THE VILLAS AT HAPPY VALLEY ARE AWFUL.

[u/singular_goose]

I've lived at The Villas at Happy Valley for almost 2 years, and honestly, I would think very carefully before signing a lease here. There are some things I like about the apartment, but the management experience has been frustrating enough that I personally wouldn't recommend it.

Here's my experience, because I wish I'd known some of this beforehand.

The rent situation is ridiculous

When I renewed my lease last year, I was told that $850/month was the lowest rate they could offer me. About TWO MONTHS later, the rate dropped to $750.

Now, existing residents are sometimes being told they can renew at their current rate, while new leases are being advertised for $805. So if you signed early based on what management told you, you can end up paying more than people moving in later.

When I questioned this, I was told it was due to “market fluctuations.” I was also warned that if I didn't renew, I could end up without housing for a month or have to live somewhere worse.

I'm not saying apartment prices can never change, but being told a price is the lowest possible rate and then watching it drop shortly afterward is incredibly frustrating. Get EVERYTHING about pricing and renewal rates in writing. Seriously.

The renovations were a nightmare

The renovations were one of the worst parts of living here.

There were days when workers were in the apartment from around 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There was dust, paint everywhere, and workers repeatedly entering our living spaces. At one point, I literally had to leave the apartment to change clothes because I couldn't comfortably access my room.

We were also told to empty the fridge for an appliance replacement, only for the appliances not to arrive because of shipping issues. There were similar disruptions involving other appliances.

Paint ended up damaging some of our personal belongings, including kitchen items. Management apologized and said they'd put in a word, but actually getting reimbursed was a whole other ordeal. It took around SIX MONTHS and an absurd amount of effort to get the issue resolved.

I understand that renovations happen, but the way this was handled made our apartment incredibly difficult to live in at times. It shouldn't take months of repeatedly contacting management to resolve damage caused during work at your own apartment.

Getting management to actually help is exhausting

This is probably my biggest overall complaint. Trying to get issues resolved feels like a part-time job.

I've spent an unreasonable amount of time calling and emailing about problems, and getting meaningful help has been difficult. The advice to “just call the office” isn't particularly useful when you've already tried contacting them repeatedly and aren't getting anywhere.

I shouldn't have to spend hours chasing people just to get a reasonable response about issues involving the apartment I'm paying to live in.

The professionalism has also been questionable

This one genuinely made me uncomfortable.

I went to the office to discuss my renewal rate, and a staff member brought up a social media post I'd made about my boyfriend's experience at a completely different apartment complex.

When I asked how she knew about the post, she said people had been sending it to her and asking whether I was the resident they were having problems with.

Why are we discussing my social media activity during a conversation about my lease renewal? I found the whole interaction inappropriate and unprofessional.

I've also heard comments from staff that concerned me regarding LGBTQ+ residents. On another occasion, I heard a staff member compare our apartment's cleanliness favorably to international students' apartments. That comment felt unnecessary and inappropriate, too.

These interactions didn't exactly inspire confidence in the professionalism of the management team.

Are there any positives? Yes.

To be fair, there are things I like about living here:

• The bus access is convenient.
• The kitchen is nice.
• Having my own bathroom plus a half bath is great.
• There's plenty of free parking for residents and visitors.

So it's not like absolutely everything about the property is bad. My issue is that the positives don't make up for the rent frustrations, renovation experience, and difficulty getting management to address problems.

The apartments also feel relatively small for the price, especially considering the distance from campus and N Atherton area. This side of SC is much more country and less Penn State studenty (?). I'd compare the actual space, location, and total cost with other options before committing.

My advice if you're considering moving here

• Compare rates. Don't assume the rate you're quoted is the best available or that it won't change.
• Get important statements in writing. Especially anything about rent, renewal pricing, and promises to resolve an issue.
• Document everything. Take pictures of the apartment and any damage, and keep copies of emails.
• Consider the management experience, not just the apartment itself. A nice kitchen and convenient parking don't mean much when resolving a problem becomes a whole project.

Honestly, if you don't want to spend multiple hours every week trying to get what you're already paying for, I'd seriously consider other housing options. I'd rather pay a little more for a place where I can have some peace of mind than keep dealing with this level of frustration.

TL;DR: Convenient bus access, a nice kitchen, private bathrooms, and lots of free parking. But in my experience, the rent practices have been frustrating, the renovations were extremely disruptive, getting issues resolved was exhausting, and some staff interactions felt unprofessional. Do your research, compare prices, document everything, and get things in writing before signing.