I have had ~9 different landlords in my lifetime; we recently purchased our first home and unfortunately had the extreme displeasure of dealing with Castle Rock and Irma Armstrong until we closed. During the past 20 years my family and I have lived in Utah, Idaho, NYC, and California. I have never encountered more red tape, basic communication issues, ability (re: inability) to fix basic issues, poor response time, and unprofessional behavior. This includes the notorious NYC Irma Aldama Armstrong was our landlord representing Castle Rock. I wouldn't recommend her or Castle Rock (based on our awful interactions with her for three years). If there was an option for zero stars I would choose it. read more

I see from other comments that people seem to find Keith to be helpful but we only worked with David Ratoosh and felt that he was incredibly rude and required follow ups. I also see that Keith commented that some people gave poor reviews because they were bitter about not getting a rental. I can't speak to that but in our case, yes we were disappointed but you can also be kind and respectful to people who come to you with potential business. I'm a strong believer in treating people with kindness and respect because you never know what when the person you snub could have been of help or a big client. We need to rent a place so that we can put an addition on our house that we plan to rent later on. We will definitely NOT be using this service. read more

I have lived in a unit managed by Castle Rock for over 5 years. The other reviewer is correct- they know the law and they respect tenants rights. They have always responded quickly to my service requests and they have quality people working for them. They are sticklers about rent being on time though, so be ready to pay on time if you rent from them! But that should be expected anywhere. Thank you Castle Rock! read more

Ok. Getting a property with these guys is unbelievably competitive. If you want in, you need to get 100% of your paperwork in order ASAP, and get your deposit 100% sorted. Why? Because if you make their lives easy, they will make yours wonderful. First off, Keith, the landlord/office front doesn't answer the phone, and that's for good reason because they more than likely get a billion calls from people interested in property. Now, if you do end up getting a property with them, you can call Keith at any time, leave a message, and he will always get back to you in an unbelievably timely manner. Castle rock has addressed every single issue I've ever brought up to them in a timely and friendly manner. The wireless port in my flat was broken/spotty and I mentioned it to Carl, the maintenance guy who literally dropped everything he was doing to take care of me. I'm in an older building in a rent controlled studio to myself. You CANNOT find a studio this large or this nice in the Bay Area for this price. Keep in mind, the units are rather old, the appliances aren't exactly state of the art, and the interior is a bit worn from use, but you would be a fool to complain about things like that considering the price you're getting. All if these negative reviews are from prospective lessee's who didn't get a call back for a place. You won't get a call back if you're not a tenant, so that is their way of prioritising their customers. Rest assured that this is an excellent agency, completely legitimate and I'm thrilled with my studio. read more

I hired Castle Rock to manage the rental of my home in Albany while on a professional assignment in Europe. The process of renting and overall administrative support while the tenants were occupying the property were fine - a few mistakes, but all got corrected. The big disappointment was upon my return to the house and both the service received and the attitude of Castle Rock about the condition of the property. I returned to a house with many, many visible cobwebs on the walls and ceilings, a refrigerator that was filthy and even some food left in the freezer, sticky patches on the hardwood floors and numerous other problems. When I communicated my disappointment to Castle Rock they were quite rude and did not acknowledge the condition of the property as a problem at all. I really felt like their attitude was that they got paid already for managing the property and were not at all interested in addressing my concerns. I would not trust my property to them in the future and if you do, I recommend closely monitoring their services to the property owner, especially the condition of the property. read more

I started renting a property from Castle Rock Realty in 2010. From the very beginning I found them to be responsive, polite and attentive. Any time during my 3 year tenancy with them, if I had a problem with the unit, it was fixed in a timely manner. Once, I accidentally sent a rent check from a closed bank account, and when I called Keith in a panic, he assured me it was fine and told me to get him a new check as soon as I could. No stress, no fuss. When the owner of the house I was living in decided to sell, Castle Rock Realty (the managers) helped me communicate with the realtor, who was more interested in selling the house than following the proper protocol in dealing with a tenant. All and all, I don't have a single complaint about them. I have been a renter for many years and dealt with my share of nightmare landlords. Castle Rock are a couple of good guys who get the job done, leave you alone, fix stuff when it's broken, and will help when they can. read more

Castle Rock Realty is likely to steal your security deposit without thorough explanation or an opportunity to correct, and at unreasonable proportion to the unexplained offense. The property we rented was not well maintained at all - it had black mold, 18+ year old carpeting, old rat and poison traps in the walls and cabinets, junk in the garage and side yard, and the yard was covered in weeds upon move in. We were charged $450 for weeds in the yard upon move out. This is not the going rate for one-time gardening services for 400 sq feet of landscaping in the area, the weeds were no worse on move out than they were upon move in, and Keith and David did not follow up appropriately or professionally to our requests for information. I have never before had a security deposit withheld, and based on my experience at Castle Rock, I do not recommend you trust them with yours. read more

