "GUEST ALLOWED". MAA Benton needs to have someone booting or towing all cars that are parked improperly every day and every night. Obviously this would be different for handicap because you cannot reserve a handicap space legally. Any car in disarray (there's one that's been parked by my building for 6+ weeks now without a windshield) needs to be identified and removed by the owner, if it cannot be identified or the owner does not remove it, it needs to be towed. It's simple psychology that people will keep doing the same things unless there is actually a consequence. Y'all can send out threatening emails about picking up dog poop & parking in the correct place all day long, but nothing will change unless it's actually enforced. These are all extremely simple things that MAA Benton can do that would make the resident experience much more enjoyable. This place has gone extremely downhill since I've moved in. It's turned disgusting and sloppy, and my hallway smells like feral cat piss. I will definitely not be renewing this year because of how gross it's gotten. If these simple issues would get fixed I'd stay and MAA would make more money by probably raising my rent again, not having a vacancy, and not having to lower rent to get someone into the apartment.

Current Resident 1357422

Verified Resident • 2025

The community is nice so far. The people are living in the apartment are not considered as to others staying below them. A lot of stomping around and running around and making unnecessary noise. And the parking is awful, people parking on the curb and that is considered a safety hazard just can get around the cars.

Current Resident 1355428

Verified Resident • 2021 - 2025

Very nice property with a very supportive office staff (especially Katie). Maintenance team is very friendly, prompt and helpful! It's pleasant here, especially walking around the lake and enjoying the scenery. We've enjoyed friendly, respectful, quiet neighbors.

Current Resident 1353837

Verified Resident • 2024 - 2025

Great! Apartment is designed for comfort and convenience ane well maintained. Mail boxes are easily accessible and safe. Staff are friendly and knowledgable. Maintenance requests are handled quickly and efficiently by friendly staff. I always feel safe in a lovely environment

Kathryn_B577

Resident • 2024 - 2025

Was literally the worst rental experience of my life. MAA Benton is not just mismanaged—it’s actively unsafe. Mold was painted over instead of remediated, causing serious health concerns. I faced harassment and retaliation after reporting issues. Break-ins were frequent, yet the gate was broken for months despite advertising “gated luxury.â€� Management added surprise charges, including retroactive utility bills with no legal notice, and ignored both city code and tenant rights. The staff is unresponsive and even threatening when confronted. This property operates on deception and intimidation. If you care about your safety, health, or sanity—look elsewhere.

Current Resident 1213299

Verified Resident • 2023 - 2025

When I moved in 2022, the quality of the complex seemed better. The grounds were immaculate and I think the quality of residents were higer standards. I have neighbors in my building who smoke marijuana on their porches daily and for me that is a problem because my grandchildren are here and they are under the age of eight and I don't like smelling it. I don't care if people smoke it but other residents shouldn't have to suffer by having to smell it. My breezeway usually smells of marijuana and when I moved in, my sons who were teenagers were specifically told not to smoke anything on the porches or around the building. I have neighbors who throw trash on the grounds and breezeways and they just don't care. I have had packages stolen from my door the past year and this was not an issue when I moved in. I do not feel safe at times because of the thuggish soliciting and I would like to say that this has nothing to do with race because I have two biracial sons. We also have a major feral cat problem, but I think this has been ongoing. I think my biggest issue is that the standards have dropped considerably and I wish they were still the same standards that were in place when I moved in. I have a video I wanted to attach, but it was too large. It was taken last week of some neighbors who live in my building who are outside after 11:30 pm, with loud music, smoking weed and the resident himself urinating behind a car in the parking lot. This just isn't acceptable and people shouldn't have to live like this. I made a complaint.

Current Resident 195321

Verified Resident • 2015 - 2025

Needs improvement. Used to be cleaner. Gate is always broken, along with the garbage compactor. Requested paint service and was denied after 10 years of residency. Hallways are dirty and never sanitized.

Current Resident 1345802

Verified Resident • 2023 - 2025

I love this community.When you need something repair they will respond in a timely manner. It's peaceful and quiet.If there a issue they will handle it in a timely matter. To make a long story short I love it here.

Current Resident 1343506

Verified Resident • 2022 - 2025

We have been here several years now and for the most part we have been happy with the property. Although the crime has a seen a rise lately. The gate has been non operational almost exclusively since we moved in, which still would not secure the neighborhood since you can walk on to the property from almost every direction. Despite that though it's a mostly quiet neighborhood, with great amenities. Maintenance is good. Please fix the parking!!

Current Resident 1336178

Verified Resident • 2024 - 2025

I honestly would not recommend it. I've lived here since August and have had a bucket list of problems. Let's start in move in day when I was moving my stuff in all the fire alarms in my apartment were going off for no reason. Called maintenance and they didn't come til the NEXT DAY. I ended up having to take them all out of the ceiling. When I moved in they were not done painting the unit and there was dried broccoli on the kitchen floor. There has constantly been problems whether it's the trash area pulling up so high it goes into the road, or cars being broken into. I just got a violation for blacking out my back facing windows, but it's okay for the people facing the parking lot to smoke pot at every hour of the day, so that it's the first thing you smell when you smell the complex. I guess it's also okay that USPS stopped delivering but the office never let anybody know. No email or word on when they are going to get the mailboxes fixed so that we start getting our mail again. Overall so disappointing.

