Lived there May 2021-Nov 2024 Currently in a dispute with them over returning most of my deposit. Spent hours cleaning the apartment and even had management (Laura) speak highly of the job I did cleaning the place up saying "I could show this place today no problem" assuring me I would be receiving most of my deposit back with only a few exceptions only for them to allow their vendor to falsely charge for things they didn't do and allow them to upcharge and reduce what was properly due to me. I will update if I get anywhere with them, but my advice is leave the place trashed since it seems they will charge you an inflated cost against your deposit. read more

See all

I am sadden to learn of what took place between a tenant and Laura. This sound extremely out of charter, small and lopsided. My experiences has been nothing short of amazing specifically my interactions with Laura. She's kind, patient, supportive and customer focused. In fact Laura has shown me nothing less than respect and compassion since I met her. Always going the extra mile... Laura's encouraging words through a health scare that impacted me financially were those of comfort and compassion. She had numerous opportunities within reason to take a different approach...she did no such thing. Laura checked on me, encouraged me and made sure I knew that we would get to the other side of things with ease. Laure is an amazing human, I'm sure there is misconception or miss understanding..... however, what I know for sure is...Laura is customer focused, communicates with a positive mental attitude of respect and professionalism. I've work with challenging individuals in my 60 years of living... Laura is far from those individuals. Laura very easy to and talk with while bringing resolution to situation(s). Signed Happy Tenant read more

Having lived in the Jackson Lake Apartments for past 16.5 years, I can attest to the excellent service and facilities here. The front office staff have been consistently friendly, understanding, professional, and supportive. The former residence manager Kay and the current residence manager Laura genuinely care about the residents and are available to listen to our concerns and to respond appropriately. Rebecca has been in the front office all the time I have been here, and she is well-informed and helpful also. The maintenance staff are highly skilled, reliable, and friendly. These include Thaddeus, Alberto, and Fernando. Whenever I have needed repairs and have placed a request, the response has been prompt, and my needs have been well met. It's nice to see the same faces over the years. The three inner courtyards, two of them with swimming pools, are pleasantly landscaped and kept clean. The machines in the laundry rooms on each floor used to require quarters to be operated, and now have been upgraded so that we can pay through a convenient Wash app on our phones or a Wash debit card. Payment of monthly rent and electricity fees can now be done online. The manager keeps residents informed in advance of any scheduled maintenance, such as of the plumbing system. The building has solar panels on the roof, and when surplus electricity generated by these panels is sold to PG&E, the savings are passed on to the residents. I've met some nice, friendly, interesting neighbors here over the years, and that has been good. The buildings are well maintained and clean. The location is convenient. We are a short walk from Lake Merritt, three BART stations, the main library, a post office, downtown, and more. read more

The management company here is the worst I have ever dealt with. They never gave me a copy of my lease, as required by California law. Then when I asked for a copy it took me literally weeks of calling and following up to get it. When I moved out, they did not return my security deposit in the time required by law and only returned it after I called and emailed multiple times. Then when they returned it, they withheld $275 as a 'cleaning fee' for several more weeks, until I asked about it again. Then they sent me a bogus bill charging me an extra $70 for carpet cleaning. Those carpets have to have been in those units since the 80s. I liked my apartment here very much but I have never had a problem with a landlord in my life and here it was NOTHING but problems. The washing machines always ate my quarters. When I reported this to the management office they told me that I should call the number on the washer myself and get in contact with the company that owns them. What? My packages also got stolen all the time or misdelivered by the post office. Stay far, far away. read more

Home sweet home! I can't believe no one has written a review of this apartment complex yet. As anyone who has read my previous reviews knows, I was born and raised in SF. I just moved to downtown Oakland a couple of months ago because I fell so completely in love with Jackson Lake Apartments. I believe they deserve a star for each of the following things: 1. Each apartment is spacious, you can choose different floor plans, all have track lighting, marble counters, and ceiling fans. 2. We have people working in the office to help us with whatever we need on a daily basis. We also have maintenace people keeping the complex looking amazing. Every single one of them are so wonderful and sweet! 3. Free wifi 4. 3 beautiful courtyards. 5. 2 pools, one heated year round. 6. A gym with a sauna and two tvs with cable and on demand. 7. A library. 8. A small liquor/grocery store attached to the building. 9. Underground parking. 10. They allow dogs. 11. The landscaping is gorgeous. It's very quiet inside the complex. Everything is kept so nice you feel like you live in a hotel. 12. My neighbors are wonderful and everyone is very friendly with each other- helping walk each others dogs, hanging out at the pool, giving each other rides, it's a nice community. That makes 12 stars!! I love this apartment complex. I've been an adult living on my own for 15 years. This is the first place I know I want to stay for years to come. So if you are looking in the Lake Merrit/ Downtown area, look no farther. A special thanks to Kay and Thad. Two amazing people who work here and have made us feel very much at home! read more

