Brittany Commons Apartments

Current Resident 812163

Resident • 2004

BEAUTIFUL AND FRIENDLY

I HAVE LIVED HERE FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS NOW. TO BE HONEST I HAVE SEEN A SPIDER OR TWO BUT COME ON, SQUASH IT AND GO ON YOUR WAY. THE OFFICE IS WILLING TO HAVE SOMEONE COME OUT AND SPRAY FOR FREE. AS FAR AS THE RODANT RUMOR THAT IS GOING AROUND... I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE RODANT OR EVEN ONE RODANT DROPPING. WHENEVER I HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH MY HOME ALL I HAVE TO DO IS CALL THE OFFICE. CONSIDERING THAT THIS IS A LARGE COMMUNITY I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT ITS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO HAVE MAINTANENCE KNOCKING ON MY DOOR BEFORE I EVEN HANG UP THE PHONE WITH THE OFFICE. (THATS JUST REALITY) LEASING STAFF HAS ALWAYS BEEN KIND AND WILLING TO HELP.<br><br>DURING INITIAL LEASE SIGNING THE OFFICE STAFF DID EXPRESS THAT TOWING IS ENFORCED. TO AVOID TOWING I CARE FOR MY CAR (I.E. KEEP TAGS UP TO DATE) AND PARK IN THE DESIGNATED SPACES. IF YOU FOLLOW THE RULES THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY PROBLEMS! I HAVE HEARD NEIGHBORS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TWO DECALS PER HOUSEHOLD. COULD YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF THERE WAS NO LIMIT. WHAT THEN?!<br><br>I HAVE FOUND BRITTANY COMMONS TO BE A VERY BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY AND IT WOULDN'T BE THAT WAY WITHOUT THE EFFORT OF THE STAFF. THE GIRLS IN THE LEASING OFFICE ARE VERY FRIENDLY AND ARE WILLING TO TAKE TIME OUT OF THEIR SCHEDULE TO LISTEN. ITS AMAZING HOW PROFESSIONAL THESE GIRLS STAY WHILE HANDLING A RESIDENTS COMPLAINT. (MOST OF THE TIME ITS NOT EVEN THEIR FAULT) FOR EXAMPLE THE PARKING. <br><br>ALL IN ALL I AM VERY HAPPY AND WILL CONTINUE TO STAY AT BRITTANY COMMONS. AS WELL AS REFER THEM TO ANYONE LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME.

Current Resident 728060

Resident • 1997 - 2004

Stay Away....Nightmare Living!!

When I moved in, this was a wonderful place to live, management and maintainance was great. But not anymore, except for Stacy Anderson, the staff is awful and maintainance does not have a clue as to what they are doing. And they take days (48 hrs or more) to get to your problem, no matter what it is. Parking is another story. If you get home early, by 6pm, you stand a chance of parking close to where you live but if you are later or go back out, forget it. You will have a nice hike home. They refuse to address the issue saying there is nothing they can do. Funny other complexes in other areas seem to be able to solve parking issues. <br><br>The front gates, which they boost about in ads, NEVER work! <br><br>On a scale of 1-10, this place used to be a 10 but now is no more than a 1 or 2. Beware if you are looking at other properties in the area also, this management company also runs Kilburn Crossing, Townsend, and Fall Hill that I'm aware of.

Current Resident 643058

Resident • 2003 - 2004

WHERE DO I START?? Don't waste your money!!

