The Flats Exchange on Erwin Apartments, durham-nc

I would not recommend this apartment complex to anyone. 1. Cleanliness: several residents leave their trash cans in the hallway at all times, (see attached photo). Next, the lobby trash bin frequently overflows, attracting gnats and flies (see attached photo). 2. Safety: the front security gate is frequently broken and remains open 24/7 for weeks to months at a time. For example, it has been open and nonfunctional every day for the last 4 months of our lease, and maintenance has actually used bungee cords to keep the gate open (see attached photo). Additionally, the majority of the streetlights are out, which leaves the area unlit and contributes to the unsafe feeling (there are 1.5 functional streetlights, the bulbs are out in the remainder of the lights around the complex). Our car was broken into during our time here. When this was brought to the leasing office, they stated they believed people were accessing the property by hopping a fence along one side that backs up to another complex. However, when asked what steps would be taken to address this, there was no clear plan or solution. They acknowledged multiple residents had reported break ins, however there was no communication sent to residents to increase awareness or encourage precautions such as ensuring vehicles were locked. This remains unresolved and unaddressed almost six months later. Rather than prioritizing basic resident safety by repairing the gate, replacing the burned-out streetlights, or addressing repeated vehicle break-ins, management appears more focused on installing “self-checkout markets” to generate additional revenue (see attached photo). 3. Management: communication is inconsistent, often ignored, and sometimes rude. First, the above concerns regarding cleanliness and security were relayed to the management Listserv via email and never followed up on or addressed. Next, communication from the office regarding “mandatory maintenance” was often relayed the day before (after 5PM) via a note on the door, which does not allow enough time to make arrangements for pets given the short notice. This is especially frustrating, as not being able to make arrangements for pets to be offsite means either locking pets in the bathroom for the entire day or receiving a lease violation and fine. Lastly, the leasing office staff member we were working with regarding lease renewal left their position mid discussion and did not relay the conversation to other staff members. This required us to restart the process entirely and reflects a lack of organization and professionalism. 4. Maintenance: maintenance is very slow to respond. The most glaring example is a maintenance request for the washing machine. The machine filled with water, but did not move forward with the washing cycle and would not drain. A maintenance request was placed online, however it was not addressed for over 48 hours. The eventual solution was replacement of the unit, but this did not occur until approximately two weeks later after multiple temporary “fixes” failed. During this time, we had to use a washing machine in another unit two floors above ours, which was inconvenient and completely avoidable with more timely, permanent resolution. Overall, there is just a general lack of appropriate upkeep and maintenance around the complex. The landscaping is overgrown in multiple spots, the common areas and our unit needs to be repainted, and the majority of the streetlights are out. Taken together, these issues create the impression that management is far more reactive than proactive and that resident concerns are simply not a priority. I know this review is lengthy, but I wanted to provide multiple examples (with photos) and context to hopefully dissuade at least one person from contacting this complex and dealing with similar issues. There are better options in the area with comparable location that will undoubtedly provide a significantly better overall living experience.

I highly recommend the Flats Exchange on Erwin Apartments. Every aspect of the living experience has exceeded my expectations: community areas are comfortable and spotless, valet trash services are very convenient, and management and staff are reliable and responsive. Twice, I submitted work orders on my resident portal (to unclog my garbage disposal and replace the lightbulb in my refrigerator), and both requests were fulfilled within 12 hours! Before touring the apartment complex in-person, I was concerned by some negative reviews. After my in-person tour, and now having lived here myself, I must say that I have never experienced any of the issues mentioned online. I only have glowing reviews!

I highly recommend this apartment community. We have lived here for three years, starting in a one-bedroom unit and later moving into a two-bedroom, and our experience has been consistently positive. The community is well maintained and offers great amenities, including a gym, printer, vending machines, and beautiful shared lounge spaces. One of the highlights of living here has been the maintenance support—especially Azamat, who is incredibly kind, responsive, and reliable. He has helped us many times with issues such as clogged drains, wall repainting, door lock repairs, and more, and every request was handled promptly and professionally. The resident portal is also very user-friendly, making rent payments and maintenance requests easy and convenient. Overall, this is a great place to live, particularly for Duke University students and staff.

Flats Exchange on Erwin is a great place to live! It is quite and safe and maintenance is so quick to address any issues you may have. When I first moved in, my fridge had issues. Azamat from the maintenance team was at my door the next day helping me address the issue. When it was not resolved, he immediately requested for a new fridge. It arrived within the next day and it was such a relief to me. Highly recommend Flats and keep up the good work Azamat!

I’m a Duke MBA student and I stayed at Flats for 1.5 years with my family (including my daughter). I would so urge you against this place!!!! The management is just horrible. Over the summer when I was away for my internship, my apartment flooded (building systems malfunctioning) and they were supposed to clean up everything by the time I was supposed to be back, but for three months they did nothing and the apartment grew mold. They gaslighted me, then I had to threaten them with a lawsuit and it’s still all while I was paying $2400 every month for the apartment I couldn’t live in. Eventually they had to transfer me to another apartment after I lived somewhere else (while paying double rent), but my struggles with the management didn’t stop there. I moved out in December and was supposed to receive my deposit shortly after, but it’s now been more than 3 months and I don’t have my deposit STILL! Management gaslights you, rarely responds to emails, they only care about you signing your contract and then they stop being nice to you. They rarely respond to phone calls from residents either. Also the cleanliness of the amenities is such a pervasive issue. There are lots of younger students living on amenities and during the weekend they accumulate lots of trash in common areas. And because of the cleaning schedule, no one comes to clean up the property and it smells very bad during Fri-Sun. So bad, it’s really hard to get into elevators. Don’t be fooled by “gated area” as these gates are malfunctioning most of the time. Over the spring the gates were broken, and it took them more than 4 months to fix it. In the meantime, gates were fully open. Buildings are not safe, there are always random people hanging around because management doesn’t care to change the codes. The buildings sound isolation is non-existent. You can always hear your upstairs neighbors going to bathroom, and simply walking from bedroom to kitchen and back. If there are parties in the amenities, it will be like you are having your own party, this is how thin the walls are. For your money, there are so many places now around Durham that you can rent with that are both cheaper, safer and more comfortable. Don’t be fooled by positive reviews, these are really easy to manipulate. Photos are normal Thursday-Sunday thing going on in common area.