Forest Ridge Apartments, iowa-city-ia

I have been living at 751 W Benton for almost three years, and overall, I’ve had a very positive experience. One thing I appreciate is that although rent increases each year (which is normal), the increase has been very reasonable — around $25 per year for our unit. When I compare this to what many of my friends are paying at other apartments, the increase here is very modest. It makes renewing the lease much less stressful and feels fair. Another thing I value most here is how responsive the management and maintenance team are. Whenever I text Emily about an issue, she responds promptly, and maintenance usually arrives within one or two hours. I’ve never had to wait long, and that reliability makes a big difference. I also really like that the apartment has hardwood floors instead of carpet. It feels cleaner and fresher, and I don’t have to worry about carpet odors. Since I live on the ground floor in Iowa, I was initially concerned about radon exposure, so I purchased radon detectors myself. Thankfully, the levels have been completely normal, which gave me extra peace of mind. Another feature I appreciate is having control over my own thermostat. It’s not centrally controlled, so I can set the temperature exactly how I like it, which is very important to me. The maintenance staff is also very polite and respectful. I prefer that shoes be removed inside the apartment, and the maintenance technician is always considerate about this — he even remembers on his own and takes off his shoes before entering. Overall, I’ve felt comfortable and well-supported living here.

I’ve had a really positive experience living at Penningroth Apartments, 316 Maddie, and Forest Ridge. The community is clean, quiet, and well maintained, and the parking spaces annd walkways always look great even in the winter months. Maintenance is fast and reliable any time I’ve submitted a request, it’s been handled quickly and professionally. The leasing office is genuinely helpful and friendly. Emily is easy to reach, transparent about everything, and actually seem to care about residents, which makes a big difference. I also appreciate how safe the community feels and how responsive management is when questions come up. Overall, I’d absolutely recommend any of the Penningroth Apartments to anyone looking for a well-managed place with a great community feel. The owner Emily is one of the best property managers in Iowa City! It’s been a stress free place to call home.

I moved into an apartment at Forest Ridge in August 2025 and have had an overall pleasant experience. My apartment is well insulated, the appliances work well, and most maintenance requests have been taken care of quickly and correctly. The Penningroth tenant site has made rent payment and submitting maintenance requests very convenient. There were a few small issues maintenance wise with my apartment when I moved in, but I also moved in a few days early so that there wasn't a gap between my previous lease with a different company and my lease for this apartment, and I had been informed in advance that things may not be completely clean before move in, and what few issues there were were attended to quickly once I submitted maintenance requests. The only notable issue I have had is that the shared laundry room on my floor has been musty and had issues with mold since I have moved in, and despite putting in a maintenance request, only some of the mold and mildew have been cleaned and much of it still remains. Whatever the underlying problem is it hasn't been fixed, but this is the only notable hazard I have encountered during my lease. In conclusion though, I would still highly recommend Penningroth Apartments. They are significantly cheaper than most other apartment companies in the Iowa City area that offer the same quality of accommodations, and Penningroth are much better than the similarly priced selections from Apartments Near Campus and Apartments at Iowa (whom many of my friends have been screwed over by with poorly insulated apartments with non-functioning ACs, poor heating, laundry rooms that are constantly broken, and outdated and/or non-functioning appliances). If I did not have unrelated reasons for leaving Iowa City this summer I would have definitely renewed my lease.

Have lived here for almost 2 years and I’ve had a great experience. Any time I had a maintenance issue they would get back right away. Any time I had a question they answered very quickly. I really love my apartment at Penny House. The location is great as a student it’s very close to downtown too. The apartment is small but it’s perfect for 1 person. They also allow cats here so it’s nice that I can have my cat. Emily is great, she’s super easy to get in contact with and always works through any problems you may be having. Would recommend!

I had a wonderful experience with Penningroth Apartments! After living elsewhere in Iowa City, I was looking for a quiet neighborhood and non-smoking complex. I lived in the Willow Ridge complex for two and a half years while in graduate school, and it was great! Convenient location, well-kept units, and fair price. The new property manager, Emily, is responsive and accommodating. I especially appreciated that she allowed me to extend my lease for 6 months after my graduation was delayed for a semester due to Covid. When my water heater went out twice, it was repaired within 24 hours both times, and after it went out the second time it was replaced later that week. I really appreciated the fast response and attention to detail, and I'd highly recommend Penningroth Apartments.