This review is long...but it's truly been a horrible experience for us...and if I could spare anyone else from wasting that much time and money it's worth it.<br><br>My husband and I moved into Brittany Commons last November. We have had nothing but regret since then. The management and leasing office has absolutely NO CONCEPT of customer service, nor do they care to learn any. Once they have your lease signed, you're just another tenant, and that's not a very high-ranking position there. I guess I'll start with the parking issue. When I come home in the afternoons and evenings, there usually are no parking spaces available in front of my apartment. This wouldn't be that big of a deal, if the people parking there were actually tenants, and not visitors. But, do you think they tow during the day, when visitors are actually violating the parking policy? NO!! they wait until 4:00 a.m.! Who could be parked "in the way" at 4:00 a.m.?!!? Here's the kicker...they towed my husband's work truck (with no warning)...which he had been parking in the same spot for over a month, because he had no decal. It cost us $200.00 to get it back, not to mention the half-day of work for both of us. Then, when he went to get another decal, they said that we could only have 2 per apartment. Again...this wouldn't have been such an annoyance if we didn't know that the tenants above us had 3 decals and left one car in a front parking space covered up. He never drove it!! When we asked the leasing center about it, they said "Well, he didn't get the third decal here." I guess he made it himself. ?? Sure.<br><br>We've made numerous calls about the bugs...one the calls was right after I found a big black one when putting my foot in my shoe!! We gave up calling after that. It was a waste of time. You'd think after being established now for a few years, they could have gotten the bug problem at least minimized, if not resolved. <br><br>Besides the bugs, if you have any maintenance problems, don't fool yourself by thinking that they'll be there to fix it within any reasonable amount of time...or that they care. We called because we had no hot water on a Sunday morning, and they said that since it wasn't an "emergency" they couldn't call maintenance in. We waited for 2 DAYS before we had hot water!! Then, when the genius came to fix the hot water heater, he left the temperature valve up too high and caused it to leak. My husband realized this when he went into the back of the closet to look for something and happened to notice that the carpet was mildewed and molded (something that my husband is highly allergic to!!). The carpet was soaked. They came and replaced the carpet in the closet with a remnant that didn't match. You'd think that for as much rent we pay to live there they could afford matching carpet. When they fixed the hot water heater this time, they had to order a part. I guess it's still on order..it's been over month, when it was promised to be fixed within a week. We've had a tacky hose hanging over our banister to keep it from leaking into the closet for the last month. Something that we would have gotten a nice little notice from management for if we had done ourselves, since we're supposed to keep our patios and bauconies "tidy and neat." <br><br>The LAST STRAW came recently when (for some reason) we looked into transfering into a newer apartment within Brittany Commons. We were hoping that the experience would be better, I guess. We decided it wasn't such a great idea when we talked to a leasing agent who said that not only would we have to pay a new security deposit/holding fee, and first month's rent, but we would also have to pay an additional $300.00 transfer fee!! and it's not like we were breaking our lease. we were simply finishing out one lease and starting another. (I think they just pulled this one out of the air. There's absolutely no logic...accept to get more money from us!!) If we were some new tenant that came in and wanted to rent for the first time, then we wouldn't have to pay it, but since we were good tenants who didn't wreck the place and paid our rent on time, we were rewarded with the $300.00 transfer fee. <br><br>Other minor annoyances include waking up to the neighbors...uh...well...you know...doing something that we shouldn't have to hear them doing...at 5:00 a.m.!! (not sure what kind of schedule they're on). Also, when we moved in it was obvious that the previous tenants were smokers. (Another smell that my husband is allergic to). Even with new paint and shampooed carpets, the smell was still awful. We actually had people ask us if we started smoking because our clothes smelled like it. Of course, we called the leasing center and they had someone clean the air vents, etc. Didn't help. Still the same smell. When we moved in, there were still items in the cabinet, candy stuck to the shelves, etc. It wasn't clean. You should see the list of things that they gave us to clean before we move out. It includes a mandatory receipt from a professional carpet-cleaning business. There goes our security deposit...It definately wasn't as clean when we moved in as they want it to be when we move out. Guess they really don't check very close anyway.<br><br>TO SUM IT ALL UP, DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!! <br><br>Kilburn Crossing (Harrison Road) is brand new, and they're about $15.00 cheaper per month!! They have all the same amenities. We haven't lived there yet, but the management seems like they actually know what's going on. If I had to suggest a place to live, it would be Kilburn Crossing.

Current Resident 130535

Resident • 2002 - 2004

Some Good, Some Bad

Overall, I like Brittany Commons. The apartments are spacious and beautiful, and the residents are really nice. I've heard a lot of people complain about parking, but I've never had a problem. They have set rules regarding parking, and as long as you follow them, you won't get towed. The apartments are soundproof-I've NEVER heard a peep from any of the neighbors. Some of the things I do have a problem with are the office staff. They are all new and no one seems to know anything when you ask a question. It's always "you have to talk to so-and-so" and that person is never around. We pay a lot of money to live here, yet they always blow us off when we need something. There is one lady that is always really nice and helpful, I think her name is Stacie. As long as you can get to talk to her, you will have no problems. It's the others you have to worry about. Our neighbors had a problem with maintenance coming in to fix things, and when they left, they left the door open. Not just unlocked, I'm talking the door was WIDE OPEN when he got home. The pools need to be better managed. They are always over run with kids that are always screaming and shouting and horse playing. I though one was supposed to be for adults, and the other was supposed to be for kids. As for maintenance response time, I've never had to have anything fixed, so I don't know. <br>I think this place would be almost perfect if they trained their office staff better.

