Avana Northlake

Sean_T

Resident • 2010

Is it legal to collect double rent?

I had to break my lease and move out in October. My lease was expiring in May. I have notified them one month in advance and they told me that they will try to find a new tenant. The unit got re-rented in a WEEK after I moved out and they still made me pay for two additional months. They also subtracted two month water and sewer fees from my security deposit. Is it legal to collect double rent?

Current Resident 93120

Resident • 2010

Love it Here

I moved in to Northlake, May 2010. I have loved it here since the very first day. The staff was extremely nice, and went out of their way to address issues and concerns that I might have. My apartment was extremely clean, the grounds are very well maintained, and the maintenance staff are quick to respond to correct problems. The train that so many individuals complain about.....well I live in a building near the tracks, and have not had any trouble sleeping, or found it to be annoying in the least. There are other buildings further away from the train, so if you are a light sleeper...see if there is a vacancy in those buildings. I would not trade my apartment for anything, storage...I guess there could be more, but then again, I didn't need all the junk that wouldn't fit. My neighbors are pleasant, my building is quiet, and the location to major interstates is fabulous. When living in an apartment, you connot expect to have the benefits of a house, i.e., larger closets, additional storage, no neighbors over top. But Northlake Apartments are wonderful and they are a great place to call home.

iris4soul

Resident • 2010

Happy at Northlake

I moved in February from out of state and I am pleased with my 2 bedroom/1.25 bath apartment. It is a good price for the amount of living space and all the amenities including a washer and dryer, so I love it! The staff is professional,polite as well extremely helpful and they have made my moving into this area a great experience. It is a wooded community with a lovely country feel and very safe place to live. Parking is not a problem, there is a wonderful mix of people living in community who seem as happy as I am. I live on top floor so I have never heard my neighbors nor do I hear the train unless it whistles which is very rare. The breezeways can get pretty dirty but whenever I have complained about it maintenance takes care of it immediately. The maintenance staff is helpful and respond to services call almost immediately. Paying rent and making service request is made so easy since it can all be done on-line with your private Northlake account. I am completely satisfied, happy and love my apartment and would recommend this community to anyone.

kristler2001

Resident • 2010

many cons not very many pros

My hubby, 9 month old, and I just moved here from Arizona. We have almost 1100 sqft and no storage...it's literally all floor space. the closet does not have a regular rod in it therefore you can't put much in it. the very tiny 'linen closets' are a joke and the shelves can't hold much due to the fact that the screws are coming out of the wall. it's a clean place but there are 'stink bugs' galore, and when the pest guy came, he even told me that there is no real resolution to get rid of them. the office staff is great and so is maintenance staff, however the office guy told us when we were looking at the apartment, that even though we could hear our own floor creaking that the people underneath us could not...THAT IS A LIE. there is no pantry and no cabinet space...unless you are single. the washer/dryer in the unit...HA HA HA it is sooo incredibly tiny. in a standard washer i could put 6-8 pair of jean shorts in it without being too full...i can put 3-4 pair in this one. the front door doesn't stay open unless you hold it meaning you can hear everyones door slam...at all hours of the day/night. the only ceiling light are in the kitchen and dining room...and the plug that is controlled by the light switch for all the other rooms are all located in rediculous places, such as, the livingroom plug is located in the edge of the dining room. had we had more than a day to find an apartment...during a blizzard, we would NOT have chosen Northlake...we will not be resigning a lease next year.

Current Resident 648318

Resident • 2009 - 2010

An honest review.

I moved to northlake about 4 months ago and here's what I think about it. The office staff is very friendly and maintenance is very responsive. The apartments are clean, nice and free of bugs. The neighborhood is pretty good too. There a couple of problems thou. First, the floors are VERY squeaky, you can hear what the people above you are doing at all times. Even if a baby walks upstairs you can hear it. The apartments are not very well insulated, so in the winter it WILL be very cold, and you will have a high electricity bill. The walls are very thin just like in any other apartment, but the biggest problem of all is the Freight TRAIN that's always passing by making a LOT of noise, even during the night. So, if you are not a heavy sleeper this might be a problem. Well I just tried to show whoever is reading this the good and the bad about northlake, I hope this helps.

