Rachel Gardens Apartments

"I lived in these apartments for around 3 years, from Dec 2020 to Janurary 2024. My overall experience was okay, but there's some pros and cons. Pros: - I never had an issue finding an available spot to park, unless there was construction or some other temporary issue. - The unit I had was incredibly large for a 1 bedroom, it's around 1000 sqft. The units are getting more expensive, but in comparision to other complexes, I think that the rent was okay for the amount of space we were getting. - The units were remodeled and appliances were all new. The stove and heat is gas. Our washing machine broke and they replaced it with a new machine. - Management would come to fix (non-emergency) issues fairly quckly - Leasing office was always professional to us. - The apartments are very dog friendly and allow larger dogs, which is increasingly uncommon for NJ - The apartments are fairly safe and quiet. I haven't seen any issues with break ins, and most of the residents are families. It is a very Indian-heavy community but overall most people that I've encountered are nice. The Montville police patrol frequently. - The location is alright, as it's fairly close to Willowbrook Mall and shopping in Parsipanny or Fairfield. Cons: - Parking spots are not assigned and there is (as far as I know) no covered spots available. - The layout of the one bed is a little strange. The unit is long and skinny (if that makes sense). - The rent is high (but all rent in NJ is high right now). This unit was slight over 2k per month base rent, and has gone up several hundred dollars since we moved in. - The mosquitos are HORRIBLE in the summer. I would take my dog out to go to the bathroom and get ten mosquito bites just in that short time frame. You'll get swarmed just walking out to your car, and then end up inside EVERYWHERE including houses and the community gym. Forget using your porch unless you have it screened off or soak yourself in mosquito repellent. I don't know if management does much for it because it's an issue every year. This past year was especially bad. - The snow managment is iffy. Back in 2021 when we had a horrible winter, management didn't plow parking spots for almost four or five days. I had to shovel a parking spot two days in a row when I got off work late. People were vandalising other's cars and leaving nasty notes for taking "reserved" (not actually reserved) spots. The last few winters have seemed better, but we also have had sigificantly less snow. - The gym is not included in rent and is almost $600 per year. I don't think it's worth $600 a year ($50/month). There are three treadmills, two bikes, two elipiticals, a pull up bar with a cable machine, and some dumbells. It's similar to what you'd find in a hotel. You'd be better off getting a real gym membership for the price. - The pool is also not included in the rent. There is a seasonal (?) fee. I don't remember how much it was off the top of my head, but it wasn't worth it for a household of two people. The pool is also swarmed with kids every summer. - There are tons of kids in the apartments and they run around in the streets and leave toys/bikes/etc all over the sidewalks. Managment has sent out several emails about having parents watch kids, but most are unsupervised. I've never directly had any issues with the kids, but I usually keep to myself. - One of our neighbors had a cockroach infestation and the entire building had to be fumigated. - The floors are SUPER THIN. We were in a first floor unit and our neighbors above us were incredibly loud at all hours of the day. Their kids would stomp around at 6-7am on the weekends and they also now have a treadmill, which is insanely loud and they have used it as late as 9:30pm. We complained to the apartments and they essentially did nothing other than say they were going to "do an inspection to make sure they have the required carpets." Apparently they require that floors have throw rugs or carpets if it is a 2nd floor unit, which is also a little ridiculous."

"This place is like a hood - kids running around, crimes being committed, and major fights happening right down the street. The apartments themselves are good and comfortable, but the environment is dangerous. I would not recommend moving here."

"Great place to live. Lived here for 6 years (2017-2023). Never had any issues. Tiny maintenance problems are addressed within 24 hours, often within hours. Great neighborhood. Everything (groceries, restaurants, Home Depot, bus to NYC) is within 2 miles. Most importantly, the leasing management, unlike most other places, don’t steal your security deposit."

"I recently had the pleasure experience with top-notch maintenace service from Juan at Rachel Gardens, and I couldn't be more impressed. Juan deserves for his exceptional skills and dedication to repairing a bathroom issue in my apartment. From the moment Juan arrived, his professionalism was evident. He introduced himself courteously and listened attentively as I explained the problem. He is friendly demeanour instantly put me at ease . Juan worked efficiently and meticulously, ensuring that every detail was taken care of. I can't thank Juan enough for his exemplary service if you ever encounter maintenances issues at Rachel Gardens, I recommend Juan. His professionalism, expertise, and dedication make him a true asset to the team. Thank you, Juan, for making my experience fantastic one!!!"

"I recently worked on a movie that had filmed at Rachel Gardens last fall and it was a really great experience for us. The leasing office staff were great to work with, attentive when we needed anything, and they enjoyed having a film crew there. The tenants were very kind and reasonable when we needed to take their parking spots for filming as well. The experience from the beginning to end was very positive for our crew. I hope we can bring more filming here!"