roadtripper23

Resident • 2003 - 2004

Nice place, minor annoyances

<br>The apartment is very stylish. Custom paint job is great. The kitchen looks like something out of a designer magazine. TONS of extra storage space! The grounds are immaculate (although all that noise the grounds crew makes sometimes makes you wonder if it is really worth it!) <br> <br>The amnemities are good. The pools are really nice and clean, and always staffed by lifeguards. My only complaint is that they are swarming with kids who don't always behave very well, and the lifeguards are reluctant to reprimand them. The rumor is that one pool used to be for families, and the other adults-only. If that is true, I wish they would go back to that. <br> <br>The fitness center is nice, although kind of small. Timing is everything as far as getting a machine. They have a fantastic fitness trail! Very challenging (lots of hills). It isn't very well lit, but I never felt unsafe because there were several other people out on it. There is a great athletic field bordering the property as well. <br> <br>The residents of Brittany Commons are nice and quiet, mostly consisting of families and retirees. Not the most exciting crowd, but very pleasant. <br> <br>The office staff seems to be very friendly. Maintenance is okay. I have had a few minor problems. Some were fixed very quickly; other times it required me practically begging. <br> <br>Others have commented on parking. I will concur that it is atrocious. Visitor parking is minimal, and not always clearly marked. Just ask my boyfriend, who got towed recently. <br> <br>Addressing the supposed pest problem: It is Virginia. There are all kinds of creepy-crawlies in this state, and, yes, sometimes they get in the apartment. It is hardly what I would consider an infestation, just an annoyance. I would hardly consider it BC's fault. I have never seen any rodents. <br> <br>Other small annoyances: There are only two trash dumpsters. They are not centrally located, so most of the time I end up throwing a bag in my trunk and dropping it off on my way out the apartment complex. The community grills are a little sketchy. The front office intially advertised that they would sign for deliveries in your absence. This was a big draw for me since I commute to the north for work, and am never around during the day to sign for packages. Often, I don't even make it home while the post office is open. Three months after moving in, Brittany Commons stopped this practice, citing that it was an inconvenience for them. <br> <br>Watch out for rent increases too! <br> <br>I won't be renewing my lease at Brittany Commons, but through no fault on their account. I am simply tired of the long commute, and wish to find someplace closer. However, I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in living here. <br> <br>

Current Resident 950859

Resident • 2003 - 2004

Tell your neighbors to get a walkman

For the most part, our Brittany Commons Apartment mirrors that of a "fancy hotel room" (of course a little bigger). The apartments themselves are spacious, the cathedral ceilings on the third floor are hard to come by, and being that we were fortunate enough to get a new unit, it is very clean and well-maintained. HOWEVER, all of this seems to be overshadowed by the noise we often hear from neighbors through the thin walls and floor. One of the bedrooms that adjoins a neighbor is practically useless because everytime we go in there we are subjected to the neighbor's music. You can literally hear each word of the song as if you yourself were playing the music. You can also hear the neighbors talking and carrying on about their lives. Nice if you like to eavesdrop, but not so pleasant if you like to enjoy a quiet afternoon enjoying some tranquility. Perhaps the biggest issue is the neigbors below who have a habit of playing their music really loud, bass included. We can literally feel the floor vibrate throughout the entire apartment when this occurs. Embarassing when guests are over and very annoying when you're trying to sleep. The management has been notified of this, to my knowledge, on several occassions. Has anything been done about it? Who knows, because it keeps happening. It's a shame because this could be a very nice place to live if only those who also decided to live here respected their neighbors and grew up a little. It would also be nice if you felt heard by management and they cared enough to do something about it.

Current Resident 778065

Resident • 2003 - 2004

The apartments are quite nice but I would suggest shopping around before leasing an apartment from Brittany Commons. The staff can be difficult to deal with but you really just need to know who to deal with. Overall it is very expensive for what you actually receive. Parking is an aboslute nightmare.

Current Resident 689467

Resident • 2004

It's not worth your time....

I traveled out of state to view this property and initially, I was impressed. I never gave them any money or anything...so far so good. Ashley, leasing agent, was telling me about all of the great speacials so that I could move in by a certain time. She failed to verify the information the first time I was there. A week later, I was going to turn in my paper work, but OH...the information that she told me about the apt was ALL WRONG. Good thing that I didn't complete the process of filling out the paperwork and giving them some money. Also, how can you run a business but not be able to access your voice mail??? Why would you keep someone on hold forever, knowing they are calling you long distance. This property shows no sign of professionalism at all. They are really flaky.

Current Resident 675765

Resident • 2004

This place really SUCKS!!!

Be warned, this place is pure HELL!!! It may look nice from the outside, but once the Lease is signed, you've made a pack with the -----... <br> <br> RATS? DO you love RATS? Come on in, the water is fine and so are all the dead RATS in the pool and live ones in the apartments scurrying through your food leaving droppings behind. And does the ----- care? NO! "Eat them" they say, "boil them" they say,... <br> <br>

Current Resident 675827

Resident • 2004

DO NOT RENT HERE

<br> The last poster was correct. This place crawls of rats and nothing is being done about it. <br> You'd think at extremly high price rent that something could be done about these rats. The rats even attacked my cat. <br> <br>

soon2BSEP

Resident • 2004

Thank goodness I did not sign the lease!!!!!!!!

Thank goodness I was smart enough to back out of the lease before it was signed! I had a feeling from the beginning of the process that the ladies on staff did not have a clue as to what they were talking about. It seemed like every time we would call or go there to ask a question, stories immediately changed! It went from "you will get your $150 holding fee back once you sign the lease" to "you will not get your holding fee back unless you back out of the agreement within 72 hours of giving us the holding fee"... hmmmm... that wouldn't be so much of a problem if that statement were true. However, they did not bother to contact us until well over 100 hours after we gave them the holding fee! So basically we were lied to and our money was stolen. Seems like they are out to get your money, not your satisfaction and appreciation! We encountered MANY issues like this one that no one ever seemed to be able to give a correct answer. The staff there is horrible and you can tell that they are uneducated when it comes to customer relations. Hopefully the owners will realize this and hire new employees - then maybe this place will fit the image of what it portrays in their ads. But until then, I would not recommend this place to anyone! There are plenty of other beautiful apartments and townhomes throughout the Spotsylvania and Stafford area that are run by educated, professional individuals, so please do not commit yourselves to this atrocious place!

