The Ivy, tampa-fl

This is a very delayed review. I lived here when I first moved to Tampa with intent to do my masters at USF. When I first moved in my roommates and I were greeted with a pool of water in the living room. The cabinets weren’t cleaned and there were cobwebs everywhere. In each room there were leaves on the floor. The refrigerator looked as if there was someone else there using it before us. The stairs leading up to the apartment were cracked and shaking. One moved as we stepped on it. Communication with the office staff was not good but it wasn’t horrible. The quality of service fluctuated depending on who responded to the message, however, most of the queries required escalation or waiting for a supervisor to provide more information. I will say that if you are persistent enough and continue to communicate via email and in person you will get a response(don’t spam). It may not be the best but it is okay, especially for students, if they are housed with liked minded students.

I’ve lived here since August 2022 and stayed for almost 4 years because the price is affordable and the location is great. It’s convenient for students and daily living. The maintenance team is also very good and responds quickly when needed. I also like the gym, clubhouse, and the community events they organize. The main downside is mold occasionally appearing in the kitchen and clothes drawers, so I bought a dehumidifier to help with the moisture. Overall, it’s still a good place for my school life as an international student.

I've been living here for almost 3 years, and I’ve always felt comfortable and safe. The apartment is nice, affordable, and has everything I need, with most things in good condition. I did need maintenance a few times while living here, but they were always helpful and usually fixed things within a day.

A long-overdue review. I have lived in this community for approximately 1.5 years, and my recommendation is simple: do not live here. Below is a breakdown of my experience. 1. Misleading online reviews The Google reviews are heavily padded and misleading. If you read closely, many appear to be written by individuals who do not actually live here. Many reviewers only toured the property or interacted briefly with staff and were likely encouraged to leave a review. I strongly recommend reviewing the Yelp rating instead, which currently sits at 1.6 stars, a far more accurate reflection of the resident experience. 2. Staff and maintenance communication The front-office staff have been polite and professional, and I have no direct complaints about their demeanor. However, maintenance communication is poor. Most maintenance staff do not speak sufficient English to clearly explain issues or repairs, which makes resolving problems difficult. Additionally, the maintenance request system lacks transparency. Work orders are handled unpredictably. Maintenance may arrive days later at random times, either in the morning or in the afternoon, with no notice. A basic queue or daily status update system would significantly improve this. 3. Severe moisture, mold, and sanitation concerns This is the primary reason for the one-star review. Over the last 1.5 years, I have had three separate instances of full mushrooms growing through the walls into my bathroom. The first time was disturbing but dismissed as bad luck. After a repair, the same location produced another mushroom months later. After another repair, a new mushroom emerged from behind the toilet months afterward. I will be attaching photos. Mushroom growth inside living spaces indicates prolonged moisture intrusion and likely serious mold or fungal contamination behind the walls. This is not a cosmetic issue. It is a health concern. 4. Security, neighbors, and gate mismanagement While neighbor behavior is not entirely management’s fault, the property does little to discourage ongoing issues. Porch theft is common, yet there are no meaningful camera installations throughout the community. Packages are frequently left unsecured outside lockers or on counters. Persistent marijuana smoke travels freely between units, suggesting extremely poor ventilation. Entire apartments routinely smell like smoke from neighboring units. The gated entry system is also poorly managed. Gates were left open for nearly a year, then inconsistently closed with little notice. Many residents lack gate stickers, causing frequent backups where residents are forced to wait several minutes just to enter. Management’s solution, leaving one gate partially open, defeats the purpose entirely. Residents still enter through exits and exit through entrances. At this point, either fully enforce the system or remove it altogether. 5. Pricing, amenities, and lease practices For the price, far better options exist nearby with superior management and living conditions. Amenities are poorly maintained. The gym is unsanitary, lacking cleaning wipes always which is a basic need and honestly I hope they add them after they read this. Machines are often broken or dirty. Fans and TVs in the gym regularly do not work pretty sure the ac in there was broken for months. When renewing my lease, management engaged in a misleading pricing practice. While the rent amount was presented clearly, material changes were buried in the fine print. Specifically, the utility allowance was reduced upon renewal, meaning the lower rent was effectively offset by higher monthly costs. This practice feels intentionally deceptive, especially considering the property is owned by a multi-billion-dollar company. 6. Pest infestation Finally, the roach problem is severe. While manageable at move-in, it escalated significantly within six months. Roaches are now a consistent issue. I have spent substantial money on poisons and treatments simply to keep the problem somewhat under control. Residents should expect to deal with pests regularly.

I would not recommend living at The Ivy Apartments, even if the rent seems affordable. My experience has been extremely disappointing when it comes to how management handles resident concerns. I made multiple complaints (over five) about my roommate smoking marijuana inside the apartment, which is a direct violation of the lease agreement. This was especially concerning because I am pregnant, yet my complaints were not taken seriously or properly addressed. Despite reporting the issue several times, nothing meaningful was done. Every time I tried to follow up or ask questions, I was met with dismissive attitudes and it felt like my concerns were an inconvenience rather than something that needed action. It also feels like communication and accountability are lacking. Issues that directly affect a resident’s health and living situation do not seem to be a priority unless it benefits the property financially. Overall, I would caution anyone considering living here to think carefully. A lower price is not worth the stress of feeling unheard and unsupported in your own home.