J K Residential Care Home

Pros

• Johanna Payan is a truly exceptional communicator.
• She is always quick to respond to any issue, and her problem-solving skills and proactive approach are invaluable to the building.
• She made the building at Highland Park Ave 44 a wonderful place to live.
• The new management in Koreatown is much better than the last.
• The staff is very professional.
• The building is secure and visually appealing.
• There is easy access and plenty of street parking.

Cons

• The service is horrendous and unbelievably disorganized.
• They are scammers/slumlords who do not fix problems and only seek tenants' money.
• Roach and termite infestations are common in the units.
• There have been serious safety issues, including an elevator falling with a resident inside, a broken security gate, and a broken front door.
• The A/C fails repeatedly and there are chronic leaks requiring buckets in living spaces.
• Management changes frequently, is unresponsive, and communication is poor.
• Tenants are charged for pest control, deposits are not returned, and there are numerous questionable or hidden fees.
• The company is accused of dishonest behavior in court and overall unethical practices.

Review

Across the multiple properties tied to this management company, experiences run the full gamut from standout excellence to absolute chaos. At one building on Highland Park Ave 44, a resident praises the on-site manager, Johanna Payan, calling her an exceptional communicator who is quick to respond and exceptionally effective at solving problems. That tenant describes the building as a wonderful place to live, crediting Johanna with turning the experience around and noting that the Koreatown unit they rent now feels like a real improvement over their previous management experience. The sentiment there is that strong, attentive management can make a huge difference in day-to-day living.

Yet other tenants describe an entirely different reality. A recurring theme across many of the reviews is a management team that feels disorganized, slow to respond, and often unhelpful. Some tenants report chronic issues that go unaddressed for years, alongside a high turnover of managers - competent and incompetent alike - creating a sense of instability and a perception that the company cannot sustain consistent leadership. The narrative includes severe maintenance problems and safety concerns, such as roach and termite infestations, elevator failures, cars being broken into, a broken security gate, a broken front door, and air conditioning outages lasting through summers and winters. Leaks prompting buckets in living rooms, and vagrants lingering in halls are also mentioned, painting a picture of buildings that feel neglected and unsafe at times.

Financial and administrative grievances sit alongside maintenance horror stories. Several tenants report not receiving security deposits after moving out, and some describe being charged for pest control requested to prevent infestations, or being billed for issues they insist were not their fault. One reviewer mentions a $200 referral credit they never received, another describes being charged for pest control services that were supposed to prevent further infestation, and there are allegations of instructions to move out when fixes were deemed unlikely. The combination of poor service and financial mismanagement leads some residents to label the company scammers or unethical, with one account detailing that the "insane and imaginary" charges after vacating could not be explained and the deposit was never returned.

The intensity of frustration expands into formal actions and warnings. Several accounts mention considering legal action but ultimately deciding the effort isn't worth it, instead opting to file complaints with the Better Business Bureau and other agencies. The repeated rhetorical question - how such a company remains in operation - echoes the broader sense of disbelief and dissatisfaction. The experiences described evoke a sense of distrust toward the management team as a whole, with reports of dishonest or inconsistent communications and a perception that the organization prioritizes profit over tenant well-being.

Individual addresses add further texture to the mosaic of experiences. For example, a complex at 9111 Burnet Ave in North Hills is described as having a management history marked by frequent turnover and questionable practices. A renter recounts an incident where a supervisor and a temporary manager arranged inspections while the door stayed unsecured and the air conditioning ran relentlessly, resulting in a prohibitively high upcoming electric bill. The reviewer advises others not to rent in that building, even suggesting that living in a car or a relative's basement would be a better option. In Panorama and Cedros avenues, similar patterns emerge: roach infestations are said to be ongoing, and interactions with managers - specifically a manager named Magdalena and her supervisor Virginia Leslie - are described as rude, unprofessional, and dismissive. Complaints about homelessness outside the buildings, strained communication with property staff, and threats of pet-related fees further compound the perception of a difficult, sometimes hostile rental experience.

