Albany Commons

Pros

• The staff are wonderful and very attentive.
• The maintenance team is amazing, quick, and takes pride in their work.
• Kristy was amazing and helped through the move-in process.
• The move-in process was smooth and well organized.
• The grounds are kept clean and well maintained, with incredible summer flowers.
• Albany Commons is a great place to live.
• The complex is pet-friendly.
• Quick, friendly service from the office and maintenance teams with prompt repairs.

Cons

• Management is accused of not caring about tenants and not reimbursing the deductible after the gate fell on a resident's car.
• Maintenance enters units without tenants present despite requests not to.
• Bottom-floor residents have had ceiling leaks twice.
• The move-in floor plan did not match the model shown.
• The gate never works and has even fallen on a car.
• Mailboxes are placed in the worst spot, causing entry congestion.
• Doors don't seal properly, letting bugs inside.
• The recycling program is described as a joke.
• Front desk staff allegedly ignore calls and emails.
• The HVAC policy forces tenants to pay for filters or wait six months, despite monthly requests due to dust.
• The complex has deteriorated: higher rent with little upkeep; grounds and sidewalks poorly maintained; gates open; office staff unfriendly.
• An employee allegedly called the property "slumlords" and claimed old HVAC units wouldn't be replaced.

Review

The reviews paint a place with undeniable appeals and a long list of persistent challenges. On the bright side, many tenants highlight a safe feel, a favorable location, and attractive exteriors that invite a sense of peace and security. Several reviews point to well-kept grounds, ample parking options like a two-car garage, and a generally quiet atmosphere that makes coming home pleasant. A few residents even describe the experience as welcoming from the start, with friendly office staff and courteous maintenance teams who respond quickly and thoughtfully. In short, the property is not without its strengths: it can be a calm, convenient, and comfortable place to live when things run smoothly.

But beneath that initial impression lies a chorus of frustration about maintenance, communication, and reliability that many tenants say undermines those strengths. A recurring complaint is the frequency and manner of maintenance visits. Some renters report that maintenance enters units without permission, despite requests to be present, which understandably raises concerns about privacy and protocol. Others share stories of targeted, effective service: a workman who fixed both the washer and garbage disposal in under half an hour and followed up the next day to ensure a smooth handoff with their schedule. There are also glowing notes about specific technicians who resolve issues quickly and with a friendly demeanor, such as a maintenance professional who replaced a fire alarm battery and checked an aging system that hadn't been inspected in years. These positive experiences demonstrate that when maintenance is timely, competent, and communicative, it can dramatically improve tenancy.

Conversely, reliability and responsiveness feel uneven, and several reviews dwell on critical operational gaps. Gate functionality is a frequent hot button; multiple reviewers call out that the advertised gated community often fails to operate, leaving the gate open and undermining the sense of security. One reviewer even bluntly warns others not to trust the "gated community" pitch. Coupled with gizmo-like door issues - seals that don't keep bugs out and mailboxes placed awkwardly in traffic flow - the overall sense is that the property has not consistently solved basic, everyday inconveniences. The lack of dependable access control compounds other maintenance frustrations, creating a sense of ongoing compromise rather than a stable, turnkey living environment.

Health, safety, and comfort concerns feature prominently in several accounts. A particularly alarming set of claims describes aging HVAC systems that some tenants feel are not just inefficient but potentially hazardous. One reviewer asserts that the complex would rather "endanger their tenants" than replace old air conditioning and furnace units, citing multiple service calls in a short span and an expert's verdict that the equipment is a near-20-year-old fire hazard. Reports of uncomfortably hot apartments - temperatures soaring into the 80s during the day - paired with slow or ineffective fixes, paint a picture of living conditions that can become untenable. The situation is compounded for those who saw delays in routine tasks like changing furnace filters. A resident who asks for monthly filter changes finds themselves pushed into a six-month cycle with the option to pay for more frequent changes, a policy they contest as inconsistent with healthy living standards and standard health department expectations.

