This place is the most unprofessional management company I have dealt with. The people there are disrespectful and have a fake condescending attitude when you speak to them on the phone. Spoke to the receptionist Lauren London and all I can say is she has no respect or integrity. She spoke with me in a tone of superiority and talked down to me as if I was ignorant. I get charged a late fee for my HOA dues they claim was late by a day which I believe is a lie. I ask to show proof that it was late and she says they get the mail each day and that it was late. What the hell do I care what you claim. I send my dues out the same time every month for my 10 properties and I only have issues with the Helm management. Stop lying!!! My dues are on time but they need to get money out of me. Yeah sorry but it's not gonna happen. I don't pay late fees that are false. Try and find a different line of work that doesn't require customer service. Then you don't have to be a disrespectful person with a fake attitude read more

My condo association signed up with Helm Management around 1999, so we have used them for about 18 years, which is a long time. Our HOA board recently discontinued service with Helm for a different company, which in my opinion was an easy straight forward decision. I own and live this complex for over 20 years and I work in the public service industry which makes me knowledgeable on what defines good and bad service. I will try to be as fair and accurate in my assessment of Helm as I can and it won't be pretty. My observations: 1. Slow response time in fixing items, as stated in other Yelp reviews with one star. We needed emergency staircase and rail repairs needed and project was delayed by 2 months due to inaction and lack of response by Helm. We risked NOV by City building. Project still not completed, planning started last March. 2. Poor very poor selection of adequate vendors. Last month, contractor staff was observed urinating on the landscape in public. Also in 2015 it took 4 months to complete a routine repair job in the laundry room. 3. Unwillingness to take on accountability - our assigned PM means well, but he is way too passive and shows no leadership and initiative. For example, during our HOA meeting last June, a homeowner made a good suggestion to closely supervise our custodian due to certain performance deficiencies. I recommended to PM he come over to the property and spot check the custodian, but he said "I don't have time." This demonstrated that Helm was not interested in helping our association get better. 4. Helm would remind us how much we pay per month which is not relevant. What is relevant is the value and quality of service that HOAs receive. When you see the several one stars on Yelp, you do the math. 5. During a meeting a year ago, when I asked PM how often he visits the property he stated only during our quarterly meetings and during intro for repair projects, so about 8 times per year. How can any PM adequately manage a property when they visit the property 8 times a year? I email violations and observations to the PM, who writes a letter to the violator, but violations continued. Helm did not follow up to inspect to see if violations continued or discontinued. When I asked PM who is responsible for follow up, he stated that it is the community's responsibility - really? It is the PM's responsibility that is why we pay you. 6. Last June, I sent a message on their website field asking if they wanted me feedback on why we were changing companies - no response. I called Rhonda on July 3 2017 to see if Helm received my email, and she sounded rude and in a rush with no interest in assisting me. Since no response, I am writing this review,. 7. Unwillingness to consider innovative ideas, like HOA website, communicating via emails to all homeowners etc. Lack of communication is a major problem we have experienced and Helm did not offer any suggestions or encouragement to address this problem. They may have said something like sending emails is a violation of State law - really? Show me proof. Never saw it. 8. Financial - Over the last 7 years, I attended annual or budget meetings to recommend increasing HOA fees to boost our reserves, as recommended on CPA reports. However from 2010 through 2016, Will would bypass CPA report and state that we are doing fine with current fees. Just last meeting in June, PM stated we need to increase reserves. Sounds contradicting to me, and poor management and planning to change courses after being advised every year. Again, showed lack of initiative. 9. Two years ago, I volunteered to research new bulletin boards for our complex foyer. I asked Helm PM for help in terms of what other complexes use for nice bulletin boards. PM stated you figure it out in so many words. Again, unwillingness to help us. I can probably think of many other incidents but I will start with these 9 for now. Wish I can be more positive. This company should consider hiring a business efficiency consultant or expert to tell then how to excel, or consider discontinuing PM over large condo complexes. I have always thought - if you do a job do it right. read more

Former owner of a Caminto Villas in Del Mar, Helm is the wor$t; had to sue for internal water damage, long story but they are not responsive, why would anyone let a leaking pipe go un-serviced for days? They drag their feet, tried to work with Angel, but he was awful, he didn't give a damN about our property or property damage. Sued them, won and they they refuse to pay. What scumbags, DO NOT BUY A CONDO WITH HELM MGT in control. read more