Current Resident 1174849

Verified Resident • 2023 - 2025

Overall, it has been a good experience. The office staff are very nice and work immediately to get issues resolved. Maintenance is top notch. The only issues we have had is the trash compactor being full and the residents having to stack trash in front of it and parking is an utter nightmare if you get home after 7pm. I have had to park four buildings away and walk to my apartment or block other cars in to unload groceries and then move my car 3 or 4 buildings away and walk back to my building. LOTS of residents there smoke marijuana and it is annoying because we are law enforcement officers and can't be around it, so that means we can't open our patio door or sit outside without smelling it. Also, the infinity pool was closed most of last summer. The apartment itself is nice and close to stores and restaurants, the rent is about the same as other places in the area. Overall, we have had a good experience besides the little minor issues I mentioned.

Current Resident 972395

Verified Resident • 2021 - 2025

Very happy with management and staff. They always take care of maintenance issues in a timely manner. The office staff are wonderful and appreciate them. The maintenance team are the best and I trust them completely when they have to enter my apartment. I always ask for Johnny, Justin or Lawrence because I trust them with my cat.

Current Resident 1324374

Verified Resident • 2024 - 2025

Extremely friendly and helpful office and maintenance staff help make this community a worthwhile place to live. Any issues I've had were quickly rectified in a timely manner. The community is also fairly quiet.

Current Resident 1323416

Verified Resident • 2024 - 2025

You pay for cable and internet in your rent. I have not had my cable fixed since I moved in. Also still get charged for not having renters insurance every single month even though I have that as well.

Current Resident 1317832

Verified Resident • 2023 - 2025

We have lived here for two years. First year was great and then problems started to occur. The main problem being parking. There are multiple people parking on the street and grass because the spots are occupied by people who probably don't even live here. One time, someone parked their car behind mine and called maintenance and a tow company and was told "there is nothing we can do". I had to uber to work. People even park on the white lines between handicap spots. Have gone to office and told maintenance many times and still nothing has been done about MONTHS. Our rent was raised upon renewal due to new upgrades to the apartment and community. Was excited about it but the home tablet is confusing and was never given a code for it. The gate is constantly open and when it would close, it didnt keep out the people who don't live here and take up parking spots. They just drive in behind people who scan their card and don't type in any code. Cleanliness should also be a priority. Neighbors leave trash bags outside their doors for weeks. Stairs and walkways should be power washed. Used to be proud to live here, but without serious changes to parking, we will probably not renew when lease is up.

Current Resident 1317040

Verified Resident • 2023 - 2025

Ready to move out, the building is old, the gym is outdated however we have to pay $85 for community fees and I'm still confused on what community fees those are to have a gate that's broken 6/12 months of the year. It would be nice for the doors to have a new paint job and to at least turn the old leasing office into a parcel room to prevent our packages from being dropped off at the front door and stolen.

Current Resident 660063

Verified Resident • 2018 - 2025

This complex used to be better than the others. Lately it's gotten trashy and the office staff does not care. It's a maze driving out every morning due to cars parking in spots that not parking spots.

Current Resident 1313538

Verified Resident • 2022 - 2025

A good apartment complex, the back where my apartment was located could use more attention and maintenance in terms of hallway sweeping and such. Often dealt with marijuana smoking from neighbors which was quite unpleasant. Washer needs to be replaced as it is quite old and does not work well.

Current Resident 1311444

Verified Resident • 2024 - 2025

The front entrance security has been broken for a month. On call Maintenance are never available when a resident need of service. On call Maintenance perfer entering residents homes without giving notice and those residents are at work. There are old couch furniture from previous tenants that is still there since October of 2024. Trash is everywhere. No surveillance cameras to find out what tenants are dumpping things everywhere.

Current Resident 1305793

Verified Resident • 2022 - 2024

In general, I have been very happy with this community. However, I have just realized that I have been being charged a $16 fee for insurance non-compliance, which I am very displeased with. I work very hard and spend a significant amount of money to maintain a proper and responsible amount of renter's insurance. And I renew that insurance every year without fail. I will be making an appointment with management to see about rectifying this situation. If I am not satisfied with the outcome, I will making my argument known to MAA.

Current Resident 1298371

Verified Resident • 2023 - 2024

I love living here! The apartment is super cute and fits a lot. The screened in porch is my favorite part, especially since I have a cat. This is a very pet friendly complex and I love seeing the different animals everywhere!

Current Resident 1294857

Verified Resident • 2024

MAA Benton is a wonderful community that I find secure, clean, friendly, has great staff, and is a great place to live. The office staff is friendly and the maintenance staff is helpful and fixes things in a timely fashion if needed. They quickly fixed things after the hurricane had come through. And previously fixed my dishwasher. I really feel my apartment is truly a home.

Current Resident 1294789

Verified Resident • 2024

These are nice apartments and very well connected in the area, the amenities are very nice and plenty of them for the community size. What was a deal breaker for me was the price tag, the lowest in the area!

Current Resident 1294716

Verified Resident • 2023 - 2024

Sad would be an understatement with how the steps are kept I have been asking for management to get someone to clean them monthly but nothing has been done and the one time I was half a day late in paying because the previous evening the paper ran out when getting the money order and i had to wait until the following morning to complete my transaction I was charged $150 extra. That's sad really sad.