Current Resident 429873

Resident • 2003 - 2004

I love it here

I think Brittany Commons is a fantastic place to live. Everyone is so nice here, management and neighbors alike. I have had very few small, minor problems since moving in. Far from the catastrophes others have described. I have had one instance in where I had to call maintenance to fix my AC, and it took them about two days to come out. Parking has never been an issue, and management is always so polite when I go by the office. All of our appliances work, and had from the day we moved in. The apartments are gorgeous, and in my opinion very sound proof. I have not heard a single peep from any of the neighbors. I think it is a fantastic place to live.

Current Resident 225583

Resident • 2003 - 2004

Too little for too much

Promises, Promises. The local finders service will tell you it's a great place with lots of ammenities and services. They must have gotten the community wrong. They offer NOTHING as far as customer service once you've signed the lease. Give them the rent check and you may as well not exist. As long as it makes

Current Resident 43365

Resident • 2004

It´s not always a bad thing

Ok, so admittedly the staff in the office isn?t the brightest bulb in the box. And yes; it often takes a couple times of explaining your issue before they are able to understand. But I find I can often use this to my advantage: <br> <br>I got my girlfriend a dog for christmas, the first time I went in and talked to them about my ?doggie deposit? I was given a $400 quote. The second time I went in and talked to them about it, I was given a $200 quote?I wrote my check on the spot! <br> <br>About two years ago my girlfriend moved in with me and I wanted to add her to the lease. The first time I talked to them about it, I was given a litany of paperwork I had to turn in, blood samples (just kidding) etc etc. I left it for a month, and went back in as if I had never brought up the issue before. They gave me one sheet of paper to sign and that was it! <br> <br>So, don?t be so quick to be down on these dim-witted beauties, it could actually help you out one of these days! <br>

Current Resident 771185

Resident • 2004

Very BAD Place to live!!!!

It all has started the day I moved in. I signed my lease two weks before I was to move in. The day I moved in my place was not cleaned there was several items in my apartment that did not work. I went back to the office to see what was going on and they had no answer. It took them over a week to come out and fix the apartment. And to top it off they still have yet to fix the rest of the broken things and I have been there for over 3 months. The office workers dont care one way or the other about you once you sign a lease. I moved on the 3rd floor thinking I would not hear any of my neighbors boy was I wrong. You can hear everyone next to you and around you. The apartments are very cheap. Dont waste your time or MONEY going to this place.

mosey55

Resident • 2003 - 2004

Towed my car!!!!!!!!!!1

What a wonderful thing to do to a customer...I went out to get some things out of my car and what do you know, these jokers had it towed. The "policy" is to only provide two "stickers" to residents, even if they have three cars, which we do. The policy states residents must then park these cars in the "visitors" area. Problem was last night after running an errand, upon return all the spaces were taken. So, I parked next to my wifes Jeep where there were a boatload of spaces to park. Now, I have to spend $100 to get my car back from the towing company due to what I believe is anything but a customer oriented and ill conceived "policy" written by meatheads. Would I recommend this place? What do you think???

Current Resident 240062

Resident • 2004

Fruit Loop Mgr & unorgnzd. office

Great..you got youselves some pretty girls on your´re staff, but where´s the brains? These people got no idea of what is going on at this place. I like the place and what they "promise" but what they DELIVER is not what they promise! All I hear is excuse after excuse. Ya know, my rent don´t reflect their lack of delivery of services and ammenities. You pay more here and get LESS! Go somewhere where someone knows something about what they´re doin.. cuz this ain´t the place. You money is going to waste here. You can get a bedroom and a bathroom anywhere.. the rest of the boasts of this place are just that...boasts! Do the research for yourself...make sure your´re gettin what you pay for! <br> <br>From someone who´s paid less and gott´n a lot more! <br> <br>Moorgate Resd.

