Rainier Meadows

Where to begin? I will do my best to be objective as possible, as I value fair, non-​emotional reviews. Here goes… My husband & I have lived here now for 8 months as this was supposed to be a spot to park ourselves while we got to know the Seattle area. Initially we were excited about Rainier Meadows Apts, «RMA,» as it met many of our short term needs. However, within the first couple of days we moved in we started to think we may have made a mistake. First, our broom was stolen from our front porch; not a big deal but nonetheless annoying. Within the first week, our vehicle was broken into. Then this past Christmas night (2013) a neighbor’s car was stolen from the parking lot. And while I don’t hold RMA entirely responsible, as it turns out we live in a less than desirable part of town, I would expect them to hire a security service to patrol the property on a regular basis. Our previous apt complex did. They had regular patrols throughout the night, every night and we lived in a «better» (as in lower crime incidence) area of town than we do now. I have varied work hours so I sometimes don’t get home until 2:00 AM & parking can be impossible because it’s not monitored. People who don’t live here park here! I know this because management said so (a problem they are trying to remedy).
At a glance, the grounds seem clean & kept but after living here it’s more common than not to find trash piled up around the recycle bins & trash compactor — in part because non-​residents are dumping their waste here — & the doggie doo trash bin (there’s only 1 on the entire grounds) seldom gets emptied. When the pick up bags are available they’re gone within days yet take weeks, if not a month or more, to refill. The lock on the out-​going mailbox has been broken for at least 6 months. Siding is rotting or missing on several buildings and many apts that face the back of the property have piles of garbage bags on the porches (out of sight, out of mind?).
A month after we moved in the resurfacing product in our shower began flaking, then peeling off. Maintenance came by sprayed some adhesive to stop it from peeling but didn’t resurface it, so it looks like crap. Now, the entire vinyl siding in the shower is bubbling, along with the paint above the shower head — from an old leak from the shower/​tub from the apt above us.
Two days before Christmas the water hose on the hot water tank sprung a significant leak that flooded ¹⁄₃ of the bedroom & closet. Of course that can happen to anybody, what was inept is that the maintenance guy had no stock of spare parts & tried going to the local hardware store at 10:45 at night to FIND the parts! Surprise, no such luck!
The final straw was this week. I admittedly, but mistakenly, shorted the rent check (that also includes each unit’s portion of the sewer/​trash/​water) by eleven cents; 11¢. What I got was a letter to vacate the premises within 10 days if the balance wasn’t paid in full within that same 10 days! Don’t believe me, I up loaded the notice. I understand they need to keep books balanced & residents from falling behind, but $ 0.11 deserves a vacate the premises notice. Really!!! Frankly, if circumstances had allowed us to, my husband & I would have gladly taken RMA’s invitation to leave but unfortunately we’re here for a few months more.
What I’m not sure is if these issues are the short coming of the property manager — the second one since we’ve been here — or the management company, Tarragon?
Look elsewhere, you can do better for the money!