Complaint Review: Azure Creek - Cave Creek Arizona

   I moved into the Equity Residential owned Azure Creek apartments located in Cave Creek back on January 2009. My initial impression of the community turned out to be very wrong., and my girlfriend and I soon found out that life within Azure Creek was nothing short of a complete nightmare.

   We moved into the largest unit they have, 2 bedroom, 2 bath, just over 1000 square feet. Each apartment receives one reserved spot, so I also decided to rent a 1 car garage unit since we have two vehicles and non reserved parking spaces are very sparse in the community. A few time a week, a vehicle would be parked in front of my garage, making it either impossible for me to pull my truck out of the garage, to go to work in the morning for example, or pull into the garage when coming home. Management believes this is part of apartment living and the furthest they would go in resolving this issue, after numerous complaints, is posting a note on the window of the vehicles to please move. Not much help. On the weekends, certain apartment residents would drive their atvs, dirt bikes, etc. around the community all day long. They circle the community making noise and a dangerous environment in the parking lot. The residents there have continued to get sleazier throughout the years from what I have read from other peoples reviews on Azure Creek. Phoenix police would be there almost on a nightly basis looking for someone within the apartments, and on a few occasions knocked on my door, asking about our neighbor. Azure Creek management allows pets, and although they claim they do not allow large pets, plenty live within the community. Barking at night is common, and just recently they had to evict a very large dog from a neighbors apartment for biting children that live in the community. These nuisances were part of living at Azure Creek. I was paying a little over $1200/month in the middle of this recession, for a 1 car garage, and 1000 sq ft. apartment. My girlfriend and I knew we had to get out of this hell hole of a community and had no idea that the worst was still to come.

   In January 2010, we decided to renew our lease and agreed that we would not be living here next year and would save money to get out of this unpleasant environment. We were shocked when we renewed our lease in January of this year that management tried to raise our rent. I thought it would stay the same, and I asked them how they could justify raising rent in this economy? They finally agreed to lower my garage payment and raise the rent which in the end kept the rent the same. From what I have read about Equity Residential owned communities on RipoffReport.com, they will always try and raise your rent when you renew, banking on the fact that it is a pain for the residents to move and many people will just agree to the increase out of convenience. Summer 2010 came, and an opportunity arose for us to get out of the apartment. A 2400 sq. ft. home in a guard gated community was available for rent and was only $100 more per month than the rent we were paying at Azure Creek. We knew we had to take this opportunity so I went to the apartment managers and asked them how I can get out of the lease. They told me two months rent, and they would be willing to accept 30 days notice. This seemed fair to me.

I gave them written notice on a form they gave me. I noticed it asked for the 2 months rent due at the time the notice was given. I took the notice to the managers office and brought a blank check to fill out for the total due which I believed they would give me. They accepted the notice and told me they did not know exactly how much was due and to hold onto the check for know. I gave them my phone number and told them to call me when you find out the amount and I will bring the check over. I had the money and wanted to put living here behind me, take care of it and get the heck out. A weeks goes by and I hadnt heard from them, so I called. They told me they would have to get back to me for the amount. They didnt know if there was tax, garage rent due, final utilities, etc. on the bill. Another week goes by and the same thing happens. It gets down to the final week that I am at the apartments and they are still unable to tell me the total due to get out, so I start to think maybe they wont even ask for the money because they probably understand how much it sucks living there and they may feel sorry.

My final day at the apartment arrives. We are completely moved out and I get home from work, now living in our new home. I get a phone call at the apartment office at 6:15pm, and they ask me where the money is. I told them that they have been unable to get me the total for the past month, and that I can bring a check by first thing tomorrow morning. The woman, Sandra tells me if they dont receive the check today, I will be charged for another days rent, and they may begin my lease again and start charging me monthly rent again. Unable to get there within the remaining 30 minutes they would be there on June 30th, I went by on July 1st with a check in hand. Sandra tells me they have added an additional days rent and fees since I didnt make it there in time yesterday. I explained how I have wanted to pay for the past month, but due to their incompetence they have been unable to tell me the amount. She didnt want to hear it. She insisted I pay the extra day and fees, and told me that was doing me a favor because she should add even more additional charges to the total.

She became irate when I explained I would not pay those additional charges, and would only be willing to pay the initial amount. She became very irrational and angry about the situation, mainly because I feel she knew she dropped the ball and was never able to provide me with the amount owed. I told her I was leaving and would come back to talk to the main Azure Creek property manager who at the time was out on lunch. In a few hours I returned and explained the situation to him. After talking to him he realized that the amount Sandra was telling me to pay was almost $1,200 more than what was required. He also offered to remove the additional days fees. He was pleasant to deal with and far more professional. Sandra was trying to get me to pay 3 months rent, and twice the amount for my utilities owed. I was happy I waited to talk to her manager. I wrote him the check and thought I could finally put this situation behind me. He told me I would receive my $250 security deposit refund in the mail in a couple weeks after they inspect the apartment.

   A week goes by and I receive a bill in the mail. They have wiped out my security deposit and are charging me close to $600 for leaving the apartment unclean and scuff marks on the walls. This came as a complete surprise as we had spent a week moving and thoroughly cleaned the apartment and left it almost exactly the way it was when we moved in. There was some minor wear on the carpets, probably needed to be steam cleaned, and there were some nail holes on the walls were the pictures were hanging which I had filled with spackle and just needed to be painted. According to the resident handbook, this was supposed to be acceptable. I had noted that the carpet wasnt perfect when I moved in and some scuff marks were on the walls when I did my initial inspection when I moved in. They are now making up information, and charging me to repaint the entire apartment, clean it, replace stove burner pans, etc. This is absolutely absurd. I left this place in great condition and thoroughly cleaned.