anneli

Resident • 2003 - 2004

They will evict you illegally and against the Lease-Law

I was given a letter from Brittany Commons on January 13, 2004 saying they saw me speeding around the complex the day prior from 2:00pm to 3:00pm. However, when I told them I was in a staff meeting with 12 other people some 70 miles away in Washington D.C. during that time, they gave me a 30 day notice to vacate because I complained to them about their letter and told them I planned to take them to Court (which I will) for constant non-stop harassment and slander. They give everyone here letters after letters of complaints for the most silliest of things (i.e., looking under the hood is "working on your car", drinking on your deck is "drinking in public", even if its a soda-pop exc...). EVERYONE gets these things; non-stop. <br> <br>First off, the Law §55-248.37 of the CODE OF VIRGINIA states the landlord "may terminate" a month-to-month tenancy by serving a written notice on the tenant "at least" thirty days prior to the next rent due date. The key words are "may terminate" and "at least", this is not a "MUST". Hence, the tenant and the landlord can agree on a different period no less then 30 days (i.e., 60 days as per the Lease). Brittany Commons will not even honor their own lease. Second, the written notice must be given "at least thirty days prior to the next rent due date." (i.e.., January 13, 2004 is not "at least thirty days prior" to February 1). Obviously the written notice to vacate in 30 days was given in retaliation to my arguments rebutting the speeding claim with evidence of my non-guilt (signed letters from co-workers). They couldn´t stand to admit wrong and thus evicted me in retaliation in violation of §55-248.50 which states a landlord shall not retaliate by bringing an action for possession (i.e.., eviction) after the tenant has complained to the landlord and/or wants to take or takes legal action. So they do not honor their own Lease and violate the Law habitually. <br> <br>As for who owns the road at Brittany Commons search for Brittany on this page: <br>http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/DownloadFiles/Minutes/bo <br> <br> <br>For Your Information: Many leases state the tenant must notify the Landlord of intent to vacate no less than 60 days prior to end of the Lease term and failure to give the required notice to vacate will result in forfeiture of the security deposit. But the CODE OF VIRGINIA states no such notice is required per §55-222. That is, if your Lease says it terminates on Day X, no notice of any type is required per the Law as supported by the Courts: http://www.courts.state.va.us/txtops/1991810.txt <br> <br>For the links listed below, add a plus sign (located above and on your "=" key ) between "cod" without spaces. This site deletes the plus sign. <br> <br> <br> <br>§55-248.37: <br> <br>http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000 cod 55-248.37 <br> <br>§55-222: <br> <br>http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000 cod 55-222 <br> <br>§55-248.50 <br> <br>http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000 cod 55-248.50 <br>

kdreeves

Resident • 2004 - 2006

Three Years of Residency @ B.C.