The human element in these reviews shines through in moments of exceptional service and in clearer signs of frustration. A reviewer recounts a seamless move-in experience, praising a staff member who helped navigate the process from selling a home to choosing the right unit, culminating in a smooth transition that made the complex feel welcoming. Another account commends the office team for their warmth and attentiveness, noting how friendly, helpful staff can make a big difference even on difficult days. Yet there are parallel stories of communication breakdowns and inaccessible front desk staff - voicemails that go unanswered, calls that are not returned, and messages that appear to go unheeded. The mixed tone is unmistakable: a capable, caring team occasionally rises to the occasion, but in other moments the same team or property fails to respond in a timely, consistent manner.

The landscaping, pets, and overall communal environment receive commendation in several reviews, acting as a counterbalance to the more negative experiences. The grounds are described as well-kept and nicely landscaped, with seasonal flowers adding to the curb appeal. Pet-friendly policies are cited as a positive factor for many residents, and there is appreciation for the availability of a two-car garage, which adds measurable value for renters with vehicles. A few tenants specifically note the impact of attentive maintenance on their day-to-day living, with comments about quick, careful work and a sense of reliability when problems arise. However, these positives coexist with reminders that even the best-maintained grounds cannot offset systemic concerns about safety features, appointment scheduling, and ongoing repairs.

In the end, the reviews present a complex portrait of a property that can be a safe, well-located, and aesthetically pleasing place to live, but only if maintenance, gate control, and tenant communication are consistently addressed. The strongest advocates emphasize the human touch: friendly, capable staff; timely fixes; and a sense that someone is listening and helping. The most vocal critics spotlight a pattern of inconsistent service, aging infrastructure, and operational hiccups that erode the housing experience and threaten tenant trust. For prospective residents weighing a move here, the takeaway is clear: the appeal of the location and the potential for a pleasant living environment are real, but they ride on the reliability of management, the effectiveness of maintenance, and the integrity of everyday conveniences such as gates, doors, and communications. If those elements can be stabilized and prioritized, the positives could reliably outweigh the negatives; until then, experiences will likely continue to vary widely from unit to unit and season to season.

Pharmacies

• Market District Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Roosters (0.7 miles)
• McDonald's (0.8 miles)
• The Goat New Albany (1 miles)
• Rusty Bucket Corner Tavern (1.4 miles)
• Bibibop Asian Grill (2.5 miles)
• The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek (2.6 miles)
• First Watch (2.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Central Ohio Surgical Institute (1.3 miles)
• Mount Carmel St Ann's OBGYN Clinic (5.9 miles)

Cafes

• Fox in the Snow Cafe (1.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.9 miles)
• Northstar Cafe (4.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.8 miles)
• Starbucks (6.8 miles)
• Starbucks (6.8 miles)
• Starbucks (7.6 miles)

Physicians

• New Albany Family Health (1.6 miles)
• Mount Carmel Medical Group New Albany (1.6 miles)
• B. Well Clinic Integrative Medicine (2.5 miles)
• Advanced Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center (2.5 miles)
• PrimeMD - Westerville Primary Care Walk-ins (5.6 miles)
• Maureen Ann Stark (5.7 miles)
• Stickel, Brian C DDS (5.8 miles)

Parks

• Thompson Park (1.7 miles)
• Centergreen Park (4.9 miles)
• Sharon Woods Metro Park (6.3 miles)
• Metzger Park (7 miles)
• McNamara Park (7.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Westerville Christian Church (4.6 miles)
• Faith Ministries Church (7 miles)

Theaters

• Dreamscape at AMC Easton Town Center (4.9 miles)

Transportation

• Concourse C (6.8 miles)
• Concourse B (6.8 miles)
• TSA Security Checkpoint B (6.8 miles)
• TSA Pre-Check B (6.8 miles)
• CMH Passenger Drop-off / Pick-up (6.9 miles)
• TSA Security Checkpoint A (6.9 miles)
• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) (7 miles)