Elán Cardiff By The Sea

I moved here specifically because there was a pool within steps of my apartment. I have two young children ages 6 and 9 and am a single parent so this was a big deal. When they closed the pool for three of the hottest months on record for no apparent reason it was like a slap in the face. We the tenants sent a certified letter and left phone calls to the management that we expected compensation for losing this amenity for three months, that we were paying for (built into the rent), still no response from management whatsoever.
In addition to the management issue here one should also note that Élan Cardiff by the Sea sits right next to the sewer treatment plant that smells very strong with chemicals and well, sewage. Also the «security gate to get in is always open BUT the gate to exit is always closed. Rediculous. On the way up the hill to that closed gate theres a sign that reads $ 200 to refer a friend. No, I don’t think I would refer a friend, even if ya paid me. Cant wait for my lease to end.

I’m updating my review for a couple of reasons.
#1 the maintenance workers are no longer napping on the lawns… super stoked about that since it was kinda creepy… I felt like the people walking by were their entertainment.
#2 is Katarina-​she truly is a fantastic manager and goes above and beyond to get things done. I’ve never felt like I was placed on the back burner no matter how small the issue. This complex is huge, I can’t imagine having to deal with that many people! Elán is lucky to have her!

loving the new apartment. easy access to the freeway to shoot up to either LA or SD for work. walking distance from the beach, just an awesome location. fitness center says 10P but is usually left open all night to get a good cardio work out in. neighbors and office staff all seem nice and friendly. yes I know the speed bumps suck but if they weren’t there I can only imagine how fast cars would come down the hill. the only draw back is the parking spots, they are small and if you have a second car make sure you park before 6p or you’re walking. living in San Diego for the last 5 years parking has taught me parking isn’t a big deal that’s why I’m not taking it as a negative

Great location, management is nice, and it’s quiet. I would recommend to any of my friends.

11÷14÷15 Update: I’m raising my review by one star for the good work of the maintenance team. Since the original posting they have (albeit half-​heartingly) landscaped the back property and they’re replacing my dishwasher after many attempts to repair to no avail.
When we signed a lease in June and agreed to pay extra for the «inner courtyard», it was not for the view of a forlorn and empty pool from July, August, September and most of October. We chose this place over others for the very use of that pool, jacuzzi and pool lounge area during the HOT summer months. Usage costs of these amenities are built into the cost of the apartment. Our requests for a reasonable refund were absolutely IGNORED by the corporate management. Several calls and emails to no avail — even a petition signed by almost everyone in the complex. How is that good policy?
This is a glaring example of their attitude towards their tenants: Shut up and put up.
Also — buyer beware! they will NOT tell you about the stench from the sewage treatment facility ½ a mile away out of immediate visibility — but not out of smell range. Gross.
++++++++++++++
While the property management staff are not the most empowered of people, I lay the blame at the foot of their corporate owner. Our pool has been closed for months — in high summer months — with no communication on when it will be opened nor any offer for compensation. They ask top dollar but the amenities are lacking — the interiors smack of wear and tear. They will landscape the front property for show but take a peek at the back property — it’s all dirt. The property itself is nice enough but the management makes living here unbearable. Steer clear.

I enjoyed living here and it was a spacious 1 bedroom for a pretty decent price considering the area. In comparison to other apartments in the area, Élan Cardiff by the Sea has the largest square footage with more ammenities to offer. I was about .5 mile from the beach and in an easy neighborhood to jog around through without worrying about cars. I had a fun time surfing here and there are a lot of great restaurants in the area with character. Unfortunately, I had to move out before my lease was up due to my work situation, but the staff were very helpful. When I was having a difficult time renting out my apartment, they helped me find someone to take over the lease and saved me a lot of money, which happened pretty quick. The office staff were very compassionate towards me and I felt valued living there. I’d recommend living here to anyone who wants to be by the beach for a good deal. The added bonus is being able to get into the jacuzzis/​heated pools after a nice surf, swim or run.

I scheduled a tour today at 2 p.m., and when I showed up exactly on time, the management staff told me «oh, we didn’t know if you would be coming so we are about to show someone else around instead.» I was then told I could wait outside for 20 minutes and wait. Very unprofessional considering I made an appointment. Will not return and do not recommend others waste their time.