Current Resident 993224

Resident • 2008 - 2009

Just Was Not Happy At Northlake

I have lived at Northlake Apartments for over a year now and will be moving out very soon. The apartments are nice in terms of the floor plans, fixtures, etc. Northlake did an excellent job when renovating these apartments. BUT! The parking is absolutely HORRIBLE. Unless you live on the first floor, you will hate coming home in the evenings because you will mostly likely not get a parking spot near your building, then you will have to hike the stairs. There are several tenants who drive large utility vans that always park in front of the buildings and visitors can park any where. The mail boxes are not conveiently located in respect to each building. My mailbox is all the way at the end of the parking lot from my building. And if you like peace and quiet then, please look elsewhere because there is a highly active railroad that runs right behind Northlake Apartments. You will hear freight trains all times of day and night, sometimes as late as midnight and as early as 4 am. Yes, the freight trains blows its whistle- LOUDLY. Every time I hear it,I swerar my ears bleed. I hate it. I am so happy to be moving out. The staff nice and the maintenance always fix things very quick. However, I can not deal with the parking and the freight train.

homojoe

Resident • 2007 - 2009

I lived there for two years became termially ill

And they took me to court when I notified them I was moving out, and had a terminal illness. The apartments had bed bugs thin walls, and Management that did not address any problems with tenants and the dogs that pee on your head. I would NOT recommed moving to this dump, and Management with no compassion when terminally ill and takes you to court and puts you in collections after notify them you are moving because they are raising your rent. And dog poop all over the property.

mspyouth

Resident • 2009

an honest, fair review

These apartments are great for us, but that is not to say that it has its problems. When anyone looks for an apartment, they have to know that you will hear your neighbors, sometimes smell what they are cooking next door, etc. The same is true for Northlake. The walls ARE thin but we really cant hear what people are saying, it is more the creaking of the floor above us. We have noise machines running and it is totally manageable. Also there IS a train behind the property. It is really annoying for the first week or so, then you get used to it. Again, we have a fan running during the night to block out the noise. The front door is thin and you can really hear what is going on out in the hallway. The parking is bad, you do not have your own space which means that if you get home past 8pm you will walk a little but nothing terrible. Now, the neighborhood is VERY safe, well at least we think so. I have an 18 month old and i am never afraid to take walks with him during all hours. The maintainence is wonderful and VERY prompt. the actual apartment is wonderful, clean, things work well, the floors are creaky though and our floor is kind of slanted. Also, they do not have many overhead lights, you have to get your own lamps to have light. Over all we like the place and have been living here for 6 months now.

dayumgirl21

Resident • 2009

nice property & thats it...

We've lived here for a few months now, the area and property is nice, the apartments are lovely, BUT once you move in things change. The walls are thin, terribly terribly thin, I can't stress that enough. The parking is horrible. You should make sure you do all your errand running by 7pm otherwise when you get home you'll have no where to park near your building and you'll find yourself walking. You can hear ANY and ALL your neighbors' front doors slam. There is a train track behind the property so you'll be hearing trains all hours of the night. Needless to say, we won't be renewing our lease.

shedevil09

Resident • 2006 - 2009

Hope you are perfect LadyK1984!

Well, I have to say that you have a lot of hostility towards someone who actually made a mistake. To be nasty and call the manager names like a cow, just shows your ignorance and intelligent level. Unless you are perfect and never have made a mistake, you are in no position to be so nasty to someone else. To say you have an allotment means you are military and I know, our military do not tolerate that behavior and ignorance. I have been a resident here for a long time and find your comments about the manager rude and inexcusable. I have been happy here and have had a wonderful interaction with her and everyone else in the office. Are they perfect... no. However, I have always received an outstanding level of customer service and respect every time I have walked into the office or called for any reason. So people out there reading this review, know that people who are not satisfied individuals and cannot discuss their concerns with the people that can make a difference. aren't worth listening to, especially ones that have to resort to name calling. Shame on you!

LadyK1984

Resident • 2008 - 2009

Another month at NorthLake

Every month I give a review about the apartments. I'm still liking the apartments and the area. The only problem is parking. When you get home at around 8 in the evening you can forget about it. Be prepared to walk. Other than that everything is fine. I don't have any problems in my building area can't speak for the others, but from what I see, it's a pretty quiet and decent neighborhood. Also maintenance came through and did maintenance checks on all of the apartments to ensure that heating, the air conditioning and smoke detectors were good to go so that was a pretty good looking out. And for those of you who plan to get an allotment started be prepared to get the overdue slip, but don't panic it just takes a while for the allotments to go through.

snagglepuss731

Resident • 2007 - 2008

this is an HONEST review!!!!!

