Surrey Downs

Pros

• It is described as a very nice community.
• The clubhouse has been completely updated with games, bingo nights, parties, and social events, making it a great place to live.
• It remains a great place to live.
• It's a nice place to live with lots to do and close to everything.
• The facilities have been redone very nicely and look great.
• Surrey Downs is described as a hidden gem among 55+ communities.
• It is considered better than other places.
• The clubhouse is a good venue for events, with a nice kitchen and convenient amenities like coat rooms and restrooms.

Cons

• They believe the $60 monthly increase over three years is burdensome and not justified.
• They complain that garbage collection has been reduced to once per week, inviting foul smells and vermin.
• They accuse the management company of charging $25,000 more this year with no clear explanation.
• They say the board promised transparency but remains tight-lipped and unresponsive to questions.
• They allege the board fines residents for minor infractions, creating a hostile environment for newcomers.
• They would not recommend Surrey Downs, NJ.
• They describe the board as tyrannical and say it makes residents' lives miserable.
• They accuse the leadership of corruption.
• They criticize the office staff as nasty.
• They describe the overall environment as bad and not welcoming or friendly.
• They note that homes are placed too close together.

Review

Surrey Downs in New Jersey emerges in these remarks as a community with real charm and a clear sense of pride, but also with ongoing tensions that touch every corner of daily life. On the positive side, residents repeatedly highlight a recently updated clubhouse that serves as the beating heart of social life in the neighborhood. For many, the monthly association fee has been worth it because it supports a vibrant slate of activities: game nights, bingo, parties, and a steady stream of social events. The clubhouse itself is described in glowing terms - a great room for parties and meetings, an exercise room, a library, a billiards room, ceramics, and convenient amenities like a kitchen, coat rooms, restrooms, and easy parking. The overall vibe is that Surrey Downs is a nice place to live, with a friendly, close-knit atmosphere, a sense that neighbors are helpful, and a location that feels convenient and welcoming for residents who want a quiet, sociable 55+ lifestyle.

The positive perspective is not just about the facilities; it's also about the social fabric. Several residents mention that the area feels friendly and that neighboring residents are supportive. The community is described as a "hidden gem" among 55+ neighborhoods, with many noting that in this setting you can enjoy a range of pursuits and meet people who share similar rhythms of life. Even those who are less certain about some administrative questions often acknowledge the value of the social calendar - clubs, gatherings, and the chance to host events in a well-equipped clubhouse. In this view, Surrey Downs offers a balanced combination of quiet residential life and opportunities for connection, making it an appealing place to call home for many residents.

Yet among the same threads of praise run strong counterpoints that center on cost, governance, and transparency. A recurring theme is the sense that fees have risen, from an originally cited $225 per month to $285 per month - a $60 jump over three years. Several residents acknowledge the increase as part of a broader economic trend, noting that "everything has gone up everywhere" and arguing that modest fee increases are necessary to keep the community looking good and to maintain amenities. Still, the question remains: what exactly does the extra $60 buy beyond what was already promised? The responses here vary; some say the higher price is justified by the upkeep and ongoing improvements, while others insist that the value isn't fully clear when specific services appear to be trimmed or changed.

In particular, some residents raise concerns about reductions in services. They point to reduced garbage collection from twice a week to once per week, suggesting that the shift invites foul smells and vermin into homes and implying that the cost of the second pickup is not negligible for individual households. They wonder how much of the increased monthly payment goes toward pest control and other unseen line items, signaling a demand for greater transparency about budgeting and service levels. There are also mentions of a budget showing a management company charging the community more this year, with $25,000 more than last year, but without a clear articulation of where that additional money is going. For residents who want accountability, these details matter deeply, especially when combined with anecdotes about how questions to the board are sometimes met with a suggestion that they have already been answered, or with a perception of limited openness.

The governance dynamic is another central thread. Several reviewers describe a board that promised transparency during campaigning but has since appeared tight-lipped when questions arise. The sense that the board roams the grounds looking for infractions to fine has left some residents feeling uneasy, with stories about complaints that feel overly aggressive or punitive, such as a new mover being targeted as part of enforcement activity. The tone of governance matters as much as the fiscal side: accusations of a "tyrannical board" and even references to corruption surface in the discourse, colored by personal experiences with enforcement, communication gaps, and the perceived disconnect between board actions and resident expectations. This governance climate is a key factor shaping how people feel about Surrey Downs beyond the surface of beautiful facilities and friendly neighbors.

On balance, the sentiment about Surrey Downs is a blend of appreciation and concern. Some people who have lived there for years insist that it remains a great place to live, with a community identity reinforced by a resurged street presence - streets that have been resurfaced and neighbors who commonly describe themselves as helpful and respectful. They emphasize the convenience of a well-equipped clubhouse and the vitality of a robust social calendar as evidence that the investment in the community pays dividends in quality of life. Others, however, voice strong dissatisfaction with how money is allocated and how governance operates, arguing that transparency and accountability should match the otherwise positive facets of the community. They voice worries about how funds are spent, how services are delivered, and how policies are enforced, sometimes painting a stark picture of a place where good intentions by residents and staff are overshadowed by a sense of misalignment between those running the association and those who live there.

In the end, Surrey Downs presents as a place with undeniable strengths and undeniable flaws, a 55+ community that can be described as both a "hidden gem" and a battleground over governance and cost. The updated clubhouse, diverse social offerings, and the tranquil, friendly residential environment are clear positives that many residents celebrate and defend. At the same time, the ongoing discussions about fee increases, service changes, budgeting clarity, and board transparency indicate unresolved tensions that members are actively trying to address. For some, the conclusion is straightforward: it remains a wonderful place to live thanks to its people and facilities; for others, the picture is more complicated, with a call for clearer communication and more accountable governance as the price of keeping Surrey Downs the kind of community they want to call home.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)
• Walgreens (4.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5 miles)
• Rite Aid (5.4 miles)
• Wegmans (5.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Tommys Tavern + Tap (1.6 miles)
• Chapter House (1.9 miles)
• McDonald's (2.3 miles)
• Tre Pizza, Pasta, Beer Garden (2.3 miles)
• Escondido's Mexican Restaurant (3.1 miles)
• P.F. Chang's China Bistro (3.4 miles)
• The Cheesecake Factory (3.4 miles)

Physicians

• Pediatric Health PA (2.9 miles)
• Freehold Ophthalmology (3 miles)
• Professional Orthopaedic Associates (3.1 miles)
• Millennium Eye Care (3.1 miles)
• Dr Minzter's Office (3.3 miles)
• University Radiology (3.4 miles)
• 1001 Medical Plaza (3.5 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Freehold 14 (3.1 miles)
• AMC Monmouth Mall 15 (11.5 miles)

Parks

• East Freehold Park & Showgrounds (3.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Bright Horizons At Centrastate Medical Center (3.4 miles)
• Meridian Health System (6.1 miles)
• Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center (11.1 miles)
• K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital (11.1 miles)
• Ocean Medical Center (11.7 miles)

Transportation

• Union Hill Rd Park & Ride (8.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (9.8 miles)
• Starbucks (11 miles)
• Rook Coffee (11.3 miles)
• Rook Coffee (11.5 miles)