Preface: This is my last installment after three years of residence, and gives impressions throughout that time. I am a public school teacher, and after three years at Brittany Commons, my wife and I now own a home in the area.<br><br>Please remember that most people who get on the Internet to talk about their apartment living experiences are looking to vent and rant about how they've been wronged. Be objective in your evaluations, and always come out to see this place before you make a decision. You're only going to hear nightmares from people, and most of them didn't live here long. Here's one man's opinion who was very pleased with the property, having been a homeowner prior to renting, and having held and still holding very high expectations for my place of residence.<br><br>Part One - 2003<br><br>My wife and I have just moved in to the Phase III portion of Brittany Commons. We shopped around to nearly every other major apartment complex in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, save Aquia Terrace which did not have any availability.<br><br>From the moment we stepped in the door at Brittany Commons, we knew it was different, and that we had found our new home.<br><br>The apartments are truly gorgeous. Yes, there are some signs that the construction is "mass manufactured," with some corners not perfectly square and some quarter-round along the toeboards to hide gaps, but one cannot question that the apartments are well made. The walls are not as soundproofed as one might like, but it�s nothing the usual apartment dweller isn�t used to. The windows, as with nearly all windows in Virginia, are lesser quality than this native New Yorker would like, but everything was clean and in order.<br><br>My viciously meticulous inspection of our unit prior to signing revealed a truly spotless place. Built in 2002, and lived in at least once in that time, I found the unit had been very carefully cleaned to a professional grade. Some crevices were not perfectly repainted, and there were a couple of tiny dings here and there, particularly in the steel front door, but no structural flaws or gross improprieties.<br><br>I am horrifically bug-phobic, and granted it is still winter, but I have seen no indications of pest problems. I was hard pressed to even find a single beneficial house spider, let alone anything else. (I have since my first inspection, found one spider, which was transplanted back outside.)<br><br>Our unit is a one bedroom with den in the newest section, Phase III, on the second floor. The apartment is huge, spacious, and gorgeous. All of the appliances are new and fully functional. The gas fireplace is a breeze and the environmental controls are state-of-the-art. Lighting and electrical wiring is well-laid-out and intelligently installed. Outlets are plentiful. Plumbing is good, for the most part. The low-volume flush toilets often require a second flush, but water is included, so hey, a couple extra seconds is no big deal. Water pressure is fine for all your hydrophiliacs out there. Ceiling fans appear in two of our rooms, though the one in the main room was not properly cleaned prior to move in. Allergy-prone individuals should be sure to inspect the apartment for thorough cleaning prior to move in, especially with high ceilings. Sometimes these things are overlooked, and that�s not a BC thing but a piece of advice for any apartment hunter.<br><br>The paint, as one reviewer did indicate, is a flat paint, and "cheap" is not the right word. Flat paint shows marring very easily, and a semigloss would have been a better choice maintenance-wise, but if you don�t go bumping into things often, you�ll be fine. Painting your own colors is not permitted, coincidentally, though the default earthtone-and-off-white scheme is far from offensive, even for eclectic or particular tastes.<br><br>The foyer areas outside each apartment, at least in Phase III, are large, airy, spacious, and VERY well lit with Mercury lamps that don�t buzz much and provide warm, safe lighting.<br><br>While we have neither pets nor children, the community appears very friendly to both.<br><br>Parking is, simply put, not a problem in Phase III. Be forewarned, however, that towing is apparently quite an issue here, something we found out very quickly. Be SURE to only park your vehicle in Visitor spots if you�re not bearing a Brittany Commons sticker.<br><br>Trash compactors are available in two locations, both of which are large and easily accessible.<br><br>Grounds are kept immaculately clean. The gates are a nice little "extra," though one has been broken since we got here and we still don�t have a code that opens them for us. (The code we have still doesn�t work... Could present a problem, but after the weekend, I�m sure we�ll work it out.)<br><br>We have a very positive outlook for our happiness here. The office staff has been friendly, supportive, helpful, and has gone above and beyond in every one of our many dealings with them up to this point. Sandy, our main representative, has been truly incredible with her flexibility, her enthusiasm, and her work ethic. We have also dealt with Amy, Barbara, and Tricia, all of whom have been informative, helpful, intelligent, and have represented BC very well. In short, we are most impressed with the office staff, and certainly expect that will continue.<br><br>In short, BC is not the cheapest place around, but it shows. There are a lot of pluses to this area. It�s INCREDIBLY centrally located, just ten minutes at the most from I-95, and within 2 minutes of groceries, banks, gas stations, food... Delivery is easy and readily available for most cuisines and palates. It�s a beautiful place to live, and while it is big, it is also very friendly. Our neighbors are terrific and seem to love it here.<br><br>I will be sure to follow-up with another review in six months or a year. In the meantime, feel free to email at keith@kdreeves.com if you have any questions about our experiences, or about this review.<br><br>Part Two - 2003<br><br>Follow up #1, 1/6/03: Regarding the gate issue, I popped in to see Patricia about the gate issue, and she and Amy got right on it, informed us they had been having some trouble with it, and gave us an alternative code to use in the meantime. Professional, friendly, and skilled, these people!! <br><br>Follow up #2, 1/8/03: Maintenance is simply not an issue here, folks. One day after turning in our move-in report, a very nice gentleman came up to our place and tweaked the slow-flushing toilet and recaulked a little separation on the computer desk that hardly warranted any attention. Other reviewers who said the staff doesn�t care either didn�t use proper channels, or must have dealt with their problems in another way... following the methods BC asks its residents to use resulted in immediate, effective, professional problem-solving.<br><br>Part Three - 2004<br><br>Follow up #3, 5/4/04: Five months and still the best apartment home you can imagine. My pilot light went out, and I gave a buzz to 24-hour emergency maintenance, not wanting to do it myself for fear of violating my renter's agreement. One of the maintenance staff, just the nicest and most competent guy, came straight over, and not only took care of the immediate problem - the pilot light on our water heater - but addressed the UNDERLYING problem, a draft coming around the exhaust pipe flange. He used a duct seal to temporarily fix the problem, and returned promptly the following morning to properly seal the drafts with expanding foam. This is the ONLY time I've had to call maintenance after the move-in touch-ups. I've put the heat and the A/C through the paces, and the apartment are very easy to keep comfortable no matter what's going on outside. Grounds are STUNNING in the spring, I've barbequed outside with our neighbors in the public areas, and I've had a friend come take a look and decide to move in. Several people have emailed from around the northeast, and I continue to invite anyone who would like to contact me with specific questions. I fervently believe the other reviewers had isolated or miscommunicated experiences, and were just looking to take their anger out in a public forum.<br><br>In short, Brittany Commons is the finest home in which I've ever lived, exceeding even the creature comforts of owning my own home. I cannot recommend this place highly enough, or the wonderful staff you will find here. Come visit!<br><br>Part Four - 2005<br><br>Follow up #5, 5/8/05: It's been just over a year since my last review, so I figured it's time for a revisiting. Not too much has changed! Our rent went up $30 this year, which considering that there's a new housing development across the street with homes starting in the half-million-dollar range, isn't too bad.