The Lux Apartments Ithaca, ithaca-ny

DO NOT choose to live here, especially in the Lofts. Be careful with the many 5-star reviews. In my experience, they have run promotions offering discounts or incentives for residents who leave positive 5-star reviews before even moving in. I would not rely on those reviews as an accurate reflection of the actual living experience. The building itself has major issues. The front door was broken for an extremely long time, which meant people could access the building far too easily. That was a serious safety concern. At the Lofts, there is also no secure package room, so packages felt vulnerable to theft. Another major issue is how utilities are advertised. As someone else already mentioned in another review, they describe utilities as “free,” but residents may later be told that it is actually only a $35 credit per person. That was not clearly explained verbally before signing, and if it is buried somewhere in the documents, it should have been clearly disclosed by the leasing office. The way they handle this feels misleading, especially because it is presented one way before signing and clarified differently afterward. I am sure they will probably reply to this by saying something like “it was stated in the lease,” “we strive for transparency,” or “there was a misunderstanding,” but that is exactly the problem. They are not this clear during the signing process. They only become specific after residents complain, and then they respond with corporate language instead of taking real accountability. I found the leasing office unhelpful and poorly organized and the living experience to be extremely disappointing.

If I could give this property zero stars, I would. Their management process is absolutely deplorable. I lived at this property for two years, and while I generally enjoyed living here, my experience with the move-out process and final billing has been incredibly disappointing. I received a nearly $750 estimated electricity charge on my final account covering May through July 31. Keep in mind that I moved out in mid-May, and at the time I received the bill, July had just begun. I simply asked for an explanation or documentation showing how the amount was calculated. During my first year living here, I never received a final utility bill anywhere close to this amount, which is why I wanted to understand the significant difference. I first called the leasing office and was told they had nothing to do with the utility billing and that I needed to contact Conservice. When I contacted Conservice, the third-party utility billing company, they informed me that because my account had already been closed—which I found confusing since my lease legally ends on July 31—they could not provide a breakdown of the charges or make any adjustments. They also told me that all questions regarding the final bill had to be handled through the leasing office. When I contacted the leasing office again, I was told my concern would be forwarded to upper management. After receiving no response, I followed up via email and was told once again that my email chain had been sent to upper management for review, even though I had already been told that days earlier. Meanwhile, no one has been able to answer my questions or return my calls. To make matters even more frustrating, the leasing office says they cannot provide any documentation because Conservice calculated the charges, while Conservice says they cannot discuss or explain the charges because the account is closed. As the resident, I’ve been caught in the middle with no one willing or able to explain an estimated charge that I’m expected to pay. My payment deadline is approaching, and I have been actively trying to resolve this issue before late fees are assessed. Despite multiple phone calls and emails, I still have not received a response from upper management or any documentation supporting the charge. I have always been willing to pay legitimate charges and have consistently paid my rent and utilities throughout my tenancy. My only request has been for transparency and an explanation of how the estimate was calculated. Unfortunately, after two years as a resident, the lack of communication and accountability during the move-out process has been extremely disappointing. Based on my experience, I would strongly encourage prospective residents to carefully review their final billing and keep detailed records of all communications. If you encounter a billing dispute, don’t expect timely answers or documentation explaining the charges. I hope management improves its communication and billing dispute process so future residents aren’t left in the same situation.

I live here and so far I’ve experienced 2 large internet outages, which took more than a day to fix. Additionally, my package got stolen and although the officers can help provide evidence, that’s all they can do and if I want a refund I’d have to contact the police. Living here isn’t terrible but there’s definitely better options given the price.

I would not recommend this apartment. In my experience, the building is marketed as a “luxury” apartment, but the actual quality does not match that image. Many of the materials and finishes feel cheap, and the overall management experience has been disappointing. When issues came up, the maintenance team was not helpful or cooperative, and the leasing office did not make the process any easier. Instead of trying to resolve tenant concerns professionally, management often responded defensively and seemed more focused on pushing back than actually helping. For the price they charge, I expected better communication, better service, and a higher standard of quality. Unfortunately, my experience was that the luxury branding is mostly marketing, while the materials, maintenance, and management fall far below what tenants should reasonably expect. I would strongly recommend getting everything in writing and being very cautious before signing a lease here.

The apartment was not cleaned when we moved in. Dirty floors, counters, and carpet, mold in the shower, actual feces in the toilet, and the prior residents' stuff still in the unit. The living room was also flooded with about half an inch of water from a leaking AC. Management showed up with a box of Clorox wipes, pretended to clean for a few minutes, and left, then made us wait 2 more days for the flooding because they "don't work on Sundays." But I'm paying rent to live here on Sundays??? When I asked about the prior residents' belongings, they told me to take it up with my roommates since it's a "common area issue." In what world does that make sense when it isn't our stuff and we all just moved in??? The carpet was covered in paint splotches and dust. Management refused to replace it, then "compromised" on a few squares. Paying over $2,000 a month and negotiating over $3 carpet squares is ridiculous. We ended up hiring professional cleaners ourselves to make the place livable. The website advertises a package and storage room, but carriers just leave packages in the unsecured lobby because management won't give them access. Staff move them whenever they happen to be around, and in that window there have been many thefts. Ask to see the footage and they refuse unless you file a police report. Many residents are international students who won't bother, and management knows it. That reluctance makes me and other residents believe the security is just for show, or that management is in on it. "Onsite storage" is just your stuff sitting in the open in that same room, for several hundred dollars extra a year. My roommates, friends, and I have all had things stolen from the gym, lounge, and study room too, and management just says they didn't see anything despite the cameras. At night homeless men walk around the building, sleep in the dumpster, and linger by the entrances. It genuinely felt unsafe taking out trash or going out after dark, and management does nothing. The sky lounge, rooftop, and study space they push so hard on social media are only open when staff are on duty, around 8 to 5, so they're closed by the time you're back from class. The AC breaks and takes several business days to fix despite a large maintenance crew for 2 buildings. The wifi dies at night and isn't fixed until the next afternoon, brutal during midterms. The steam room they advertise never works. Stairwells have bottles, vomit, and trash, there's usually broken glass outside, walls are paper thin, there is constant construction, and they drag the dumpster across the pavement early in the morning and wake the whole building. Management is unfriendly and won't work with you. Autopay once missed a few dollars of utilities and they hounded us for it, but the portal's fee for paying a partial balance was more than what we owed, and they refused to just add it to next month's rent. The guy with the long hair acts like the boss but knows nothing, just says "I'll escalate your question" or something like that. Billing isn't transparent either: leases are individual, but the whole unit's utilities get split per person, and if you're gone for winter or summer break they still charge you off your previous months' average. Parking is $400-500 a month for a spot next to the dumpster, 3-4x nearby rates. Subletting is $350-400 when most buildings charge $100-200. They ignore texts when you need something but text you useless updates. Their events are only for residents who leave 5-star reviews, which is why the rating looks high. Realistically 1-2 stars. Replies to bad Google reviews are automated apologies asking you to contact them, and then they don't respond when you do. No move-in help either, no carts, no directions, at a place marketed as student housing. And signing the lease means you consent to photos of you in common areas/during events going on their social media. Predatory management that knows we're students and price gouges us. I won't be living here again.