University Estates at Austin

Cheap and convenient… if they don’t find a way to fine you. The only problem here that has bothered me the most is getting fined repeatedly for my cats. They tried not to honor an agreement I had made after paying for my fur babies and are making me pay an extra $ 400 even though I already paid $ 1000 for my pets. Don’t ever believe anything they tell you unless you have it in writing and signed, because they will treat you like an idiot and get you on technicalities on the contract. If you are forced to live here because you’re on a budget, make sure to READ that contract METICULOUSLY. Also, maintenance requests take forever, and they don’t always replace outdated carpet (they told me I had to pay $ 250 to replace old carpet that was there before I even moved in and now its all dirty), there was a leak in my bathroom and basically just made a huge hole in the wall and patched it, and when new residents move in they just paint over everything. However, since I was able to find documentation proving that I made said prior arrangement for my pets, they could not fine me the $ 400 in the end. Like I said, read everything and document EVERYTHING.

I’ll give the benefits first. Overall the biggest asset that UE has going for it is its convenience and affordability. For the price, it’s probably the most cost effective student living in the Austin area. It’s location is close to grocery stores (mainly HEB) and fast food restaurants. The amenities are also nice. The pool is recently refurbished and the gym has just enough equipment to get a good workout in. In terms of commute to the UT campus, it’s about a 15 – 20 minute trip if there is no traffic. With heavy traffic (morning and afternoon rush hour), the trip can take 30 – 45 minutes… Now here are the negatives. Firstly the units could use major remodeling compared to local housing competition. The carpets (unless newly installed) have sustained obvious wear and tear. The appliances are basic and white. All in all, many of the units in the complex are vastly outdated. Guest parking is limited here. Visitor parking is basically non-​existent Thursday-​Sunday. Management can be difficult to work with at times. Generally they are nice but at the end of the day they have no obligation other than to take your money. So keep that in mind when you’re working with them… UE is a good place to live if you’re conscious about money. It’s affordable and convenient. Just don’t expect a luxurious lifestyle and you’ll be fine.

Alright… I’ve been waiting to write this review so here it goes. (Only thing that stinks is that University Estates won’t read this and will still treat residents the same)
First of all, if I could give this –6 stars, I totally would. There are countless stories I could write about but I’ll try and keep it brief.
THIS PLACE BLEW CHUNKS!!!
The management was horrible to say the least. Like others mentioned, they want your money, and then some more of your money. I hardly talked to anyone that was genuinely concerned or cared about the many problems my roommates and I dealt with.
1. Visitor parking was RIDICULOUS. Like, really? 20 spots to like every 50 – 60 spots for actual residents.
2. Putting in a maintenance request and getting a response AND getting the guys to actually fix the problem was such a hassle. There was literally this one time where they re-​modeled our kitchen, broke our sink and said…“tell the front office that this is broken.” Ummmmmm??? So the guys fix it and during the last two weeks, it just broke again (which we’ll probably get charged for.)
3. Pool hours blew. It was under construction for like ever and then they’re only «open» during the little business hours they’re open during.
4. The WHOLE YEAR, my roommates and I were NEVER charged for electricity. We never went over but all of a sudden, during move out, we find out that we went over (which also happened to other residents I randomly talked to.) I get in line which was extremely long and they said «oh, before you move out, you have to get a money order to pay that.» I was literally ready to move out but I had to get that money order and then get back in line. They could’ve easily sent me an email telling me I went over but didn’t.
5. And finally, we find out that we have to cover up all our holes caused by thumbtacks on our walls. They refer us to a paint store where they have some available for UE residents and make us pay for it ourselves? Like… why not advise us not to use thumbtacks at all?
UGHHHH…don’t live here. Please. Don’t give them more money. That’s all they care about. For real.
Poop you UE… poop you.

I love having our power cut off for no apparent reason and the answering phone service not be available either… Cannot wait to leave this hell hole.

