Apartment Review for Eagle Ranch Apartments - Albuquerque, NM

I have rented from the management company, NALS, for over 15 years and I lived at Eagle Ranch for over 3 years. I have never been late on my rent in 15 years nor have I ever received any notices, adverse actions, or anything derogatory from NALS or the the various managers.

Eagle Ranch is a quiet and well maintained community (excellent maintenance and housekeeping staff). I thoroughly enjoyed living here . . . UNTIL the complex got a new manager (Kelly Senye).

My job transferred me to another state and I had to leave with a few months remaining on my lease. I paid my rent a month in advance, transferred out-of-state, and was aware that I would have to pay an additional fee for breaking my lease (penalty of 30 days rent plus lease-breaking fee of over 1K). However, within a couple weeks of moving I realized the job was not going to work out. I called Ms. Senye and asked if she would waive the lease breaking fee and allow me to move back into an available unit in the complex. As mentioned, my rent was paid at the time I called her. To make a long story short, she said she would waive the lease-breaking fee but I would have to pay another application fee, another deposit, and a penalty of $300 to move back in!!

Despite all this, I wanted to move back in and told her that I would be there the following day (Saturday). When I arrived, she wasn't there. The office staff were extremely rude and refused to allow me to move back in untiI Monday. This was a slap in the face as I was already paying rent for the unit I had moved out of and I had nowhere else to go. I ended up driving 3 hours and staying with my family in another town. Since I was treated so badly, I chose not to renew my lease.

Within three days, I received a bill for the astronomical lease breaking fee (over 1K) and a letter insisting that I pay the fee IMMEDIATELY or it would be turned over to a collection agency. I called the complex to pay the fee with my credit card but they refused to take credit information over the phone. The told me that I would have to appear at the office in person if I wanted to use my credit card. So, I ended up driving 3 hours just to pay them the fee.

In summary, I called NALS corporate office to complain about the way Ms. Senye treated me. However, the Albuquerque regional representative did not seem to care. Based on this horrible rental experience, I will never rent a unit in any NALS managed property again.