I visited a friend last year living here and ended up moving to Cardiff. I now live with him. I’m 28 and single but I’m over the whole excessive partying thing. I moved here from the east coast five months ago to start fresh. I have lived in similar apartment complexes over the years and they all have their pros and cons. I’m living on a tight budget and I heard some horror stories about this place but so far I am enjoying it and have never experienced any of the extreme problems people have listed in other reviews. I feel like the good heavily outweighs the moderately bad and I’m happy just to be living in California…
PROS:
— Inside the apartment (3 bedroom, 3^rd floor) is pretty bland/​average but everything works and there isn’t a «horrible smell» other people mentioned. Our apartment is isolated and pretty quiet. We only share a wall with one neighbor and he is a friend and is always away on business.
— There is plenty of space for 3 people and enough closet space for all my stuff.
— VERY affordable when split with roommates considering the area.
— The elevator makes it easier when moving my work equipment. (I never lived in a place that had an elevator and used to have to carry everything up 3 flights of stairs).
— The landscaping, hallways, gym, pool, and hot tub are clean and well-​maintained.
— Location is awesome; it’s close to the beach, restaurants, stores, etc.
— Gated/​Safe; It’s not that well-​lit at night but I still feel safe here (despite hearing about cars being stolen/​broken into, the «Cardiff Flasher» guy, etc.).
— I don’t have an assigned spot but there are plenty of other open parking spots.
CONS:
— People that don’t have gate cards are clueless and annoying and form a line to get in and the speed-​bumps are pretty bad.
— Highway noise sucks but what do you expect?
— Community washers and dryers work fine for me, one is broken-​ish and I avoid it. The others work fine. My only complaint is how small the actual load size for the washer is so I do laundry more often which isn’t that bad.
— Occasional there are drunk people yelling at late hours but not as often as other reviews say and that has happened everywhere I have ever lived.

My husband I lived there for 2 years and 3 months. Here’s a list of pros and cons:
PROS:
— Walking distance to the beach/​restaurants
— Easy access to the freeway
— We had a washer/​dryer in unit, which was very nice
— We were allowed to paint the walls
— Plenty of closet space
CONS:
— Noise — Our bedroom window was right next to the stairwell/​main corridor. We heard every conversation anyone ever had and also dealt with lots of drunk people coming home loudly late at night. Also, every foot step on the stairwell was heard clearly. The noise overall was our biggest complaint, because you can always hear everything your neighbors are doing/​saying if the windows are open.
— Old appliances — our refrigerator regularly grew mold in it because everything was constantly wet. Maintenance sent someone over, who just wiped the mold away and said it was ok.,
— Fire alarms — This got better towards the end of our time there, but the fire alarms got pulled THREE TIMES in the middle of the night by drunk people, requiring a complete evacuation of the building. On weeknights. At 2 am.
— Parking is terrible if you come home after 9pm and have more than one vehicle (you only get one assigned parking spot).
— Office Staff were inconsistent with what they told us. Upon move in, we were told we could paint. The lease clearly stated that if we lived there for more than 2 years, we would NOT have to paint it back. Then one of the guys in the office told us upon signing our move out paperwork that we WOULD have to paint it back. This was later cleared up by a manager who said we indeed did NOT have to paint it back. Miscommunication all over the place. Also, we tried to get a storage unit and one of the staff members had incorrect information. She told us a unit was available, openly gave us the keys to check it out, and it was filled with someone else’s stuff. I would have been furious if I was the person renting that unit knowing that the office staff were just handing out keys to anyone.
— If you put anything on your patio ledge, you will get a written notice that it’s a liability. Even though we lived on the first floor, we weren’t allowed to have potted plants on the ledge because it could «fall on someone».
— Rent will increase every single time you re-​sign a lease. Ours went up at least $ 50 each time.
— Shower heads are so short that if you are taller than 5’5 you have to duck down to wash your hair.
— The gate is a pain in the ass. It doesn’t keep anyone out, it just makes it more annoying for residents to get in. On more than one occasion the exit gate wouldn’t open and we couldn’t get out, while being on our way to work.
Overall, we loved living in Cardiff, but all the little annoying things about this complex drove us out.