<br><br>Only two maintenance issues have arisen in the past year. Firstly, the cabinets above my computer desk just randomly came off of the wall. They didn't fall completely down, but they did pull away from their supports, and I suppose it could have been a really big deal if there had been fragile materials underneath it or valuables within it, but luckily no harm done. I reported the issue to maintenance, and it took probably a week or so for them to come around and resecure it, but it was done securely, if not the prettiest repair job in the world. The second maintenance issue was mildewing caulk around the escutcheon in the shower. Now, we keep our shower clean, but mildewed caulk indicates a less-than-100% silicone composition to me, and that's not a smart plumbing decision. However, I simply retightened the escutcheon, razored off the old caulk, and reapplied a proper 100%-silicone sealant and poof, good as new. I could have called maintenance to do this, I'm sure, but I didn't want to wait a week with the potential for water damage behind the shower. We are on the second floor after all!<br><br>There was a hot tub when we moved in, but within the past year, it was removed due to a few residents using it for "inappropriate recreational activities." Well, that's not exactly how I'd have liked to see that handled. A surveillance camera would have been a great deterrent, or locking it late at night... removing it as an amenity seemed like a poor decision on the part of the management, but it doesn't particularly affect me. (I'm a Sagittarius. Water? No thanks!)<br><br>We did have a neighbor move in who, when she set her stereo against the wall adjoining our apartment, created quite a lot of noise, but after she relocated it, the problem was solved, indicating that yet again people simply need to use good community skills when living in close proximity. Our friends who moved from an upstairs apartment to a downstairs apartment indicate that living on the ground floor is, indeed, significantly louder in terms of upstairs foot traffic and general sound transfer than living on the second floor. If sound is a huge concern, given that information, I might recommend an upstairs apartment.<br><br>Our neighbors continue to be generally friendly, amiable, and pleasant.<br><br>There is another assisted living facility being built on Brittany Commons Boulevard that has caused some fairly irritating traffic and cable service interruptions for the past few months, but I expect that to decline once construction is complete.<br><br>Coincidentally, the front office has started putting balloons on the gates... and I think that's pretty cheesy, personally. If anybody from B.C. reads this... it doesn't say "classy place to live," it says "Bozo the clown works here." Not exactly the Cullen way, eh?<br><br>Anyways, overall, we still love it here, and can't imagine living anywhere else. The more friends I meet, the more places I visit, and the more apartments I experience in the greater Fredericksburg area... the happier I am to live at Brittany Commons.<br><br>Again, I continue to invite anyone to email me with "real world" questions and concerns if you're considering joining us!<br><br>By the way, two last notes after reading through all of these... Number one: If your car gets towed, it's probably your own fault. Don't park on the white lines, keep your sticker on your car, and keep your vehicle registered. Enough said. Number two: Any reviewer that insinuates that the office staff is less capable due to gender of all stupid things, as one of the charming and sexist reviews in here states, is a reviewer that I don't WANT to live near. The professionals in the front office are very capable and very easy to communicate with, and anyone who says otherwise is lacking communication skills.<br><br>Part Five - 2006 and Move Out<br><br>Well, after three years, a few things do stand clear in retrospect:<br><br>Firstly, the apartment aged fairly well in some ways. No window problems, no electrical problems, everything works the way it should. A few nail pops, the seam tape on the cathedral ceiling wasn't done particularly well and came loose in our third year, and the carpet... Well, the carpet is gross. I suppose it wasn't intended to be the highest quality carpet, and after three solid years of living on it, I suppose it's time for replacement. We were not charged a dime for the carpet, despite the fact that we cleaned and cleaned and cleaned the thing and it still wasn't clean. I assume that we weren't charged because it's assumed the carpet will wear out in the amount of time we lived there.<br><br>It was our only charge. We were told the entire remainder of our security deposit would be forwarded in 30 to 45 days. (That was almost a month ago, so we're still waiting, will update this when we do get it.) Move out was easy and simple, and as always, my girl Amy Rivenburg, the maintenance manager, had her head on her shoulders and did the job right.<br><br>I do have to say that as I reflect on the quality of the management overall that the office staff began as solid, together, responsible, and competent, and there did seem to be quite a backslide in organization and pro-customer orientation... except for maintenance. EVERY repair person and manager I dealt with was professional, capable, and effective in solving problems. I saw ZERO problems with the maintenance people. Front office staff... eh. I can see why some people aren't thrilled. No rocket science, and the new property manager doesn't seem to be seriously committed to keeping things as immaculate as they once were.<br><br>The gates still break regularly, a lot of the landscaping needs to be cut back, and for me, the big issue is the entryways of the apartment buildings themselves.<br><br>For us, our "alley" or "balcony" or whatever you want to call the entrance hall was never clean starting about a year and a half ago. Wasps like to next up in the far corners of many buildings, and from your reading, you know I'm not down with that. We also had Barn Swallows nesting in our building, 10208. Now, I'm a bird lover, so this was fine. Bonnie and Clyde were our parents, and we had four little Peepers hatch each of the last two summers. The nest and the birds was no biggie to me, but the MASSIVE amounts of bird droppings that went totally uncleaned and unattended for two summers save a single pre-winter cleaning last year was pretty unsightly.<br><br>Other than that, no problems... except our neighbor.<br><br>Now, I realize that the management can only do so much about this, but when we moved in, EVERYONE around us was a hardworking professional with at least half a brain. EVERYONE in our corridor was a decent person, and any little "hey would you minds" were always met with positive conversation and a peaceable resolution.<br><br>Not so with our last neighbor. Loud, scary, creepy, bigoted, and some seriously strange goings on. Constant reminders and notices hung on the door. We didn't feel safe living next to him, and it was our final indicator that the community really had taken a turn for the worse, so we elected to seriously pursue homeownership for the second time in our lives, and we're now thrilled in a gorgeous new community about 10 minutes from our old apartment.<br><br>It's not as clean as it used to be, the staff (again, with the HUGE exception of the awesome, awesome maintenance staff) isn't quite what it used to be, the neighbors aren't quite the caliber of person as they once were, and they seem to be putting more energy into putting up cheeseball Burma-Shave style advertising in the front yard than really scrubbing the place up.<br><br>If Beverly is serious about keeping the clientele up and restoring B.C.'s image as a "premiere gated community," she needs to get people to put their feet on the ground, cut back the overgrowth, powerwash the WHOLE PLACE, and start keeping up the upkeep.<br><br>That said, our rent went up once in three years by like forty bucks, and for a rental community, it was just fine. I've heard very few complaints from neighbors and from others about B.C. compared to some of the shadier, less-appointed places around.<br><br>Keep in mind my friends, this is a RENTAL PROPERTY. It's not a house. It's not built like a house. It'll never be totally silent. It'll never be everything you want it to be. It'll never be a seriously solidly-built luxury getaway like some cushy hotel. If you want the best out of housing, invest in your own property.<br><br>Rating-wise, I am downgrading a few things from the number of stars I gave them previously, because this isn't quite the place it used to be. As far as apartment complexes in the area go, it's still pretty darned nice, but there HAS been a slip since the new manager took over.<br><br>But if you're looking to rent, and you know what renting is like, if you're a serious tenant, you should consider B.C. It was a "nice" place to live, and while I look at my brand new home in Fredericksburg and think "how did we ever live any other way," I recall a time when I made a lot less money and needed a place to get started in Virginia.<br><br>Brittany Commons was our home for three years, and I'm glad it was.