There are, however, sporadic notes of contrast and occasional positive encounters. A few statements acknowledge professional staff and accessible parking, hinting that not all experiences are uniformly negative. One reviewer who's comparatively newer to their tenancy reports unexpectedly positive, prompt, and helpful service, suggesting that individual staff members can make a meaningful difference even within a troubled system. The presence of at least one highly responsive and communicative manager at a different property reinforces the sense that the company's performance varies dramatically by location and by person in charge.

Taken together, the collection of reviews presents a complicated portrait. Some tenants experience dedicated, capable managers who uplift the living environment and foster a sense of safety and care. Others contend with persistent pests, maintenance failures, security lapses, and systemic administrative mismanagement that lead to deposits being withheld, charges that seem ill-explained, and a persistent feeling of being unheard. The range of experiences - from praise for a single outstanding manager to broad accusations of neglect and unethical practices - suggests that potential renters should proceed with caution, perform thorough due diligence, and seek out current, location-specific feedback before deciding to live in any of these properties.

Located in the heart of San Mateo, California, this area offers convenient access to several hospitals and pharmacies for your healthcare needs. With San Mateo Medical Center just 0.2 miles away and a variety of CVS and Walgreens locations nearby, you can rest assured knowing that medical assistance is easily accessible. In addition to healthcare facilities, the area boasts a range of transportation options such as Hillsdale Station and San Carlos Airport, making it convenient for travel or visits from loved ones. For recreation and relaxation, numerous parks like Laurelwood Park and Leo J Ryan Memorial Park are within a short drive, providing opportunities for outdoor activities. A variety of cafes and restaurants offer dining options for every palate, ensuring that you can enjoy delicious meals without venturing too far from home. Overall, this part of San Mateo provides a blend of convenience, healthcare resources, and recreational opportunities that make it an ideal location for senior living.

Hospitals

• San Mateo Medical Center (0.2 miles)
• Mills-Peninsula Radiology (2.8 miles)
• Sequoia Hospital (4.2 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center (4.9 miles)
• Mills-Peninsula Health Services (6.4 miles)
• A & C Convalescent Hospital (7.4 miles)
• VA Medical Center-Menlo Park (8.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)

Transportation

• Hillsdale Station (0.5 miles)
• San Carlos Airport (SQL) (2.7 miles)
• San Carlos Airport Control Tower (2.9 miles)
• Redwood City Caltrain Station (4.7 miles)
• Millbrae Caltrain Station (6.9 miles)
• Boarding Area C (7.5 miles)
• Delta Sky Club (7.5 miles)

Theaters

• Cinepolis San Mateo (0.5 miles)

Parks

• Laurelwood Park (1.6 miles)
• Leo J Ryan Memorial Park (2.3 miles)
• Marlin Park (2.5 miles)
• Central Park (2.5 miles)
• Highlands Park (2.9 miles)
• Burton Park (3.1 miles)
• Crestview Park (3.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2 miles)
• Starbucks (4.8 miles)
• Philz Coffee (4.8 miles)
• Coffeebar (4.9 miles)
• Starbucks (7.1 miles)
• San Francisco Giants Clubhouse (8 miles)

Physicians

• Urology: San Carlos Center: Palo Alto Medical Foundation (2.3 miles)
• Bundy Opticians (2.8 miles)
• California Skin Institute (3.2 miles)
• Redwood City Women's Health Center (4.3 miles)
• California Skin Institute (4.4 miles)
• Kaiser RWC Birch Building (5 miles)
• CCRM Fertility of San Francisco (7.1 miles)

Restaurants

• In-N-Out Burger (2.4 miles)
• McDonald's (2.5 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (4.2 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (4.7 miles)
• New England Lobster Market & Eatery (6.5 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (6.7 miles)
• The Village Bakery (7.4 miles)