Portola Senior Apartments - Portola, California

Denyse V.

I have lived in the Portola Senior Apts for about 10 years. When it was under the previous owners the complex and manager were terrible. In March of 2019 the complex was sold. It wasn't easy at first they came in aggressive and it seemed they were going to be like the previous owners. They have completely renovated the complex. I like the changes for the most part. The first set of managers were a joke but they have moved on. The manager we have now (over a year) is awesome and very hard working. A few of us have been talking about starting activities which she is all for. I feel safe living here.

Janelle

Margaret Armstrong and Betty are the absolute most CROOKED, DISHONEST and UNPROFESSIONAL apartment managers that ANY tenant could have the absolute worst luck of having!!!!! These apartments are designated for disabled and elderly people who are on a fixed income, and therefore, the apartments are supposed to be low- rent subsidized housing. I have lived in these apartments for 3 years and have never witnessed such a miscarriage of the Law and Justice. Especially when it comes to the care and concern for seniors and disabled individuals. I never saw a reduction in my rent even though I had turned in multiple medical expenses for hundreds and thousands of dollars for the year prior. In fact, my rent always went up over $20 no matter what I did. I had the opportunity to speak with other tenants at Portola senior apartments and found out that they also never saw a reduction in their rent. Their rent actually went up by over $20 as well, even though we all have different medical expenses / needs. There are no extracurricular activities planned or offered for the people that live in Portola senior although the photo albums in the clubhouse show previous tenants having multiple holiday gatherings which falsely depict what life would be like living in Portola senior apartments. Even though there are funds available to provide this community with special extracurricular activities for their spare time, Margaret Armstrong, her husband and the assistant manager Betty make sure to utilize those funds by providing themselves with unearned monthly bonuses instead. Margaret and Betty are very seldom in the office to assist their current tenants. There is always a note on the door stating that they are not in but can be reached at a phone number. Margaret and Betty keep a cordless phone in the office for Betty so that she can leave the office and go home which gives the illusion that they are in the office working. Margaret Armstrong also has her drug-addict-convicted-felon-of-fraud daughter TAMMY living in one of the units there even though she is not a senior nor is she disabled. Her daughter's boyfriend FREDERICK, who is a known drug dealer / addict, also occupies the unit with their three small children. Because of their past and present convictions, they have an open CPS case for having methamphetamine around their children which brings police presence to the complex every week. This made myself and other tenants at Portola senior apartments very uncomfortable and unsafe. Ever since Margaret's daughter and son-in-law have moved in the complex there have been four or more units broken into where prescription medications, credit cards and money have been stolen and never recovered. This does not even include the front office which was also broken into and the thief was never found. Coincidentally the supposed security cameras that are on the premises do not work so there is no way to find the culprit in this string of burglaries. While I was living at Portola senior apartments I never felt safe and secure like one SHOULD feel when they are at their home. Even though these burglaries had taken place, a bulletin or newsletter NEVER went out to the tenants to advise them to be cautious, lock their doors and be on alert! What kind of apartment manager would not advise their tenants, who consist of disabled and elderly people, to be on alert so that they may take the appropriate action to protect themselves? I made sure to move out of this apartment complex once I had heard of the burglaries immediately as possible! I am also going to report portal a senior apartments to the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs and whoever else appropriate to ensure these apartments are thoroughly investigated. Even though this is a very long summary of negative feedback I have for Portola senior apartment it still does not outline all of the issues and concerns that I have had with them!!!My information was also used to purchase online games.I have never had an apartment complex asked to keep a copy of my credit card front and back to keep on file!

Sarah P.