Helm is A Nightmare!!!! I've had 2 violationletters sent to my landlord with horrible false accusations. They are discriminating against all renters period and Section 8 renters like me read more

Horrible company! Very expensive! My HOA dues are now $395 per month. When I moved in it was $75 per month. That was 25 years ago. The services have actually decreased, and inflation has not been that much! I suspect corruption. I live in Poway, the HOA is Pomerado HOA. read more

Thank you Helm for firing our honest hard working employes that have been working here for years @ The Courtyards . As a resident I have been living here for 17 years and this change is not good please reconsider the firing of the employes . This is it I really do not need to write any more I Ana true believer that before firing someone you should let them know what are they doing wrong and unfortunately in this case it did not go that way !! So if you are a helm worker be aware that they can get rid of you at any given time read more

Wish I could give these full time professional LOSERS a minus 50 stars!!!!! We have owned about ten different timeshares over the years, and HELM MANAGEMENT IS THE VERY WORST BY THOUSANDS OF PERCENT, WHATEVER. They manipulate processing of payments by delaying posting them so they can file bogus undeserved late fees, which are ridiculously high, even if the payment really is 5 minutes late, it was on time in our case but not processed timely.... !!!! and worse, once we made a mistake, our payment was on time, but short one or two dollars. They charged us a very high late fee ON THE ENTIRE AMOUNT. There is no appeal process available, they are a dictatorship. Not reasonable, not 1%, and not honest either. We have tried to sell our timeshare but haven't been able to do so. The only reason we want to sell is because Helm is the worst ever by miles, we are tired of being abused by them. read more

We are a service provider for Helm Management. I like the fact that when we are doing work for their clients they never want us to cut corners or take a short cut. They trully look out for their properties. read more

Managed our place as well as we could have hoped for! Much better than the previous two companies we had managing our property. I know being a property manager must not be an easy job since you are probably dealing with a bunch of renters but they handle it nicely. read more

lousy company cant really keep up with property maintainance. deferring a lot of stuff causing a monetary problem for owners later. if helm is your company , try to change or get them to do work necessary. they also have a habit of blocking phone numbers and emails of owners that complain. that way they can continue their half-assed managements. once they know that you are a concerned owner or tenant. they will ignore you on anything expensive or labor intensive. leaving a bigger problem later. i have proof of all i say if anyone is interested. i kept all my records of HELMS' lousy work. read more

Where do I start...I own a unit in a community of 21 detached townhomes in La Mesa, CA. Helm Management has been managing our HOA since roughly 2008. Over the years we have not really had any issues, the usual parking, pets, landscape, etc., and have received adequate management. Until recently...2017 proved to be an unwelcome eye-opener as to the unethical and uneducated manner in which this company conducts business. In 2016 the Board of Directors began talking about painting the wood trim, on the individual units and using the HOA's reserve fund to pay for the expense. However, the Association's CC&Rs and Condominium Plan specify that the interior and exterior of the units are the maintenance responsibility of the individual unit owner, and the Board is restricted from using HOA reserve funds for anything other than what the Association is responsible to maintain, i.e., common area, not the individual units. The Helm property manager did not advise the Board that they were in conflict with their governing documents and California Civil Code in making this decision, so the painting got done, the cost of which was paid from the HOA's reserve fund, in direct conflict with the HOA's CC&Rs and California Civil Code. So to try and cover up their mistake, they added the painting of the units to the reserve study (that they prepare), without the Board's approval. To make matters worse, the checks written from the reserve account to pay the painting company were signed by Helm employees (the property manager, who is the daughter of the owner, and another Helm employee) and one (1) Board member, which is also in violation of the Association's By-Laws and California Civil Code; reserve checks are to be signed by (2) Board members or (1) officer and (1) Board member only. I hope their not signing reserve checks to themselves... I was recently told that the owners of Helm Management march to the beat of their own (unethical and unprofessional) drum. Never a truer statement. read more

I have been associated with Helm Management for 11 years. They are a property management company for the Homeowners Association of which I was President for 8 years and served as other Board Member for a couple of years. They are ethically honest, very helpful with laws regarding Associations and great to work with. I recommended them to another Association of which I was previously President and they have used Helm for at least five years or more. They are very professional, very pleasant to work with and responsive when needed. I have had such a close relationship with them that I consider them friends. I highly recommend them. read more

