The Village at Toluca Lake

Having lived in Los Angeles for many years and leased multiple apartments, I have never encountered such predatory and unprofessional behavior from a management company. Essex's practices are not only exploitative but also potentially illegal under California’s Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482).

Exorbitant and Unjustified Rent Increases:
When we moved into our unit in May 2022, our lease was $2,784/month. In May 2023, we transitioned to a month-to-month lease with a rent increase to $3,062/month—a 9.99% hike. Now, we've received notice of another increase to $3,381/month, a 10.42% increase. This far exceeds the legally allowable limit of 8.9%. It's infuriating that our proposed rent is $500 more than identical, vacant units on our floor, which have been sitting empty for months at $2,901. The lack of market demand at this price makes their increases even more unjustifiable.

Unjustified Fees and Charges:
Essex constantly finds ways to increase total charges. Trash fees have increased exponentially with no improvement in service other than adding a compost bag dispenser (which is often empty) in the trash rooms. The most egregious charge is the new "technology fee." Essex is forcibly installing Aerwave routers in all units and requiring tenants to pay $70/month, even if they don’t use the service. You are not allowed to opt out of the service but the office lets you know that you can keep your old provider. How considerate that I'm allowed to pay for TWO internet providers a month. Not to mention Essex has a financial stake in Aerwave making it abundantly clear this is just another way to exploit their tenants and line their pockets.

Poor Management and Communication:
Our attempts to address these issues with the leasing team were met with delayed responses (weeks to respond to emails and calls) and outright dismissiveness. After about a month we got an official notice our request for fair rent was denied. When my partner challenged the illegal rent increases he was told the rate of inflation was 5%. When he pressed them further for them to cite their sources since that number is not supported by public data, they stated the figure was "internal" and hung up on him.

It is widely known among the tenants that the community relations team screens calls from residents who have previously complained, making it nearly impossible to get through unless you use a different phone number or pretend to be a prospective renter.

Substandard Living Conditions:
Our unit is unrenovated, with outdated appliances and carpeting throughout. We've endured repeated roof leaks over our bed, which required the ceiling to be cut open twice. Despite this major disruption, no accommodation or rent concessions offered.

Security and Safety Failures:
The building's security is lax, with faulty locks that management has failed to fix despite multiple complaints after a string of REPEATED BREAK INS in the building.

Manipulative Practices:
The management team encourages the cleaning staff to solicit good reviews on Google/Yelp. While our cleaning lady Mercedes is wonderful and deserves recognition, it's a thinly veiled attempt to improve their ratings without addressing the real issues.

Empty Promises and No Action:
I expect a response from Essex’s community relations team apologizing for my experience and making vague commitments to improvement. This is their standard playbook. They apologize, express regret, and promise to look into the issues, but nothing ever changes. It's all a facade to give the appearance of concern while continuing their predatory practices unchanged.

In summary, Essex’s practices are not just frustrating but are unethical and potentially illegal. They apologize and make vague commitments to improvement but never take real action. Having lived in many different apartments in various major cities, I can confidently say Essex is the worst management company I have ever encountered. I strongly advise aga

Living at The Village at Toluca Lake Apartments, managed by Essex Apartment Homes, has been a nightmare. When we moved in, our rent was $2,784/month. After switching to a month-to-month lease in May 2023, it jumped to $3,062/month, and now they want to raise it again to $3,381/month. This 10.42% increase is above the legal limit of 8.9% according to California's Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482). For May 2023, with a CPI of 3.2%, the maximum allowable increase was 8.2%, yet they imposed a 9.99% increase. For August 2024, the limit will be 8.9%, but the proposed increase is 10.42%. Management claims they can increase rent by 1% per month, but this results in a 12% annual increase, which is illegal.

The maintenance here is atrocious. The pool was closed for over a month with almost no communication and potential asbestos contamination. We’ve had repeated roof leaks directly over our bed that turned our bedroom into a construction zone for days. Despite multiple repairs, the leaks persist. Continuous construction noise from various projects makes working from home nearly impossible.

We experienced break-ins involving tenants who weren’t promptly evicted. Despite multiple complaints, the faulty locks that can be bypassed with a butter knife remain unfixed. The elevator on the Clybourn side has been malfunctioning with an outdated permit for over 2 years, posing serious safety risks.

Washing machines took months to repair with no communication from management. Multiple instances of poor communication regarding lobby and elevator repairs caused major inconveniences. Essex imposed a technology fee for services we don’t use, which seems highly suspicious and unnecessary.

Essex’s practice of annual rent increases far above market value and higher than what new tenants are charged is dishonest and predatory. The increase in trash fees and the introduction of unnecessary technology fees add to our financial burden without corresponding improvements in services or amenities.

Poor communication, rude interactions, and slow resolution of issues are rampant. Our appliances and bathroom are outdated and suffer from constant water damage despite our efforts to keep them clean. It is unreasonable to charge above market rent for such an unrenovated apartment.

Despite multiple follow-ups, management only responded to insist that their rent hikes are justified, ignoring the fact that they exceed the legal limit. We even warned prospective tenants about our experience, and they were shocked to learn how much we are paying for the same exact unrenovated unit floorplan after only two years.

If you’re considering moving here, think twice. The management is unresponsive, and the living conditions do not justify the high rent. Save yourself the trouble and look elsewhere. We will continue to share our experiences publicly and with local authorities until these issues are resolved.

I have a friend here who has lived here for years and I've asked her questions as I was considering moving in.

Since Essex purchased, they do a 10% yearly rental increase no matter the condition of unit without doing upgrades, new carpet, paint or anything. There was once an option but it came with a further several hundred dollar a month increase.

Long term tenants’ rents/increases are higher than the vacant units advertised to the public and when that has been inquired about by tenants they are told "oh that's a mistake, it's more". She shared a number of amazing neighbors have moved.

They’ve become so greedy that last year the management office on site left without informing residents and converted the office to an apartment disturbing peaceful enjoyment for everyone nearby.

2023 Essex offered short term leases when 99% of the building are long term tenants with a large population of single woman. Three men moved in who began breaking into single women apartments; robbed one, touched another until the tenants who were NOT informed by Essex started sharing info for their protection and security given Essex removed the night security patrol. Which is needed given the access to the building is frequently compromised. Most units now have a ring or security camera on their doors at their own expense.

I’ve visited and seen 3-inch cockroaches walking around or dead in the halls. They changed the doors to a keyless system by a company they own. Last year they forced new ins. coverage premiums that they tacked onto rents. Started charging residents for “community” bills such as electricity for the lights that stay on and trash/recycling programs. Essex Corp who owns multiple corps and layers of corp protection owns the laundry co. machines that charge everyone.

NOW they are implementing WiFi at just shy of $100/month that they are FORCING everyone to pay. They are telling residents you can keep your own internet but you have to pay for the “community WiFi” or don’t renew your lease.

Nefarious corporations like Essex must be stopped. If you have any amazing class action lawsuit attorneys tell them to send letters to all the tenants at 211 Valley and 4524 N Clybourn Ave!!!!

Some of these folks have been there 20+ years with fixed incomes and can’t move. Some were hit so hard by COVID - they lived on credit and need time to increase scores to be able to move.

Essex is a predatory company one of the top 6 that are rate fixing rentals across America and packaged as a REIT in the stock market.

It’s so bad, the cleaning lady begs tenants to write positive YELP reviews.

Great apartment