Lord Tennyson Apartments Inc

Pros

• New management has been trying to clean this place up since they took over last summer and is doing a great job so far.
• Office staff is always helpful and friendly.
• The staff here are really making these apartments great again.
• These new office staff ladies are so helpful and nice.
• Juliana was professional, friendly, and very helpful during the leasing process.
• There have been major improvements under the new management.
• The trash area is being handled better and the laundry is a lot better.
• The new manager is working hard to improve safety and residents' peace of mind.
• Nice spacious apartments, good management and maintenance crew.
• VOABA is praised for making a positive impact.

Cons

• The complex is described as disgusting and poorly maintained with recurring unaddressed repairs.
• Management is unresponsive, failing to fix problems in a timely manner.
• On-site workers often lack English proficiency and do not communicate safety instructions to residents.
• Water issues include drastically reduced pressure and no hot water for extended periods; water heaters are moved outside, creating unsafe conditions.
• Cold water makes basic tasks like dishwashing unsanitary.
• Safety hazards include nails left in the parking lot, large dogs with uncollected waste, and open gates that invite theft.
• Tenants report threats of eviction for late paperwork despite rent being paid on time.
• Office access and tenant communication are poor, with offices frequently closed.
• Mold and aging infrastructure contribute to unhealthy living conditions and persistent maintenance delays.

Review

Life at this apartment complex runs a wide gamut from decades of familiarity and low-cost living to ongoing frustrations with maintenance, management, and safety. Across many voices, residents describe a place that has seen better days and is currently trying to turn a corner, even as persistent problems linger. The thread tying many reviews together is a sense that attention to basic needs - hot water, timely repairs, clean common areas, and clear communication - has been sporadic, with improvements hard-won and unevenly distributed.

One of the loudest recurring concerns is maintenance and infrastructure. Numerous residents have lamented that repairs are slow or incomplete, sometimes taking years to resolve. Water-related issues loom large: days or weeks of cold water, dramatically reduced water pressure, and, in some cases, a decision to relocate water heaters outside the living spaces. The shift to outdoor water heaters, in particular, has been a flashpoint, with objections that the arrangement creates safety hazards for families and children who play around the building stacks and stairs. Complaints about mold and unsanitary conditions persist as well, underscoring the sense that aging pipes and damp living environments demand more proactive oversight. On a more granular level, stories about nails left in parking lots and other maintenance debris turning into flat tires or trip hazards add to the sense that basic upkeep has been inconsistent.

Management changes have colored many residents' experiences. There are strong endorsements for new staff members and the impression that a more hands-on, customer-service-oriented approach is taking hold. Several reviews highlight individuals who stood out during the leasing process or in ongoing office interactions, such as Juliana, Zohar, Wess, and other office staff, who are praised for professionalism, friendliness, responsiveness, and a willingness to answer questions clearly. In contrast, earlier periods of management are described as difficult, with complaints about no clear communication, closed office doors, and a sense that tenants were being left in the dark about repairs, policy changes, or rent adjustments. The contrast between "no management" and "new management has been trying to clean this place up" is a common thread, suggesting a split experience depending on when a resident interacted with the on-site team.

Safety and security considerations add another layer of complexity. Some reviewers paint a bleak picture: open gates, perceived risk of theft, and a sense that the complex lacks consistent security and maintenance oversight. The environment around the property - such as parking lots strewn with nails, stray animals, and noisy or disruptive construction - amplifies concerns about living conditions and the safety of families, particularly those with children. Others note improvements in safety and order as management becomes more proactive, with residents acknowledging that new leadership is making efforts to establish a safer, more stable living environment. Yet the juxtaposition of fear and progress remains a defining feature for many.

Rent, policy, and the immigrant-to-long-term-resident spectrum further shape the experience. Eviction threats tied to late paperwork - even when rent has been paid - create anxiety for residents who may be juggling caregiving responsibilities or irregular work schedules. The affordability angle is front and center: some residents describe the community as low-income housing where upgrades and services take time to materialize, while others frame it as a bargain that occasionally comes with trade-offs in upkeep or enforcement. The tension between protecting tenants' rights, managing budget constraints, and maintaining a livable environment comes through in several anecdotes, including calls for city involvement when disputes arise.

In conversations about the broader sense of community, there are clearly two arcs. On one end, there are decades-long residents who speak warmly of the place's history and their own years there, some recalling better days and expressing a cautious optimism about steady improvements. A long-tenured resident who has lived there for 30-plus years highlights a personal continuity and a tolerance for the trade-offs that come with aging buildings in this price range. On the other end, newer residents and former visitors describe a workplace of ongoing transformations, where the presence of dedicated staff and visible efforts to reorganize and sanitize common areas provide hope for a more stable, well-maintained living experience.

Taken together, the reviews paint a complex portrait: a large complex with a history of maintenance delays and safety concerns, now attempting to rebuild trust through new management and a renovation-minded approach. Some residents report meaningful improvements in responsiveness, laundry and trash management, and office culture, while others remain wary of lingering issues like hot water reliability, mold, and communication gaps. For anyone considering moving in, the message is nuanced: there are signs of progress and a real commitment from some staff, but a full resolve of longstanding infrastructure and safety concerns will likely require continued attention, consistency, and ongoing dialogue with management and local authorities.

Physicians

• Kaiser Medical Offices (0.1 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Pediatrics (0.1 miles)
• Dr Mark Mandel M.D. - Optima Medical Assoc (3.1 miles)
• Golden State Dermatology (10.8 miles)
• Foothill Optometric Group (10.8 miles)
• Reproductive Science Center (11.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.1 miles)

Parks

• Eden Landing Ecological Reserve (1.7 miles)
• Beard Staging Area, Alameda Creek Regional Trail (4.3 miles)
• Coyote Hills Regional Park (4.9 miles)
• Castro Valley Park and Community Center (5.2 miles)
• Bay Trees Park (5.2 miles)
• Lake Chabot Regional Park (5.7 miles)
• Parsons Park (6 miles)

Transportation

• South Hayward BART Station (2 miles)
• Castro Valley BART Station (4.1 miles)
• Union City BART Station (5 miles)
• Fremont BART Station (8.2 miles)
• Terminal 2 (8.5 miles)
• Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter (8.5 miles)
• Oakland International Airport (OAK) (8.5 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (2.4 miles)
• McDonald's (2.5 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (3.3 miles)
• McDonald's (4.1 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (4.3 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (4.4 miles)
• McDonald's (4.9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (8.1 miles)
• Philz Coffee (8.2 miles)
• Daily Bagel Cafe (9.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (10.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Kaiser Permanente Post-Acute Care Center (4.2 miles)
• Eden Medical Center (4.5 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Labor & Delivery (6.5 miles)
• Washington Hospital Heliport (8.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Baptist Church Of Castro Valley (5.4 miles)
• Bethel Presbyterian Church Of San Leandro (6 miles)
• Wat Buddhanusorn (6.4 miles)
• Bay Area Chinese Bible Church (10.3 miles)

Theaters

• AMC NewPark 12 (8.8 miles)