Okay so I’ve only been here about 3 months and you’d think when paying $ 1800 for an apartment you’d have 5 stars. They could easily earn their other 2 stars back by fixing a couple easy things.
1. Please replace the dryers!!! Please please please! I have never gone to a laundromat and really don’t want to have to start now. You have to run the dryers at least twice just to get your clothes just dry enough to hang them and dry the rest of the way. It cost like $ 10 to do a freakin load of laundry! :(
2. The treadmill in E building likes to incline all the way while you’re running. All the way! Like you’re goin a cool 7 mph and all of a sudden you’re sprinting up the HILL OF DOOM! I mean it makes for a more difficult workout, but I’m not trying to kill myself on a treadmill…
3. Dog poop and dogs off leash! This one really gets under my skin. This place does not allow dogs unless you have documentation of them being a service or companion dog. I know this because I have a service dog from the VA and I hold him to a much higher standard than any pet. So why do people have pets runnin around poopin without a handler to pick up the poop?
That’s all. Fix these things and I’ll post a new review with some shiny new stars. :)

Once upon a time, this was a lovely place to live. Now, though… not so much…
I can’t figure out if dogs are allowed here or not. They’ve sent out notices before, reminding us that we’re not allowed to have dogs on the property, which is fine, because I work a lot of hours and wouldn’t feel right keeping a dog cooped up in my tiny apartment. But there are dogs all over the place. You see people walking them (or letting them run around unleashed) and hear them barking all the time. There’s simply no way that management doesn’t know they’re here. And some of them are really annoying (I guess that statement should be made about their owners and not the dogs.)
Then there’s the piggies that live around here. It isn’t just kids, either. There are lots of juice boxes and orange peels strewn about, but you’ll also see cigarette butts and beer bottles. Some people leave their trash outside their door, like there’s pickup service or something. Time was, this kind of behavior wasn’t tolerated here. Time also was there was on-​site security. Now there’s a patrol that comes around once in a while. The difference is striking.
Oh, and there’s an entrance gate that breaks down about 10 times a year. That’s always lots of fun. I don’t even know why they have it there; it doesn’t keep anyone out, because it’s no problem to drive in behind someone who opens the gate with their card. There are 2 workout rooms. I haven’t used them for a couple of years, but back then they were at least kept clean and were certainly convenient. I don’t usually go to the pools, either, but they seem fine for what they are. The biggest gripe I have is the noise all the drunks make after the bars close. It is like living on a street of frat house. Weekends are especially bad. And forget sleeping in, since the kiddies start running around and shouting bright and early.
I can’t say that management is particularly concerned by any of this. I know, I know. Some of you are reading this and wondering why I don’t move. Like so many others in the world, I am in a bit of a financial bind. It is very expensive to move. And then there’s always the fear that the next place I move may be even worse. Maybe it’s better to stick with the devil I know.–

This is a good place to live by the beach. Cardiff is a really cool little community and there is enough to do between here and the other surrounding areas. The apartments are nice inside. Especially the newly remodeled ones. The maintenance crews are working daily to keep the landscaping nice and the pools clean. The tennis courts and basketball hoop are a nice touch too.
Now for the not so nice, the office staff is brutal for lack of a better word. Candice is the only one that I trust to give a straight answer at this point. The rest don’t even have a fake smile to give even when just passing by. I get it that people that always are in the office wanting something tend to get annoying, but I have been in the office once in the last 6 months. The gyms are a joke, and the speed bumps, don’t even get me started on the speed bumps. Over all being about a half mile from the beach can make me overlook a lot. That’s all I have to say about that.

I have lived in this apartment complex for two years and just signed a new lease for another year! Katarina, Laura, and Colton in the office have been so helpful and accommodating with my special circumstances (my roommate is moving here from out of state so we needed a lot of help getting things all straightened and worked out). We were able to sign our lease online and when I saw the unit we were scheduled to move in to and it was not exactly the layout we expected, they were able to show me another vacant unit which was exactly what we wanted even though it was two days before we were scheduled to move in, they got everything changed for us in no time at all. Not to mention I am so in love with this neighborhood. I love living here!!!