I had lived in an apartment before, Pillar community near Scottsdale Rd. & Frank Lloyd Wright, and cleaned the apartment and wasnt charged when I left there. Out of spite, they are trying to charge me additional fees and this is criminal. I want people to know about the tactics and criminal behavior that can be found at Azure Creek. I will not pay this ridiculous bill, and I am currently working on the small claims court process to rectify this ridiculous grudge that I believe the management has against me. If you are in the Cave Creek area, and are looking for an apartment, steer clear of Azure Creek. There are many houses available for rent, for the same price you would waste being unhappy at Azure Creek. There is another apartment complex located nearby in Carefree, Alta Vista, that may be worth checking out. Just dont give these crooks at Azure Creek / Equity Residential a nickel. Here are some other reviews on Azure Creek that can be found all over the internet. The word is getting out about this place :

Management very cheerful but unable to take care of the most basic problems. Pool noise very loud ALL night, no closed hours. Unwilling to work with semi-permanent residents (leave during hottest months) on rental charges or pet fees. on-line billing unclear and difficult to pay... Rarely answer office phone. -Anonymous, December, 2009

This complex has changed, and not for the best. As the rents have gotten lower, so has the class of the tenants, their behavior and the vehicles. Noise levels are up due to cramped spaces for the ever increasing families with children moving in. Dog restrictions no longer exist and large nasty feces are on the grounds daily. Tenants squeal out of the parking lots in their cars, even though we have a 35 mile an hour speed limit in front of the complex. Management does not walk the property often enough, so the exterior patios have become unsightly storage areas, giving some buildings a slighlty "ghetto" effect. We are moving out when the lease is up, in anticipation of paying a higher monthly rent for a better environment. - Anonymous, December, 2009

The property is very nice I have lived here for a year and have not experienced any tenant related issues however the manger and the staff are helpless if you every need anything. When I first considered this complex they advertised the deposit for one price then they said it was incorrect type and demanded the full deposit price. Everything is fine as long as they are getting there way but if you ever need comopliance on mangement end there is nothing they can do to help. I have lived in places with far more professinal and understanding personnel. Anonymous, August, 2008

Front office staff is clueless and has no idea of what the words "customer service" means. To bad because the area and property itself is nice. -Anonymous, April, 2007

We have lived at Azure Creek for almost 4 years. The last year has been a living hell since Greystar assumed management. Their former manager, Julie, was promoted to District Manager and she has been absolutely abusive and ruthless in trying to find all sorts of ways to charge us large amounts of money in addition to our already high rent. She is well known by all existing tenants as an abusive, greedy b***tch and retaliates against everyone who doesn't cow-tow to her demands. Many of us make arrangements with the current apartment manager, Kellie, who is pretty good about working with tenants. But Julie comes along, sticks her nose in and just overrules Kellie every time. The property is not well maintained, the business center and spa especially that a portion of rent here pays for is always broken and unavailable for use. Yet no one has ever been given a refund of that rent portion at all and no effort to better maintain what we're paying for has ever been made. The rent is far higher at Azure Creek than anywhere else in this area and can't be justified for what you get. Our lease will be up in just a few months are we are OUTTA here. Don't buy the schmooze when you come to look. They won't tell you the truth but you'll find out too late and they won't do anything about it! - Anonymous, December 2004

 I am glad I found out about this site so that I may share my experience with the rest of the apartment lookers. A couple months back I went to look at an apartment and was very displeased with the staff and the grounds. I was taken around the property by the assistant manager who must have thought her job was on the streets. She was dressed VERY unprofessional and thought she was hot stuff as she gave me the fakest smiles and walked in long fast strides. She had on a pleated mini skirt and a low cut fitted top which showed the world her fakies.. I swear when the wind blew I could see her rearend... Very uncalled for when showing an apartment as expensive as they are and also sending out the wrong signals. The most repulsive part is that when she pushed her back I noticed her armpits werent shaved and she could have benefited from a piece of gum. The manager also wore an extremely low cut top which she had to keep adjusting so that I wouldnt catch a glimpse. Now tell me.. Is that what high class is coming to' What happened to training people to become professionals' Someone in the main office should really do something about this properties office staff because I already told several people and they agreed that they would never live in such a place. I wouldnt be comfortable living there knowing that the staff only cares about their appearance. I rented down the street because the first impression I got there was very nice and professional and I feel that they will be attentative to my needs and run a more upscale living environment. Im a single guy and was turned off by her tastelessness. Its amazing what people will try to do for a sale. -Anonymous, December 2003

 I moved in not that long ago and I thought it was going to be great.. The staff was nice and the place was beautiful.. I started noticing that the ladies in the office werent as nice as I thought because I had a question regarding rent and free rent.. well I got an "im annoyed but I have to fake niceness to get rid of you tone" from one of the blond ladies there. Ive noticed people being loud and having grills on their patios when I was told I couldnt have one.. One of the ladies from the office was out in the pool one night drinking and all over her boyfriend which I thought was unappropriate and being loud. I realize she has to live but that setting a bad example. Otherwise my living here is real nice.. The repairmen are the best and punctual and dont give me fake hi's and smiles. Well thats it. -Anonymous, July, 2003

forget about it. This is easily the worst managed apartment complex we have ever lived in. although it LOOKS great the managers are evil. -Anonymous, June, 2003