Current Resident 37818

Resident • 2003

Don´t move here!

I have lived here at Brittany Commons for over 6 months now and I cannot wait to get out of here. The apt is beautiful but so poorly made. When I moved in I thought I had a real deal with the looks and all the features of this place. No one had ever lived in my apt before. But once I moved in, I found that nothing really worked. We have spiders that we cannot get rid of. Our bathrooms are a constant problem. Our toliets run day and night and the showers do not get hot until they have ran for at least 5 minutes. <br> <br>Within the first week here, my patio door wouldn´t open, it was stuck. The door in the bathroom fell off. The hot water heater had to be replaced and this is a brand new apt. <br> <br>And the security gates here are a joke. The only time they are closed is for the holidays so that this place seems like a good place to live. What a joke. <br> <br>If you are looking, save your money and move to another place. Looks aren´t always what they seem. <br> <br>And I agree with someone else. Management sucks here. They could care less if you have a problem or not!

Current Resident 863505

Resident • 2003

Reflection on the apartment

I thought i was getting a high quality apartment with the large monthly payment amount, but instead after only a few weeks of living here, i have found the the walls have cheap paint on them and other small items that will make the moving out process hard for me to return to original specifications. <br> <br>The floors are thin, and i can hear the upstairs tenant every time he/she walks up there. Some mornings it is my alram to start my day. i have live in much cheaper places that i did not experience this problem with. <br> <br>I dwell on the fact that i should have shopped around for another place to live that would give me more for the money. <br> <br>Overall when i think of paying them just over 11,000 more dollars over the next year until october2004, i mentally kick myself n the butt over it.

Current Resident 827762

Resident • 1999 - 2003

Nice office staff, Kathleen makes us feel at home. Many nice events for the tenants. Very nice place, lots of beautiful landscaping.

Current Resident 827979

Resident • 2003

WHERE´S MY MANAGER

Yesterday I approached the weekend office people and tried to get an appt. to talk to the mangager. I was informed that my community was without a mgr. I can´t imagine a corp. that would allow this to happen without informing the tenants. I have spoken to the management at Brittany before and gotten wonderful results. My finance and I have never felt as rejected as we did yesterday. Brittany Commons used to be a great place to live....now I´m not so sure. If you don´t have a mgr. at all then what do you have. We had a great relationship with the mgr. at Brittany and would like an explination. We feel we are due. These people have been here for us and what happened?? What have you done? Developers SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We want our stability back...Please respond Cullen...and tell me where my peace of mind went????????????????????????

Current Resident 673537

Resident • 2003

Maintenance is HORRIBLE!

For the most part, I will have to agree with the person who wrote before me. The apartments are decent. There is really only one staff member that I ever get anything accomplished with. <br>The complaint I have is with the maintenance. You would think that with a brand new apartment with new appliances there would have been some type of check prior to renting the apartment out. Nope! We had voiced our complaint over a month ago and the response "It may take 2 days to a week because of the shortage of staff" has been a common response. With rent over $1,000.00 per month you would think they would hire more service people. Especially since they have a ton of apartments they just built. <br>Here I am, my lease almost up. Still no dishwasher and still no ice-maker. (The dishwasher is leaking, as I am writing, to the apartment below and I haven´t even used it yet). They were suppose to be here tonight but it´s already past 7pm and the office closed at 6. <br>Aside from the maintenance issues, they were very quick to add additional charges to our rent for a check that was returned. When WE investigated the incident, it was discovered that the fault was on THEIR bank sending our check to the wrong bank. After we proved our integrity, they finally accepted another check with no apologies or sympathy. <br>This has thus far been the worst experience in apartment rental we have had. Hopefully they will read this and work to improve their services for others. Right now, I just feel it is too late for us. <br>