I have lived in a property managed by Castle Rock Realty for a year now and have never had any type of issue with them. I came from a terrible housing situation in which the landlord only made it worse and working with Castle Rock was a breath of fresh air. The property is beautiful and well-maintained and the neighbors are wonderfully sweet and helpful. The way they handle business is quick, concise, and professional. When I filled out the application to rent the apartment, I was contacted quickly and the necessary paperwork was sent to me quickly and all their policies were gone over with me. I have never had an issue with them and when I needed repairs done on the property, they always responded very quickly and solved the problem the first time. I would love it if all landlords and/or property management companies were as professional and helpful as Castle Rock Realty! read more

These guys are impossible to get ahold of. - I emailed them about an open house because I had a question and never heard back. - I ended up going to the open house because they didn't answer me. It's not like I emailed them the night before; I contacted them at least 4 days prior. Anyway, I liked the place so I emailed them for an app. That was pretty much the only time I ever heard from them. - The apartment was supposed to have a lease starting 8/1. I called 7/31 about the status of my application/if I was still in the running. No answer. Finally I emailed them on 8/1 and still no answer. I just signed a lease with another place today because I got tired of waiting for them. All in all, pretty unresponsive and unprofessional. Glad I found somewhere else to live. read more

They are the worst. We had an advance lead on one of their rentals in our neighborhood from a friend who was vacating. We have excellent rental references and credit, a spotless background, are gainfully employed, and came personally referred by their tenants in good standing. We had all our paperwork ready and could have made it a very smooth and easy transition for all. We were totally negotiable on move-in date and we'd already seen the house many times. When David finally called us back about the property, he was **unbelievably** rude. He said he'd never make the mistake again by going with a referral, that the last time he did that there was an issue that interrupted his wife's birthday party. He went on and on and on about that. And he added that he almost didn't bother to call me back in the first place but worried that I would just keep calling back annoyingly. He said he had not listed the property yet and that we'd just have to wait. "When will it be listed? And where?" we asked. His answer was we should just watch Craigslist like everyone else. When the house was finally listed, he opened it for their standard 15 minute open house, and that was it. Of course we couldn't make it at that time, and so that was that. A great lead, in plenty of time, perfect place for us, and we have a solid, reliable background. What a total disappointment. Made me want to leave Berkeley. read more

I started renting from castle rock 2-1/2 years ago. I went to their office many times, but no one was ever there. When I looked through the window, I could tell that there were dummy computers set up,on a few desks. I phoned and asked Keith about it, but he kept changing the subject. When I began renting a house in Berkeley, their inspector showed up wearing a dirty white t-shirt, and proceeded to rip through my house to inspect it. He managed to step on my things that were on the floor, breaking them, with no apologies. They have raised my rent every year, with no,help,from them when I've called them and asked for it. I think they are awful. read more

After realizing that 60% of Craigslist housing ads are from Nigerian scammers (although why they say they're from Nigeria is beyond me. pick another country in Africa!) I was really relieved to deal with Castle Rock. I loved my apartment and I was happy to be dealing with a legit, law-abiding company that I'm comfortable handing my check over to. They also didn't give me any issues about needing duplicate keys even though I'm a single occupant with a do not duplicate key. They're hard to get on the phone and I've waited weeks for some repairs, including my mailbox key. I never did get my intercom fixed. And the resident manager and David told me the walls were thick and the area was quiet. It's near Cal, so I don't know why I believed them. After I spent 5 months dealing with my very loud neighbor upstairs who I heard at all hours of the night due to some creaky floorboards, Keith let me break my lease and gave me my security deposit in full. read more

I lived in an apartment in Downtown Berkeley managed by Castle Rock Realty for over three years. In my experience, they respected my privacy, followed all of Berkeley's rental laws, and although I didn't have many repair issues, they seemed to respond quickly to important service calls. There are a lot of shady landlords in Berkeley, so consider yourself lucky if you're renting an apartment from this company. read more

I lived at a Castle Rock Realty property in Berkeley for 3 years. I loved it! A great place, affordable, nice neighbors, and excellent and responsive service. I feel that the person who gave three stars is being unreasonable in their demands, and here's why I think so: They said they gave three stars because the manager happened to be out of town when they needed some repairs. The manager is entitled to go on a vacation once and a while. And he's very nice about letting us know when he will be gone a month in advance. Also, there is another person who helps manage the properties that they could have called for repairs. I would definitely recommend Castle Rock! read more

I've lived many places for many landlords, and Castle Rock is the best. They are consistent, attentive, and very respectful. They have always responded to every concern promptly and with more care than I expected. They seem to have their priorities straight and focus on caring for their properties and tenants and fostering a feeling of mutual respect. I'd recommend them to anyone. read more

I have rented with Castle Rock Realty for the past 15 months and will say that is has been one of the best property management companies I have ever dealt with! Any issue I have ever had with my rental property has been handled promptly and by professional services. Before renting from Castle Rock I shyed away from them but they have changed my whole out look on property management. All I can say is Thank You Castle Rock for being as professional as you have over our past history. Best wishes! read more

Castle rock realty was the manager for the rental we had in north oakland for the last 3 ish years. We had a really good experience with them! Keith, who you interface with as a leasee, is incredibly prompt in terms of repair requests and the people they send out are friendly and good at their jobs. The lease agreement and move out processes were very transparent and fast and efficient. I would recommend them without hesitation! read more