These guys are staffed by a bunch of high schoolers who are rude and completely unknowledgeable. They also lie about security deposits. They solely care about money and couldn’t care less about their tenants. Not to mention, the area — despite being gated — is awful. There is an abundance of drug trafficking at the gas station right next to it and I’ve also seen a lot of sketchy people hopping the west-​end gate and going into the pool.

I am so disappointed that I didn’t listen to the Unilocal reviews before moving in here. The management has changed twice since I moved in, and each change brings more problems then before.
Upon moving in they forgot to:
Give us keys to the gym/​pool
Give us a card for the gate (was real fun being locked out at 11pm with no idea how to get in the gate – which was always open before)
Assign us a parking space
I’ve had to talk to to numerous individuals and literally go crazy in order to get some basic things done. I pay $ 1,850 a month to live here and yet I am treated as if I live in some low income housing. Every time you call they act like you are bothering them. I am in property management myself, so I am appalled by the lack of professionalism this office exhibits.
I waited for 2 months for an assigned parking spot only to have it now given to someone else. When I call I’m told that there is no record of me ever having that spot… awesome. I’ve only been parking there for the last 7 months and I was personally told by the property manager that it was my spot… but ok.
We have been on a list for a storage unit for the last 7 months – just found out today there is no list but if I want a storage unit there are some available. Awesome.
This place is a joke. The management is incompetent. The rent is overpriced for what you get, and no matter what you do your apartment has a smell to it. Also, because of the lack of circulation (poor design) mold builds up on the windowsills in all the rooms. Also, my closet which is attached to my bathroom, gets moisture from the shower into it and my shoes are covered in mold. Awesome.
I do not recommend living here, and I am patiently waiting for my lease to expire.

I don’t like writing negative reviews, but here it goes.
I haven’t even stepped foot on this property and have nothing great to say at least with the staff. I initially called and talked to LAURA and made an appointment for the weekend after. LAURA seemed bothered as I talked to her on the phone and somewhat abrupt. I really didn’t think anything about it since I thought she was busy. I explained to her my situation about me coming out from the Bay Area and looking for a place to live.
The day prior, I called and talked to LAURA again to confirm my appointment and again LAURA didn’t seem very nice. My appointment was set up for 1:30pm and when I called earlier that same day to ask if I can come in earlier, she said she had NOTHING to show me and thought I just wanted a tour. Why would I come all the way from the Bay Area just for the heck of it and get a tour!!!
Needless to say, I was pretty upset and so ready to rip her a new one. Granted I had other appointments to get to so I let it go.
Go somewhere else!

This is probably one of the worst apartment living experiences I have had. I’ll list the reasons:
1-​the apartment management is EXTREMELY rude. They do NOT care about their tenants or their living. Every time I would call and ask about something they were either non informative or extremely condescending and rude.
2-​They do not schedule maintenance times. For instance, I needed my sink looked at because it was not functioning right. I called the management and they said the maintenance guy would be there «next week sometime». When I asked for a date/​time they said they would not be able to promise anything. WTF does that mean?
3-​Speaking of maintenance guys. My boyfriend and I witnessed one of the maintenance guys carrying a tree stump and then accidentally dropping it on the hood of a car, and then did nothing about it?!
4– They do not finish huge projects in a timely manner. Example, they started reflooring the whole building I lived in (F building). They ripped out all of the crown molding in the hallways and the first three-​four feet of carpet right outside every apartment doorway in the building. They installed maybe 2 feet of tile, and then stopped the project. So for over two months, the whole F building had crown molding torn out from the hallways and about 1 – 1.5 feet of exposed cement (no tile or carpet) right in front of every doorway. In addition to the flooring, the carpet in the F building is old, stained, and moldy.
5-​My neighbors pipes exploded and they had to be evacuated for a couple weeks. In the meantime, their apartment had a construction crew in and out of their apartment everyday (which is expected). But then management sends out a letter to all of the tenants telling us to check our pipes to make sure the screws and everything else is on correctly. Really?
6-​I had mold growing in my living room, closet, and bathroom constantly. Anything exposed I would kill with clorox. But when I talked to the management about it growing on the inside of my closet/​bathroom, they did nothing.
7-​They tow cars. I saw multiple cars get towed if they were parked too long/didn’t have current registration. The apartment management has a deal with a local towing company. The towing company has a code to the complex and comes in about 4 – 5 times a week to check registrations and tow cars. This includes all tenants, no matter where your parked. Way too look out for your tenants…
8– The gate never works. Really, NEVER works. It’s always broken and sits open for months at a time. I think the first six months I lived there, I saw it work maybe for about a week.
I think this sums it up. I’ve never had problems anywhere else I lived. Cardiff is a beautiful place to live but this apartment complex really is horrible.