i've lived here for over a year. nice renovations on the apartments overall... i just wish they swept before putting the carpet down (minor, barely noticeable issue), i don't think that's a problem with all apartments that ive been in. my front doorway is not level but i didn't see that with any other apartment here. the staff are very friendly, the maintenance is good depending on who it is and what they are fixing... some are a lot better at other things but the end result is correct. parking can be annoying sometimes... one side the the apartment complex has too much parking and the other side doesn't have enough. i have never heard about break ins with cars or apartment's but i am closer to great seneca so it might be on the side closer to westeria... but no memos about any of that but the stabbing on westeria(not the apartment complex!) all and all, this is a really nice place, i just think i got a rushed to be ready apartment. the big thing is storage. i wish they had alot more storage. that would be the only reason i would move. staff is friendly and location is great. there is a elementary school literally 2 seconds away on foot. i even like the u.p.s. guy and mail man. they are nice as well. this is one of the better places to live that's affordable in germantown/ gaithersburg areas. definitely have no problems with my car or apartment safety. plus... complementary doggy trash cans with a lil' poop bag dispenser. oh, and no problems with plumbing or anything. and you can see and pay your water and rent on their site. and also request repairs so you don't have to go to the office or call them. renter's insurance is mandatory and offered. also the walls aren't super thin but occasionally you can hear your neighbors, minimal though. and yes there is a train, but the glass and doors are surprisingly more soundproof than they look. i rarely notice unless the windows are open. AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY BUG ISSUES.... NOT AN ANT, FLY, OR ROACH... and my apartment faces the woods. there are bugs outside but not in. whoever has a bug problem in these apartments they must be reeeeeealy dirty! also, there are several cops living in these apartments!!!

bjclark76

Resident • 2008

Worst Management ever!!! Laurie and Rebecca are IDIOTS!!!!!

This is the worst place to live! There are bugs all over the apartment, and when they come out to spray they do terrible job. I was there on a short term lease, and when it came time to renew, they offered me rent of $1500 for a 900 sq feet 2 bd apt. Ridiculous! Laurie( the manager) is an idiot and so is the asst manager Rebecca. They knew for 2 months that I was moving out. I even spoke to them on the day I was leaving, and they tried to charge me for the whole month( even though I left half way during the month.) Then, even though I told them that I left the apartment keys on the counter, they charged me for 2 days of rent saying they did not have the keys! DO NOT LIVE HERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO OVERPAY FOR A SMALL AND BUG INFESTED APT!

Current Resident 346323

Resident • 2006 - 2007

not worth it

I lived there for almost a year with nothing but problems. The pipes in my wall burst causing mold and mildew to grow. ( I did not know right away that it happened because it was a closet that I had boxes in and rarely used). I went in to my closet to move things and found mold on all of my things and on the carpet and wall. I reported this before I moved out (months before). They never replaced the carpeting and they painted over the mold with Killz. They left a mess from where they painted and they even left spare parts and the paint can on my counter. I looked up the information on the paint and it said that it should not be used to cover mold as it does not kill it. I reported it to management and they repeatedly did nothing, even after several written letters. When I moved out they then charged me to replace the carpet due to the mold. They also made several other charges that they never told me about. I now have a collection agency threatening me. I gave them a copy of my military orders as well as 30 days notice, but they charged me for nearly 2 weeks of rent for breaking my lease. They have a military clause. I did not know the problem was not resolved, I made 2 payments to them (a year after I moved out they finally contacted me, well a collection agency did). I left all of my contact and forwarding information and they still did not contact me to advise me of the outstanding balance. I feel that they took advantage of military personnel living there. They also tried to tell me they did not receive my allotment for my rent one month even though my les clearly stated it had been taken out the month prior. They tried to evict me because of this and I had to prove that it had indeed been paid to them. I could continue for days but I just want people to be aware of the kind of people in this complex.

Current Resident 185927

Resident • 2008

Y'all are outta control

Ok, so i feel that these reviews are a little outta control. i have been living in northlake for almost a year and I LOVE IT! i don't know where these people are from, but living in this area for almost 5 years i have to say that northlake is a very nice place to live. ok, so i have heard my neighbors have an occasional argument, but whatever who cares. until you get a single family home in the middle of no where land please expect to hear some noise or see something that you don't want to see or hear hear...such is life! next, amanda has to be one of the sweetest people. there hasn't been a time that i have contacted her about a concern and it was not addressed and in a pleasant way. ok, so i had a little issue with these crazy ants that loved my place, but once again i contacted amanda and she was on it. i was getting treatments regularly and the ants are gone. i've never had a roach, a mouse, or any other random rodent give or take a spider here or there. the electric bill was very high in the winter, but i attribute this to pepco and not management...have you seen the prices of oil lately? place blame where it is due. listen, no place is perfect, but i am a single young female and i feel safe at northlake. i always have a parking spot (which i don't pay extra for), there's a pool, the parking lot is always lit throughout the night, the staff is responsive, the grounds stay clean and well groomed, and i have lots of space. if you think this is expensive for what you pay why don't u try living in DC for this amount of money and see what you get. trust me you'll have a hard time!