My first month of moving in here has been terrible so far. I get to my new room only to find there’s vomit stains on the carpet. Not only that but there’s cat hair everywhere, and I’m extremely allergic to cats. I let the office know and they refused to replace the carpets. After a whole week of living there, the whole building floods from a pipe breaking and floods the whole apartment. Drywalls are collapsing, and all the dirty carpets are now soaked and smell terrible. I can’t even shower in my own shower because there’s a huge water pump in the tub, and industrial fans everywhere to help dry up the water everywhere. The whole apartment is now humid and smells terrible. The water damage ruined my electronics, and now I have to make an insurance claim to get them fixed. Once you’ve signed your lease, they won’t do a single thing for you.

Saw the sneaky UE might have a new Unilocal page, terrible place with terrible management, don’t let the low prices trick you, you get what you pay for.

Horrible, horrible, horrible. DO NOT LIVE HERE! The area is dangerous; just visiting you will notice all the cops patrolling. There was a guy that was murdered the first semester I was there (drugs). It was a regular occurrence to hear my neighbors physically fighting in their apartment. There was one time when I looked out my window to see one of my neighbors jump on the others windshield and stomp it until it caved in. The desk staff are rude and unhelpful. The amenities suck; the pool is always dirty, the gym is small and the machines are always broken. Don’t let them sell you on that it’s only 5 miles from campus! Taking the bus, it takes 45 minutes to get to campus because of the traffic on I35!!! This is a huge time drain for someone with a busy schedule. The apartments themselves are ugly, dirty, and need major renovation. Very little visitor parking. All in all, not a good idea to live here, and there are much better options available for students.

DO NOT LIVE HERE.
I know, I know– negative apartment reviews are pretty common anywhere. With that in mind, I tried to ignore the mishaps and poor service given to me by this apartment complex from day 1 in order to give a balanced review of the place.
I’ve been living here for about a month and I already can’t wait to move out. Here’s why:
No matter what anyone at the front office tells you at first, the complex does NOT offer subleases. I moved in after being offered a sublease by a resident, just needing a place for the summer. I was told AFTER move-​in that I needed to sign something called a Reassignment Form– this meaning that I would assume all damages from the previous tenant no matter what. Was this in the lease? Only in one vaguely worded sentence about living in the apartment «As-​is», with the 28-​page lease.
Maintenance SUCKS. At first I ignored my new roommates’ warnings that work orders were never filled, and was happy that maintenance came in the day after I submitted work orders at the front office. However, almost none of the orders (for the many, many damages my predecessor left behind) were filled properly. This required the workers to come in two or more times to fix each individual error– including my toilet running nonstop and a leaky garbage disposal.
My air conditioner has not been functioning the entire time I’ve lived here. I have placed three separate work orders.
They spring «renovations» on tenants without any consideration for their needs. We were notified of a carpet replacement a few weeks in advance, sure… but we had to move everything out of our bedrooms for the day, and even more of my possessions were haphazardly tossed into my bathtub by the carpet people, who left a complete mess behind and did not replace my furniture the way it was. I am paying plenty of money enough and am not able to use the entire clubhouse, as they are taking the entire summer to renovate that as well. It could use it– I tried the fitness room and about 2 out of 7 workout machines were still in usable shape.
Last but not least– there is in NO WAY sufficient visitor parking. My boyfriend got towed after searching the entire complex (wasn’t the first time, and my other visitors have had the same problem DURING THE SUMMER in this college student complex) for a spot, and was charged nearly $ 200 to get his car back. We submitted a complaint to the office and the property manager was unbelievably rude and condescending, talking to us as if we were children instead of college graduates. I quote her argument to my boyfriend– «You parked against our policy by free will choice. You could have parked on the street». My building is about a quarter of a mile from the entrance and street. It’s unacceptable to pay for amenities such as visitor parking, etc. when they are not made available to use.
NOTE TO PROSPECTIVE RESIDENTS: She did not believe that there wasn’t enough parking and even said they were considering taking some away. Imagine that during the school year.
I never write these kinds of negative reviews. I am actually a very passive and tolerant person… but this has gone on for too long. By far the worst renting experience I have ever had. Please do yourself a favor and live anywhere else.