Keith is the best property manager. No problem things fixed right away. When I moved out I receive my deposit within a week. Castle Rock Realty is the best. read more

We've been renting from Castle Rock for about 3 years now. Yes, it's very competitive to get - that's because the locations they rent are in competitive areas. I've always found Steve very responsive and helpful. I like the repairmen they send. I've been able to get my kitchen floor redone, my water heater replaced, and a compost bin and extra recycling bin for our building. These were important improvements to the property, but more than many management companies would do. I think they charge very fair rent, and they are very efficient and responsive. read more

I recently dealt with this property management company when I persued a house rental listed on Craig's list. The two guys who run Castle Rock are about the rudest, most disorganized, and unprofessional people I have come across in a long time. After trying multiple times over a week by phone/email to get in contact about the listing, I finally stopped into their dingy, hole in the wall office in Albany. Papers were everywhere, the door was locked, and the man who finally answered the door was on the phone was agitated and proceeded to shout a string of obscenities into the phone as a way of my introduction. I asked to leave an application for the rental and he said "Don't bother, I'll only lose it ". I stopped by the rental to see the outside and the house is in a really nice neighborhood but the house foundation is literally falling apart, the front yard has multiple deep sink holes in it, the back yard is a jungle with 6 foot weeds growing in it and I saw a rat run across the back porch. If this is how they "maintain" the outside, I'd hate to see the inside! If you want to deal with nasty slum lord type people, these guys fit the bill perfectly. I feel very sorry for the people whose properties they so call "manage". read more

I have used Castle Rock Realty now for almost 4 years... The person I dealt with the entire time is Keith Carol... I can't say that I ever thought he was great at managing my property but considering I live and hour and a half away, I never looked for anyone else. The number one problem I had with him the entire time was that he was continually giving into the tenants requests without asking me about it and then I would see a deduction on my check... only way I would find out. The worst one was when he deducted about $250 for flea removal. The tenants complained that they had fleas... when they had a cat... crazy!!! Having said that... also the house was brand new remodeled when the tenants moved in and know one before that had a cat in there anyway. Next of all the tenants have moved out... I informed Keith that I will be deducting some of the tenants deposit for damages they did to my house... every single room in the house looked like the tenants took a BB gun to it... from hanging pictures but there are hundreds... carpet was stained beyond repair, light fixture missing, door jam coming off, base boards gouged... the place is a disaster... obviously the tenants were slobs... and Keith doesn't think we should deduct anything from their deposit. Well I did, just for the carpet and the light fixture... Keith informed me that the tenants could easily sue and win for this. I don't care because it's so wrong! Anyway, I would never use Castle Rock Realty again... unless of course you are the tenant because Keith only cares about them... Do not use if you are the property owner... worse experience ever!!! read more

Spectacular!! I am a first time property owner that wanted to rent out my 100 year old single family home in Berkeley. Keith educated me on my responsibilities, helped me get the property ready, and then marketed the property and screened the tenants. He and his partners have made remote ownership of the property seamless. They have arranged for all repairs and maintenance at reasonable cost. I had a tenant who complained that the shower would change temperature when another faucet was turned on in the house. Keith informed me that old properties are grandfathered in as to plumbing requirements and that thermostatic shower valves are not required in older homes. I elected to install one in each bathroom anyway. Keith and Castle Rock found a plumber at a good price and made performing the upgrades simple for me. Their service is personal, not like a big corporation, and a pleasure to work with. As a result I have never wanted to look for any other property management service. Call them, you wont be sorry. .....Larry read more

We have, for over eight years, been completely satisfied with the services of Castle Rock. During those years they have managed every aspect in the leasing of our condominium in Richmond's Marina Bay. Residing now on the coast of Oregon, we have been able to rest easy in the knowledge that all the day to day issues and occasional problems were being handled promptly and efficiently. From the day they found us the literally perfect tenants and straight through till today we have had not one reason for concern, much less complaint. read more

Very good experience. Soon after I arrived in the US, I had no credit score to be presented to estate agencies and get a place to rent. Castle Rock trusted me and has always been very supportive since. Worked with them for 8 years, very responsive, no concerns. read more

We rented a house under the management of Castle Rock for one year. They did a fantastic job from start to finish. We had a very clear walk-through with David at the beginning where expectations were made clear. And those expectations were very fair. During our residency, we asked for two repairs - the control panel went out on the gas stove and had to be replaced, and the refrigerator needed a repair. Castle Rock managed both repairs without question and got us up and running. Our final walk-through of the house with Castle Rock was also a pleasure. Walk-throughs by nature are very stressful, but Castle Rock again proved to be fair, and I enjoyed the conversation I had with Keith, who oversaw the walk-through. Without hesitation my family would rent again from Castle Rock. read more

We have rented from Castle Rock for over six years and have found both Keith and David unbelievable helpful and kind. We feel lucky to have been working with them in every regard. Great small business that deserves an A1 rating. read more

I'm a tenant in a house they manage. I recently had a number of small maintenance issues. Castle Rock quickly sent someone out to fix them with no questions asked. Way better than my experiences with some other property managers! read more