Current Resident 684031

Resident • 2003 - 2005

Ehhh

I lived there for 2 years and the staff were usually nice to me but it was not a very good area (violence, car break-ins, etc.). It's not Compton, but probably not very safe for a single girl. The real problem was when I only stayed there 2 nights a week and was staying with now-husband the other nights. I went to my apartment at lunch one day and a construction worker walked right into my apartment WITH A KEY like he lived there! He looked at me as he closed the door behind him and was shocked that I was in there. Management did NOTHING! Apparently, who knows how many of the construction workers (that were fixing the siding at the time) were squatting in my apartment!! I found their soda bottles, tools, etc. just laying around the apartment. This kind of thing happened ALL the time- management would let maintenance in CONTINUOUSLY without my permission and the toilet seat would be left up and things were left behind or out of place when I got home. This kind of thing happened a total of NINE times in 2 years and no one ever did anything about it. I STRONGLY advise that if you move here, report the very first occurrance to the police because otherwise it will probably just keep happening. The good thing about this place is that it's pretty close to a grocery store, CVS, Outback, etc. but definitely no real night life in Germantown. I only saw one roach in 2 years and never any mice or anything else. The pool was great, but the walls are a little thin. I almost forgot!-- all the reviews about the Pepco problem are RIGHT. I had a TINY 1-bedroom apartment and it was just me living there and one month I paid over $300 for electricity! If the Mexican squatters weren't living in my apartment when I wasn't there, I would recommend the place to someone in need, but f--- that.

foxy2168

Resident • 2004 - 2008

Interesting how facts are exaggerated!

I have lived here for many years and while I am not happy having a rent increase each year, there isn't a place that guarantees they won't increase you. In 2007 I moved to a newly renovated unit and that is were I had my most increase. I do like the new kitchen and microwave. I am aware of the letter that went out and there was no stabbing, etc. in front of the leasing office. They were telling us of a rash of crime that was happening in the general area and asking us to be mindful of our surroundings. Shame on the previous person for trying to make it more than it was. The area is nice and I have always been happy here. In respect to the office and the staff. I have not had any problems and have always been treated with respect. Amanda has always been nice and polite even when she has called me for my rent money. It definitely sounds like this other person has a real issue and instead of having the guts to address it with Management he/she rather bash them so they cannot defend themselves. Sounds cowardly. I don't have to be Management to defend them. I am happy with my home and the ladies in the office. I am always made to feel welcome and when I had a question or concern, it has been addressed.

Current Resident 534049

Resident • 2007 - 2008

Everyone I know Dying to get out of lease! Avoid Amanda!

Violence, mice, rude management. It's obvious when they put 4 cheesy positive ratings in a row that they are trying to boost their own ratings. At first glance Northlake looks great. In the daytime it seems quiet but at night when you here domestic violence fights, teenagers fighting and drinking,drugs sold, kidnappings and stabbings in the area by convicted murderers(check the gazette archives for articles), you start to get worried. Someone was held at gunpoint and kidknapped in front of the management office. Ask the leasin agent about it, they sent a letter themselves to warn residents! Then when you realize that Electric bills are $300-400 simply because of Northlake's faulty HVAC systems you are disgusted that they refuse to fix it and lay blame on Pepco. The worst part is how rude and insincere management is. Everyone complains about Amanda. She even tries to block certain people from living on the property. The unfairness and dishonesty of management is what really makes people want to leave. Equity is a large coorporation and all the leasing agents care about is getting you to sign your lease so they can get their commission. After that, it's toodles to all the fake smiles. Need something from them and you are on the back burner. Only income is important to these people. I am sure shortly after this review they will follow up with another fake review to keep their numbers up. Don't be fooled! Then you look around and realize how inconveniently you are located. This place is not easy to get to DC from. There is NOTHING here in terms of social life, no decent bars clubs, a few restaurants but nothing like DC. And after fighting nasty beltway traffic, you have already guzzled another $300 in gas. Also rental increases are outrageous. I have seen them try to raise the rent almost $150 for friends! You can get a nice one bedroom in great neighborhood in DC for $1100-1300 save gas, hastle inconvenience. $1100 2-bed apartments in Adams Morgan are easy to find, they have rent caps because they are special buildings that get tax deductions. If you have to live in Germantown a MUCH better place would be Avalon right next door, or thePinnacle. Stay away from Northlake!