See all

Just called their offices. This is how it went: Me: Do you have any.... Lady: We are a hundred percent full. Me: Well do you... [CLICK AND HANG UP] So much hate read more

There isn't much that I can add to what others have said previously. After living here for over a year, I handed in my 30-day notice earlier in the week and was a bit sad that I had to. The only reason I am moving out is because I am relocating to San Diego at the end of the month. As others have said, this place is a really good deal for the money. It takes maybe 3 minutes to walk to the lake, there's a very convenient liquor store in the building and a small grocery place that is pretty well stocked down the street. The Lake Merritt, 12th Street and 19th Street BART stations are each about an 8 minute walk away, which made it really convenient for me to get to my job in San Francisco without a car. I honestly can't say much about the gym because I don't really use it, but I do love the pools. Kay the resident manager is a total sweetheart, and everyone else in the office has always been nice and helpful on the few occasions when I have needed them. As to some of the cons previously mentioned - My apartment faces one of the two pools. I rarely have heard anyone there, and have never seen more than about 4 people there at once. Hardly a raging loud party of people. I'm not sure what was meant by thin walls...? I have neighbors on all sides, and rarely hear anyone...except for the occasional orgasmic moans of one of my female neighbors...but I find that more humorous than anything else. When I first moved in, I could faintly smell smoke in my bedroom from a neighbor's place. It didn't last long, and since then the only time I have seen or smelled smoke is out back behind the building where a few of the smokers seem to go. I think perhaps the policy regarding smoking inside of the apartments was changed...? I know that my lease says "non-smoking". read more

Still live here, still love it! Some things that has changed since my review: 1) Office still signs and holds packages for residents. They are also often there into the evening and open on Saturdays- so package fetching has become much easier. It's really nice that they provide this service for the residents. 2) Building maintenance: I have had a few minor maintenance issues over the years, they have handled them quickly and professionally. 3) I now rent a parking space: Great price...space is tight and can take some time to get in and out of (about 20-30% of their spaces are made for compact cars). BUT I love having an assigned space, I can get over the minor challenges. 4) Security: They appear to have security work during weekend nights. While I do not find the building unsafe, it is really nice knowing someone is around patrolling. It is also probably helpful with those who have parties and make a lot of noise (this seems to be more of an issue in the summer when everyone keeps their windows open). read more

Love Jackson Lake Apts! Lived her for almost a year and the apartments are clean, upgraded and well maintained. The management is beyond helpful and Kay the manager never has an attitude, she is there to help you and make sure life at Jackson lake is pleasant and stress free. Only downside is that the walls are a bit thin, so if someone is arguing loudly your gonna hear it. Otherwise it's stellar! read more

I really can't recommend Jackson Lake; it has good aspects but they don't outweigh the bad. The most important thing to know when considering moving here is that smoking is allowed and if it happens in units below yours, you will smell it. You don't just catch a hint of smoke, it literally wreaks as if the person is smoking in your apartment. This is even with your windows closed, since they don't seal completely. A close second was mentioned in another review - thin walls. Even when I can tell someone is watching tv at a reasonable volume, we can still hear it quite well. But this isn't as common as music/movies thumping through the building, or people just walking up and down stairs sounding like they're stomping around right next to our bedroom. The walls are more paper thin than just thin. There are other issues: It's hard to catch the office when it's open, it's next to a halfway house, and hot water isn't really consistent. I still give two stars for the friendly staff, the lake being really close, and same with bart. read more

I don't suggest living in the front of the building. Extremely loud! Even with the windows closed. The liquor store brings all kinds of people to the complex. Lots of loitering and public intoxication...one of the main reasons I'm moving out soon read more

I absolutely cannot reccomend living here, it has some great aspects, but they do not outweigh the bad. I have lived here for over a year and have been on a waitlist for parking ever since due to the lack of spaces available, which forces you to park your car out on the street where it will broken into multiple times, you will receive countless tickets due to the outrageous parking enforcers who will lean on your car at 7:58am to ticket you at 8:00am when the meter clock starts. You will also be harrased and begged by the members of the "Lakehurst Resident Hotel," which is actually a really nice way to label the out-patient psych ward down the street. If you are young and view this place on Craiglist or Rent.com, don't fall for it. It sounds like a steal and in reality the location and floor plans are not bad, but it is not financially sound when you factor in the amount of tickets you will get and windows you will have to replace because the building will not provide you parking. read more