I am amazed at the duality of the Yelp reviews for Helm, either wonderful or awful. I would actually give them four and a half stars if i could. I have dealt with my HOA manager, Jonathan, for years as a homeowner and board member, and he is by far the best property manager we have had in our community. Nobody is perfect and HOA issues are always challenging, but Jonathan does his very best. His response time is great, he knows the rules and regs, is fiscally consciencious, and very dependable. I have enjoyed working with him and would hire him for future property management needs. read more

Helm Manages my rental property i have owner for 12 years. They do so with professionalism and unparalleled experience. It is awesome to know I have them there if there is ever anything I need, no matter how big or small. read more

Ron the Manager of Helm did attempt to return my call same day

It has been a couple of years since I have written a review for Helm but wanted to take the time to update my previous review. ANY HOA would greatly benefit from having Helm manage their business. My people forget they are the property managers the Board of Directors entrust to follow the Boards directive. Helm does not make the rules for any community. They only follow the direction the Board gives them. HOA are a business. Yes it is the business of managing homes but it it a business. Helm guides our board to make decisions that are in the best interest of the entire community, legal, and follow the CCR's. Their staff is professional. I personally know of residents in our community that have negative things to say about Helm. What they are forgetting it Helm follows the guidelines giving by the Board. If a resident is not happy with a violation letter they may receive it is the Board they need to address not Helm. Is any company 100% perfect??? Heck no but I would not trust the overall wellbeing of our HOA to any other company. Over the past decade they continue to earn our business!! read more

Horrible company! This company is managing the complex where I own a condo and they're a complete nightmare. They've held association dues I've mailed so they can assess late charges on a regular basis. They also turned my account over to their low-rent collection attorneys to collect dues - that were already paid - which resulted in additional legal charges I had to pay and, to top it all off, sent a fraudulent account statement to the property management company I've hired to manage the unit, which I don't think is even legal. read more

As a resident, I've never experienced a management company causing problems with the police showing up at the Courtyards HOA meetings. We have received no support from the owner Tom Hensley, Angel, and other staff who turned their backs on us. Thankfully, the majority has seen enough suspicious problems with this company. They have had other complaints, see the "not recommended portion" on Yelp at the bottom. They have also a complaint to the Better Business Bureau in 2012. Sadly, Courtyard employees were all fired by the Helm Management Company so they can use their own who are employees who are very unprofessional. Don't let this management company take advantage of you. read more

They are incompetent. Rude and prejudice. The assistant manager didn't return my calls because Engl. is my second language. The receptionist are rude and lazy. I wanted to install tiles in my condo and I needed to ge authorization, I left about 8 messages for assistant manager and I said please please return my calls. The tiles were going to be delivered to my home, but he didn't respond to my messages and I had to cancell the installation. Don't waste your money on Helm. read more

The Helm management company could not be more full of rude and incompetent people. They are rude at the office and give us a hard time every time we try to make HOA due payments. Billing us for inaccurate dues, multiple accounting errors on their part and holding checks to asses late fees. Scum of the earth these people. read more

Helm has managed the property for the condos where I live for about a year. They are full of big talk, but little action. Since they took over, and transferred long term employees over to their company, they have fired four of them. I have made four complaints about common area lights. (4) being burned out. Angel from Helm responded, and told me he had been on vacation for a week. Yet, he is aware, and back from vacation. Guess how many lights have been replaced. Yeah, 0. Big talk, little action. read more

Over the past three years dealing with Helm, what I note the most distressing is poor customer service/communication. When I had a problem or question, the answer was often delayed. On one occasion, I had to copy a manager in order to get help. I've emailed and called up to half a dozen times and still no response. Really frustrating. read more

As the President of a local homeowners association with 180 units, I've been nothing but pleased with The Helm Management Company. Property management is not an easy business, yet I have found The Helm to be outstanding. Thanks to The Helm we have a great looking property, a solid budget, and a thriving community. read more

I have had nothing but great experiences with this company, they took over management of my complex and it has never looked better. They finally got the landscaping taken care of and the buildings painted and our resale value went way up. Unlike others I don't blame them if they need to increase our dues, I understand that costs increase especially water rates recently. I have friends that live in houses without HOA's pay way more in trash, sewer, water and all other things and they still have to replace their own roofs. read more

