Seventy Harlan Apartments

What a mess! I saw an ad online that they had a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment available for rent.
So I arrived at the complex at 4pm. A sign out front said «leasing office» and had a phone number on it. The leasing office was closed so I called the number. CWP Property Management answered the phone and explained that the person on site managing usually leaves around 3pm. So they had me come to their office and fill out an application.
I went, filled out my application, paid my $ 60 cash. The staff with CWP explained that there is an on-​site manager for the apartment complex but they «help» with property management. They said the application process should take 48 – 72 hours. But if the person with Harlan apartments didn’t call me back in 72 hours to call them.
73 hours after turning in my application I got a phone call from CWP letting me know they could not locate my application. The next morning they said they figured out the manager at Harlan apartments had my application. I checked with my employer, my husband’s employer, and our current apartment complex. None of them had been notified to verify our income or rental history. He had not even started the application process!!!
CWP at least returned my $ 60 and my application. But how frustrating.
1^st of all why would a property manager leave work at 3pm on a daily basis? This was my first red flag!
2^nd when CWP told me to call them if I didn’t hear back from the manager at Harlan apartments this was my 2^nd red flag.
Then they don’t know where my application (with all of my personal information) is? And he had not even STARTED the verification process was beyond unreasonable.
If this is the start of the move-​in process I would warn everyone to RUN! Do not submit an application! Do not waste your time!

I am a teacher who needed a place in the East Bay close to where I worked. 70 Harlan made perfect sense because it seemed aesthetically pleasing to the eye from the outside and felt secure.
I am writing this review because everything up to my departure was nice but I had a bad experience leaving. I left my unit the exact same as when I moved in. I was very careful to keep it perfect because I wanted my deposit in full. I communicated this to CWP Management and spent extra time cleaning everything better than when I first moved in. They charged me $ 133 in unnecessary painting charges from my security deposit. I felt this was very bad business even after I requested they contact me if there was any discrepancy.
When I moved in August 2013 my rent was $ 1,075 a month for a 500 sq. ft studio. It served it’s purpose and was quiet which I loved. When I left in August 2014 they were in the process of increasing rent for all tenants and increasing mine to $ 1,175. I find that a $ 100 increase was way above what it was worth. Also be aware that only about half of all units are rented and that even the empty units get furniture on the balcony to give new tenants a false belief it is at maximum occupancy. The unit opposite mine was vacant for 12 months.
Now that I have switched school districts I now live on the opposite side of the bay and pay the same amount of money for a 1 bedroom apt. in a nicer area. I was taken advantage of so please be aware that you are likely not going to receive your full security deposit back.

Now that CWP has taken over, the apartment complex is much nicer, cleaner, and quiet. We are also a part of the Multi Unit– Crime Prevention Community which is nice.
As a long time resident (just shy of 10 years) I have seen 70 Harlan go from, dirty to a shining gem of a complex in downtown San Leandro.
The elevator is now (which is dated in it’s function) very clean and bright and remodeled.
The entry way is welcoming and modern, it is very nicely decorated.
There are no more shady people lingering around on the property. The clientele has improved and so have their guests! I guess that’s what sometimes happens with an increase in rent.
Jeff, the on-​site manager is very kind and very helpful.
All of my neighbors are family oriented people, and those of us that are single are hard working, honest citizens. everyone is very nice.
I would recommend 70 Harlan to anyone, and because it’s so centrally located, it’s a great location for commuting and walking to downtown for dinner or shopping.
I’d like to add that the parking is below the complex and is ‘secured’ by a gate. I have seen break-​ins (that’s bound to happen anywhere) and after talking to the owners of the cars, they either had huge, expensive rims stolen or they left electronics out in the open for viewing and sticky fingered people.