Avoid this place at all cost if you're a small business owner. I just had to file complaints for housing discrimination because senior management doesn't know how to count income, dismisses eligible applicants because they are entrepreneurial and is never willing to admit when they make blatant and bone-headed mistakes. I was the first complete application submitted for an apartment with more than enough documentation submitted demonstrating my extensive earning power and an income in excess of their income eligibility requirement, my application was turned down due to a lack of income eligibility. When I called and emailed repeated to tell them they had clearly not read my documentation, then they changed their tune and said my application wasn't complete, refused to see the clear error and judgment and approved the apartment for people who submitted their application after me. Do not rent here because logic, reasoning and basic math skills do not exist here and are not valued by the powers that be. read more

There is no vacancy at this Inn. The polite woman who answered the phone made it easily clear that this place is booked for a looooong time. It would be easier for all involved though if they just put that on their website instead of getting calls. I cannot imagine how many people call this place! read more

On Friday 6-3-2016 the sewer pipes were cleaned but unfortunately the sewage and feces that was flushed from the pipes is all over the 1525, 1533,1545 & 1557 garage area. When coming home late Friday evening I could smell the raw sewage and even see a few piles of crap all over the garage floor...as of Tuesday 6-16-2016 I see the tracks and piles are still there. for those unaware these are some of the diseases that can be transmitted by feces. Cholera, Clostridium difficile, Typhoid, E-Coli, Hepatitis A and E, Norovirus, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasmosis and many more. There is also the issue of the cars driving over this mess and making the sewage and feces airborne, not to mention walking thru it and then tracking it into your apartment. I waited to give management the benefit of the doubt. But alas nothing has been done. when m I left this message in all 4 of the elevators on Tuesday June 14th it was removed shortly thereafter but as of June 16th the mess is still there. When my lease renews I will look elsewhere. read more

Of all the places I've lived in my adult life, this is by far my favorite. The location is, of course, fantastic; two blocks from the lake, a couple of small corner stores near by, and 8 blocks from 12th St BART *and* Lake Merritt BART. Nearly all the apartments have balconies, all of which overlook either a pool, a burbling fountain (recycled water, so it's drought friendly!), or the street. That street is generally pretty quiet in the evenings, too; while the surrounding areas can get occasionally rowdy, the neighborhood itself tends to chill out after around 10. Kay, the main lady at the on-site office, is one of the kindest, most honest people you'll meet. She and the rest of the staff will accept packages for you while you're at work. I like to stop in and say hi while heading into the small but adequate fitness center for cardio and weights. There are clothes washers and dryers on every for, and take a *very* reasonable amount of quarters. The units themselves vary a lot (I looked at a few before deciding on my current apartment), but they all had steady working or updated appliances. My dishwasher, like, works all the time. It's kind of great. This extends to the ceiling fans (dining and bedroom), as well as the bathroom, which has a shower hose thing, which is great for my tall frame. Maintenance: in my year and a half, I've asked for a new screen door. It was installed in two days. I didn't use any email system, or call; I just went into the office and asked. If you give them the personal touch, they will treat you in the same fashion. There are, of course, downsides: it's not a country cottage, so there will be street and city noise (5pm news copters, whee); getting parking from the building will be brutal due to low supply and high demand; there absolutely are a small amount of homeless and mentally ill people in the area, ranging from indifferent to polite. It's nowhere near as bad as, say, the Tenderloin. To those who haven't been able to gain residence here, I do apologize; the reason there are nearly never any vacancies is because it's such a wonderful place to come home to. read more

5. Refer to point #4. Now even when I put requests in writing to their email address, things don't get fixed in a timely manner. The washing machine on the second floor of building 1525 has been broken for well over a month. When I asked again when this may be repaired, I was told they didn't know... this is basically the same answer I received when the hot water was off for three weeks here a couple years ago and I had to shower at the gym. I'm not sure if it's just this building (1525) out of the two other buildings (1533 and 1545) that has an abnormal amount of repair problems compared to the others or what. read more

I really believe in creating an experience and I must say that my experience has not been great. The actual apt. is not bad at all but what you have to worry about is the area this apartment complex is located. Also if you own a car I urge you to not live in these apartments or the surrounding area. Jackson Lake apts don't not have enough parking slots to accommodate their tenants. If you wish to get parking you have to be put on a waiting list with a wait time of a year (if that). So this will lead you to park on the street where you are subjected to parking tickets and constantly having to move your car every two hours. Even if you obtain a parking permit you still have to battle everyone else or get home early to get a spot. if you don't get a spot you will be forced to park at a meter which defeats the purpose of obtaining a permit. Recently, there have been a lot of car break ins and I can honestly say that my vehicle has been broken into three times in the year and a half that I've been in the area. It also has inconvenienced my visitors because their cars have also been broken into and have received tickets. Its really embarrassing and makes me feel so bad when my guests express their frustration to the point where I take responsibility and pay their tickets. This apartment complex has amazing potential but if you ask for help their is really nothing they can do for you. If certain things change then I would really recommend this place but unfortunately I'm desperately looking for a new place to live. read more