Red Cedar Flats Apartments, east-lansing-mi

Red Cedar Flats stuck out to me when apartment searching because of how well-kept it looked, how close the community was, and the amenities offered. Now that I have been here for a couple months I have found all this to be 100% accurate. The staff is really nice, especially Chelsea, when it comes to dealing with various issues such as maintenance or questions about the lease. Would definitely recommend to everyone!

It’s a nice place to live, good location, modern style. The apartments are cute and rooms aren’t too small (even though they don’t have any overhead light at all?) However, office staff and maintenance are incredibly slow to respond and you have to send 5 follow-up emails and/or calls for any inquiry. I believe they’re under new ownership so maybe that will improve. Overall not a bad place to live for college

EDIT: Conveniently, several 5-star reviews popped up right after I posted this. Obviously I can’t say where they came from, but the timing is interesting. I’d encourage anyone considering RCF to read through the detailed reviews and make their own judgment. As a former resident, I already experienced issues with RCF's payments and charges, but my recent experience with the new manager, Joey, was by far the most frustrating. I signed a lease in March and paid two fees but ultimately had to back out. The previous management assured me multiple times that I would receive a refund. After RCF changed management in June, the new management also confirmed multiple times that I would receive it - including in writing via email. I recognize that I should have gotten the original management’s confirmation in writing as well, but I genuinely never expected the situation to turn into this. Regardless, my biggest issue was not the refund dispute itself, but how the situation was handled by the new manager. I spent months following up with almost no progress. Joey was consistently rude, dismissive, unprofessional, and incredibly unhelpful. Every week I was told there would be an update “next week,” with no actual explanation. My dad eventually called respectfully asking for clarification and was met with the same sassy attitude. Only then did Joey explain that corporate had to handle it, but yet he wouldn’t provide me with a way to contact them. I’ve also spoken with both current and former RCF tenants who have described similarly negative experiences dealing with Joey, so my experience doesn't seem to be an isolated one. I eventually found a corporate contact myself, and thankfully they were professional and helpful and finally got the situation moving. Even after receiving a statement showing my refund, I called the office back simply to confirm the check had been mailed. Joey somehow made even that unnecessarily difficult, claiming I never paid the fees to begin with, saying he “can’t keep doing this back and forth,” and refusing to send a simple confirmation email. The refund delay was frustrating, but Joey’s attitude and lack of basic customer service made the experience significantly worse. I finally got my check today after this months long situation, and that was with absolutely no help from the leasing staff.

I subleased here. Compared to DTN units, the actual apt felt like luxury. The first issue was noticed upon move in when I had to file multiple maintenance requests. A month came and went and there was no work done. The office kept asking to use our unit for tours. To get them to repair our closet door, I had to tell them they couldn’t tour our unit until the request was finished. It was fixed immediately only so they could continue to tour our unit. I didn’t have any other issues until my lease ended. After I moved out, I was told there was still a rental balance. We ended up figuring out that my roommates parent sent a payment in early, and it was applied to my balance since the office didn’t listen to instructions. So they asked me to pay via authorization form and sent me the amount. I paid and reached out a few days later to verify the matter was resolved. Nobody answered. I emailed again and Priscilla replied saying, “You still owe $20.” When I asked why, she never replied. I called the office to get clarification. They told me my balance was all set on their end but they would double check. They left me a voicemail later on saying “You still owe $20, but we are trying to figure out which roommate should pay it.” ??? After multiple phone calls and emails, DJ the manager admitted that his employee sent me the wrong amount on the form. No apology and it took me weeks to get that explanation. Because of their mistake, they want me to repay the $5 card fee. They are also refusing to give notice in writing that my balance is cleared. Between this, maintenance requests, and having to clarify with the office that I did indeed drop my keys off and literally signed a sheet saying so in front of them, record anything you do with this office. Update: lowered my review from two to one stars after seeing the recent, suspicious amount of 5 star reviews from accounts with only one or no other reviews made. Crazy that they were all uploaded in the last two weeks after my low review—almost like you’re flooding positive ones to cover up honest experiences? Also, the work order you say was completed in a week was for pests— not for the closet door. I can show the large amount of emails I sent asking you guys to fix the problem or stop asking to tour. It was paid on the 13th due to your office MAKING A MISTAKE. The card fee is automatic for the payment authorization, which you surely know. Your excuses don’t align with the written communication I have with your staff. Waiving the late fees was not a curtsey— it was the bare minimum to acknowledge YOUR mistake.

I was interested with renting here and called the office where Chelsea was able to help me and answer any questions I had! It’s a great location, close walk to campus and plenty of parking! Plus the rooms have their own bathroom. I would highly suggest renting here and if you have any questions I’d also say to call and ask Chelsea!