Freud_r79

Resident • 2007 - 2008

Good place to live

We have been living here for 6 months so far, and this is our experience: Very attentive staff, good maintenance, new appliances in apartments (refrigerator, electric kitchen w/ oven, microwave, dishwasher, washer and dryer, bathroom). It has a gym (not a big one, but it is fair), and a compyer center (computers are not always very fast). It seems to be safe (we have not suspect any issues, although we received a notification to be careful b/c there was an assault a few weeks ago). Neighbors are nice (although a few months ago there was a neighbor in the upper apartment that yell almost every night-I think she left). The location is good (you are in walking distance to an Amish Market, blockbuster, CVS, Outback Steakhouse, and other stores, and a few minutes in car from different grocery stores, banks, public library, shopping centers, postal office and the highway 270). Average Distances: DC: 40 minutes, Silver Springs: 25 minutes, Reagan & Dulles Airport: 45 minutes, Baltimore: 50 minutes, Virginia: 30 minutes. We haven't had any problems with the electric bills: during winter we paid $130 as a most. The apartment is not luxury, but is not a gettho. It is average. It seems to be a little pricey, but that is the average price in this area. It is still less expensive than Silver Spring, Rockville, or DC. Of course, if you are late, you will not find a parking in front of your apartment. But you always find a parking, and you should not walk more than 1 minute between parking and your apartment. Our only complaint in here is that you can hear what is happening in other apartment (using the shower or the washer/dryer), and the floor creak in some parts of the apartment. However, I think it is very common in the different apartment complexes in the area, and you can revise completely the apartment you are willing to rent BEFORE leasing. Overall, it is a good place to live. The staff take great responsibility to fix any problem you may have.

Current Resident 626950

Resident • 2008

Nice and pet friendly

The apartments have been renovated and are cozy. The walls are thin and you can hear your neighbors. The floors creak really bad. Parking spaces are small and if you get home late, you may have to walk a little. Excellent pet friendly community. Maintenance is A I am a travel nurse, this area is too close to D.C. for me. Too much traffic and congestion.

allgood34

Resident • 2007 - 2008

Northlake is great for the price

I have lived here just short of a year now and so far I really like it. The staff is great, the units, facilities and grounds are well kept and my neighbors are great. The only complaint I have is the floors/ceilings seem to be thin and creek a lot. I can hear my upstairs neighbors walk around and the downstairs neighbors can hear us but I guess that comes with an apartment that has some age on it. The apartments are very nice inside and have been recently renovated with all new appliances. I'll be moving out in 6 weeks, but that is because I just bought a place, not because I have complaints here. The only thing I'm hoping now is that I wont have problems with my security deposit like I had at the Hamptons. I highly recommend the Northlake Apartments to anyone who is looking for a quite and safe community.

Current Resident 375375

Resident • 2005 - 2008

most pet-friendly apartment complex in germantown

I have been a resident of Northlake for approximately three years. If you are looking for luxury living, look elsewhere. If you are looking for value, responsive staff, reliable maintenance, a pet-friendly community, and a convenient location, this might be the place for you. On a personal note, I get the sense that most Northlakers are down-to-earth, educated, hard-working, and considerate. All units are remodeled with updated kitchens and bathrooms. The light fixtures are decent and the closet doors are new and durable. I am in a two bedroom, one bath but have my own sink and large vanity mirror in my room (master), so it's almost like having two bathrooms. The walls and floors ARE thin and I hear a lot of noise from my upstairs neighbor (they have a child). For the most part, it's tolerable and does not disrupt my normal living routine. There is a train track that runs behind the community (MARC commuter train I think). You can definitely hear it pass but it's not overly obnoxious and I have learned to tune it out. The noise is generally short-lived. Pet clean-up stations are provided througout the community and are maintained 95% of the time. This is a wonderful convenience for the many dog owners who live there, including myself. Large dogs are allowed - I have seen many Boxers, Grey Hounds, Labs, etc. There is a pet deposit and monthly pet fee but it's worth it in my opinion. The grounds are maintained and the landscaping has improved in the past year. The dumpster areas can get messy but are usually cleaned up within a day or so. I would like the complex to provide recycling bins for each resident but I haven't gotten around to asking. I feel safe enough at Northlake. The outdoor lighting could be improved. I never see anyone lurking about or loitering at any time - day or night. I feel comfortable enough to walk from the car to my building late at night. I don't plan on spending the rest of my life at Northlake but it is a good transitional community to live in and I would recommend it to apartment-hunters in the area.

