Somerset Lakes in Indianapolis, IN

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Pros

• The lake view is amazing.
• The community is lovely, with beautiful lakes and a helpful staff.
• Mel is great; he takes care of maintenance promptly.
• Somerset Lakes truly feels like home due to its peaceful, well-maintained grounds.
• The office staff and maintenance team are friendly, responsive, and easy to work with.
• The sunsets and lake views create a relaxing atmosphere.
• The amenities are top-notch, including a sparkling pool, a well-equipped fitness center, and a spacious dog park.
• Char is the best; she assists residents promptly, kindly, and professionally.
• The location is fantastic, offering convenient access to shopping, dining, and entertainment.
• The apartments are spacious and offer stunning views from the patio.

Cons

• They say the security deposit is never returned, even when the unit is left in better condition than it was rented.
• They report washers and dryers that constantly break, a large rodent problem, and lots of trash around the buildings.
• They describe overflowing trash cans with dog poop and uncollected beer bottles around the gazebos.
• They note that non-residents can enter through the gates to swim, which ruins the experience for residents.
• They accuse move-in conditions of being unacceptable, with outdated bathrooms, doors that don’t work, nails sticking out of carpet, and other maintenance failures.
• They criticize the management as dismissive and unprofessional and say they impose numerous hidden or extra fees.
• They complain about insufficient parking, frequent towing, and pressure to buy expensive carports.
• They mention chronic water shutoffs, occasional lack of hot water, and persistent silverfish infestations.

Review

Somerset Lakes is best suited for households that prize a peaceful, lakeside setting, generous apartment layouts, and a full slate of on-site amenities, with the expectation that life will revolve around outdoor spaces, walking paths, and recreational options. This community suits residents who want scenic views, a sense of privacy, and quick access to nearby shopping and dining, all while enjoying a relatively quiet Indy setting. It is, however, less ideal for those who require unwavering consistency in management, fully transparent pricing, and faultlessly maintained interiors from move-in forward.

Those who should consider alternatives are families and seniors who cannot tolerate ongoing management inconsistencies, opaque or bundled pricing, and frequent maintenance gaps. If a predictable monthly bill, reliable gate access, stable parking, and prompt, professional handling of repairs are non-negotiables, the Somerset Lakes experience may fall short. Several reviews flag a revolving door in leasing staff, occasional rudeness, and disputes over fees that can leave new residents surprised by true monthly costs. For buyers of move-in readiness and turnkey service, the gaps are not merely cosmetic; they shape daily life in meaningful ways.

The strongest positives, lake views, expansive layouts, and a well-kept grounds package, often translate into meaningful daily comfort. The lake itself becomes a natural living room, with opportunities for boating, kayaking, and wildlife watching that most apartment communities cannot match. Maintenance and office staff can be consistently responsive in many cases, and there is a recurring sense from residents that the grounds, pool, dog park, and fitness facilities are well maintained. Numerous testimonials highlight friendly, helpful personnel who make routine tasks, from light repairs to amenity usage, pleasant and efficient. When these threads hold, Somerset Lakes delivers a calm, aesthetically pleasing backdrop that makes the living experience feel personal and home-like.

Yet the cons are persistent and frequently well beyond cosmetic. Move-ins are not universally ready, with kitchens and bathrooms flagged as older or inconsistent in finish, and some residents report ongoing cosmetic and functional repair needs that drag on for months. Storage and plumbing challenges, uneven workmanship, and delayed or incomplete projects undermine perceived value, especially given premium pricing noted in some unit categories. Gate reliability and guest/visitor parking contribute to daily friction, and the towing/parking policies have proven frustrating for those needing flexible access. Persistent water shutoffs, occasional pest activity, and heat delivery issues compound the sense that reliability, especially in a senior or family apartment setting, is uneven.

In counterbalance, the key pros can offset enough of the main drawbacks for a segment of residents to make Somerset Lakes workable. The property’s serene environment, expansive greenspace, and wildlife spectacles help justify higher rents for those who want a retreat-like feel without sacrificing proximity to conveniences. Strong customer service from certain team members, most notably a handful of leasing and maintenance staff who earn trust through responsiveness, can blunt some of the frustration stemming from policy and process gaps. For residents who value a robust amenity package and a setting that invites daily outdoor activity, the positives carry substantial weight, particularly when internal operations align with expectations for care and communication.

For families or seniors taking the next step with Somerset Lakes, a disciplined due diligence approach is essential. Demand a transparent, itemized cost breakdown up front and insist on a clear explanation of every monthly line item, including utilities, trash, pest control, and any independent service charges. Inspect the unit with a focus on move-in readiness, document all defects, and secure a schedule for repairs with firm timelines. Probe the gate system’s reliability, parking allocations, and guest policies, then verify current residents’ experiences with those policies. Finally, talk to several current residents about response times when issues arise, and assess whether the office staff, particularly the property manager and leasing team, demonstrate the proactive, consistent accountability that aging or family life demands.

In the end, Somerset Lakes offers a compelling blend of lakeside beauty, generous space, and amenity access that can truly elevate daily living for the right tenant. The decision hinges on tolerance for administrative complexity and variable maintenance, balanced against the undeniable lifestyle advantages, the quiet grounds, the panoramic water views, and the active social scene around a well-kept pool and outdoor spaces. If reliability in management, transparent pricing, and predictable service are non-negotiables, exploring alternatives is prudent. If the priority is a scenic, amenity-rich setting where occasional friction is acceptable in exchange for a serene, generous home, Somerset Lakes remains a legitimate option worth pursuing, with eyes wide open and a plan for vetting every cost and guarantee before signing.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Chick-Fil-A (1.3 miles)
• Seasons 52 (1.5 miles)
• The Cheesecake Factory (1.5 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.6 miles)
• BRU Burger Bar - Keystone (1.6 miles)
• Big Lug Canteen (1.9 miles)
• Jimmy John's (1.9 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (1.9 miles)
• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Friends Church (2 miles)
• Second Presbyterian Church (2.5 miles)
• St Luke Catholic Church (2.6 miles)
• Orchard Park Presbyterian Church (3.5 miles)
• Castleton United Methodist School (3.6 miles)
• College Park Church (5.5 miles)
• Tabernacle Presbyterian Church (5.5 miles)

Parks

• Holliday Park (2.9 miles)
• Gray Road Park (3.9 miles)
• Central Park Playground (4.4 miles)
• Founders Park (5.1 miles)
• Ft Harrison State Park (5.7 miles)

Physicians

• Indiana Neuroscience Associates (3.3 miles)
• Northeast Family Physicians (3.5 miles)
• Midwest Eye Institute (4.1 miles)
• Avruc (4.1 miles)
• Castleton Family Physicians (4.2 miles)
• Northwest Radiology Network (4.2 miles)
• Meridian Plastic Surgeons (4.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Community Heart And Vascular Surgery ICU Waiting Room (3.7 miles)
• Community (3.8 miles)
• Community North Hospital (4 miles)
• Community Rehabilitation Hospital North (4 miles)
• St Vincent Hospital Trauma ICU (4.6 miles)
• Trauma /Neuro ICU (4.6 miles)
• Franciscan St Francis Health (5.8 miles)

Transportation

• National Car Rental (4.6 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage at Michigan Rd (5 miles)

Theaters

• Flix Brewhouse (4.7 miles)
• Regal Ua Galaxy - Indianapolis (5.1 miles)