I AGREE Helm is great I Have a rental unit in El Cajon and they are always a help and the President of the board in my complex goes ubove and beyond helping the tenant , Thanks Richard I Wish I could say that about Coastal Mangment I have them for one of my other Rentals for 10 yrs and had a $46 late fee and they sent me to a collection agency that is now Charging me $770 for fees and it is a Scam read more

Thanks Helm for all your help the last few years and thanks in advance for the many future years we will have together. After a long period of poor management by another company and then trying to manage ourselves it's a pleasure to know someone has our back. Knowing you're just a phone call away for emergencies and that you actively work with us on all those regular responsibilities, both large and small, has made living in my community so much more enjoyable. Working with you even gave me the confidence I needed to step up and become a board member. read more

I have been the President of the HOA of a 60 unit condo conversion since 2006. We were stuck with the Management company of the company that converted it called Maisel Presley. PMC Mgmt. They are THEE absolute WORST!!! As soon as our complex was at 50% home owner occupancy and we were able to form a board, we sought out a new Management company. We stumbled across Helm Management because they were close by. We had several issues left unresolved from the contractor leaving before they were completed (Maisel Presley, who I'm SHOCKED are still in business!!) and our incompetent management company, PMC. I have to say that I am shocked with some bad reviews of Helm Management Company. As an HOA President of almost 11 years, I can honestly say that HELM MGMT. is VERY good! I have always received excellent service and instant response of any problems on the property. They have an excellent staff that gets stuff done QUICK! Our Condo complex is maintained beautifully due to the constant communication and action from them. In reading these reviews you have to know that most of the bad ones are from renters of the properties they are managing and through experience I KNOW that the complaints from renters in condo-owend complexes are more pissed at the landlords not doing what their supposed to do which is COMMUNICATE with their tenants. Although I see that a lot of these bad reviews are from awhile ago I have to say that I LOVE Helm Mgmt. AND our rep. Jonathon. We have had him represent us since 2007 and we've become a strong HOA board and a really great desirable condo complex to live in. PS... Jonathon has been great and very professional We have 3 board members and for 10 years we have NEVER had more than 4 people attend a meeting and that's because everything is running great! read more

I could not ask for a more friendly and trusting management company. I like them so much that I brought them in to manage a second complex and then referred them to a friend who brought them in to manage their complex. Always understanding, friendly and I look forward to many more years of working together. read more

I've had the pleasure of working with Helm Management over the past six years while serving as a board member for Ocean Windows HOA. Jonathon Stout is a terrific communicator and manager. Our concerns are addressed promptly and professionally. Helm's approach is that of a team player with genuine interest for all. read more

Worst customer service I have seen in any industry.That includes banking so thats saying something. They seem completely disorganized whenever I go to the office. The person they tell me I need to talk to is never in the office and will be back later, tommorrow, etc. They recently moved all their billing operations to San Jose. Sometimes I get my bill around the 15th, sometimes around the 25th. If doesn't matter when I pay them, the check gets cashed on the 15th. They never admit their own errors.If you are looking for someone to manage your property, look elsewhere. These folk suck read more

This is the worst HOA Company I have never dealt with. They are very ignorable. They don't pay close attention to my concerns as homeowner. If I knew about this company before purchasing my home, i would have rather lived in my car, than purchasing a condo which is owned by this horrible management. read more

Our mailboxes (situated outside of our gated community) were getting broken into, Helm management decided to tear them out. Here we sit 2 weeks later without mailboxes, only a new slab for new ones. We have to go to the post office once a week to pick up our mail. It is terribly inconvenient! I've called and left several messages for Joni (our manager) at Helm management to call me back re:ETA of new mailboxes. She never called me back. I finally called & asked to speak with her, not her voicemail. She came on the phone & first thing out of her mouth was "are you a property owner or a renter"? as soon as I said I was a renter and what I was calling about, she immediately got snotty with me. She said the mailboxes are on order, but will be coming in "EARLY", they'll be here in about a week. 'What'? I say. We've been without for 2 weeks already. I explained how very inconvenient it is to have to go to the post office once a week to pick up our mail. She then decided to blame the thieves who had been breaking into our mailboxes for the inconvenience.So, I asked if it would not make more sense to put the new mailboxes inside the gate? She hung up on me!!!!! Talk about great customer service NOT!!!! read more