Nightline562

Resident • 2007

It's ok but...

The walls are thin, the floors creak... Other than that, its actually a nice place. The design of the apartments are nice. So, if you don't mind hearing the floor creak as you tiptoe to the kitchen to get a bite to eat, or literally bounching around on your sofa because the entire building seems to move when your upstairs neighbor walks around... Then go for it. The front doors also need work, there is a small gap between the door and the actual door jam, so just touching the door actually causes it to move until the lock engages. Definitely not safe there.

Current Resident 966118

Resident • 2006 - 2007

Great place!

I had a fantastic experience living at Northlake. The rent seemed a little high when I first moved in but you really do get what you pay for! For the most part, the demographics of the development have really changed for the better. The apartments are clean and the outside common areas are also well kept. The maintenance guys were awesome. The staff, especially Amanda, was fantastic and very helpful. They trully went out of their way to see that our needs were met.

unhappy20874

Resident • 2005 - 2007

PepCo not at Fault...and other issues

I am writing in rebuttal to the insistance by the Northlake management that PepCo is responsible for increased electric costs this past winter. Firstly, one can check his bill to verify this. We have kept our PepCo bills for the almost two full years that we have lived at Northlake, and the spike in monthly cost only occurred this past winter, while rates for production and distribution of electricity has not increases during that time. In the Spring of 2006, Northlake underwent renovations, and at that time they replaced the old windows and sliding glass doors with newer models. These are the culprits for the increased power bill. On one of the coldest nights this past Februrary, I measured the temperature just inside the blinds that cover the sliding glass door. That temperature (60.2 degrees) was about TEN DEGREES different from the thermostat temperature (71 degrees)! In Germantown, we had a relativly mild November and December. As a result, the power bill was not abnormally high. Yet, when the weather got quite cold from January into March, our power bill almost doubled. Now that the weather is warming again, the power bill is back to normal. We have not changed the setting on the thermostat over that time, nor has the kilowatt/hr costs increased on PepCo's end of the bill. There is only one reason for the increased power bills --- the windows and sliding glass doors. I don't know if the doors and windows are of poor quality or if they were installed incorrectly, but the cost of the mistake is most definitely being passed directly to the tenet. If you decide to rent from Northlake, bear in mind that, if the doors and windows do not get repaired or replaced, you will need to set aside an additional $100 - $200 each month in the winter to cover your increase in power usage. There are further problems that should also be addressed. Despite the numerous good ratings of the maintainence crew, I must offer my experience. When there is a problem with the appliances, they have been adequate in their speed of response. However, we have asked numerous times since September of 2006 (9 months) to have our front door painted as well as a strip of wall in the kitchen that was never painted in the renovations. We have yet to have these requests honored. Other problems include the quality of the appliances. Before the renovation, the appliances were old but sturdy. We had no problems with them working. The new appliances, while pretty to look at, are of much poorer quality than those replaced. Great care must be taken to ensure that the washing machine does not become unbalanced on the spin cycle. The dishwasher has a tendency to not flush the small pieces of food out of the basin. As a result, the food settles on top of the glasses and must be cleaned off before the dishes can be removed. The storage drawer under the stove never stays on its tracks and must be constantly realigned. And finally, the caulking used in the bathroom is sub-standard and cracks repeatedly. The maintainence crew has re-caulked and it immediately cracked again. I used a cheap brand of caulk from K-Mart to repair this and it has not cracked since. The staff at Northlake has been completely replaced since Equity took over ownership. There is no one in the office that we know at this point, and it seems that there are new people in the office every week. Most of these issues are small issues (except for the power bill), but they add up quickly and they result in a very unpleasant living experience. These problems did not arise until the complex was sold to Equity at the end of 2005. To add insult to injury, Northlake has increased our rent by almost 40% over the last two years (started at $1005 in 2005, rose to $1150 in 2006 and is now going to $1375 in 2007). The quality of service and amenities is NOT worth the increase in rent. Northlake was once a very pleasant and affordable residence. We feel it no longer is.