Long review, but a must read! I wish someone told me this before I moved in!
The good…
It’s cheap (for the area)! It has tennis courts, which is nice. The gyms are super basic, but at least they are there. Always plenty of parking. Basically, it gets the job done.
The bad…
The office staff is untrained and they lack communication skills, which makes them seem incompetent. As a tenant, I should not have to explain to them conversations or arrangements that were made a day prior. There is clearly no communication among the staff, making it impossible to get anything accomplished. They also change staff so often, you are always dealing with someone new who has no idea what’s happening or how to respond to situations. Unfortunately, due to the lack of training, the tenants suffer, and not to mention, receive a huge attitude!
The units themselves are basic, all you really need, no updated amenities, but no big deal. Some don’t have laundry in the units so you are forced to use their communal laundry rooms which are a nightmare! Besides running the dryer twice and your clothes still wet, not damp, the washers are never cleaned. It is unfortunate they subject their tenants to such disgusting living situations. I have had to wipe them out myself, removing paper towels full of mold and bacteria. Like, chunks of it! It was so gross, the poor people who used it before me!
The «pools» and «spas» are unkept, dirty, out of use, or overrun by crowds of the many many children that live in the complex. Forget relaxation!
They also advertise the complex as a «gated community» but the gate was broken and left open for 5 out of the 7 months I lived there, in which time we had an outside person break into a unit! Not that Cardiff is very dangerous, but still, you expect to get what you pay for! Security!
Lastly, when it is time to renew your lease, you are faced with a rate increase, in which they say something along the lines of… «although rate increases are unpleasant, due to the wonderful amenities and customer service we provide, they are necessary.» HA! No thank you!
p. s. Those speed bumps will destroy the shocks on your car!

My review will seem a little silly. But I sorta felt like my unit or perhaps the surrounding environment was haunted. I had 2 roommates while living here. One was never home and the other one was a computer hermit. He ALWAYS stayed in the room and I hardly saw him. With that said, one time at 2 AM I heard knocking on my bedroom door. Some background info, I am deaf. I have some hearing loss in both of my ears so for me to hear any sounds. it’s gotta be pretty noticeable. I tend to miss the faint low frequency type of sound but this was something I really heard.
Anyways, I thought it was my hermit computer roommate knocking (since he is a vampire and I am a night owl) I opened my bedroom door…
hallway, living room, kitchen… the entire apartment was pitch dark. No one was outside of my room. I suddenly felt very creeped out and uncomfortable. I closed my door and turned on my Buddhist chant music on the stereo. Hoping that whatever *it* is… it will go away peacefully.
Also, sometimes when I walked around the apartment or the hallway near my unit, I just have this weird feeling. Cant really explain it.
****
Besides this incident… this apartment complex was fairly comfortable. It’s right by the freeway so you will definitely hear the noises but since I’m deaf, it did not bother me.
Never had a problem with the apartment staff/​office people. When we moved out, they deducted some fees and we got a portion of our deposit back.
Definitely an older apartment complex. They do maintain it but it’s still old.
12 miles to UCSD.
Less than 1 mile to the beach and it’s beautiful. All downhill walk… so you will walk all uphill to get back to the apartment.
Parking can be tricky. Pretty packed.
Coin laundry.
Small gym and older equipment.

Pros: cheap rent when split with roommates, walking distance to the beach, gym, tennis courts, pool, jacuzzi, charcoal grills, easy access to 5 freeway, other tenants are mellow for the most part
Cons: parking can be a pain some nights, noise from the 5, kitchens aren’t great, need a 760 number to open gate for guests, dryers don’t work great
Overall for me the pros far out weigh the cons, which are pretty minor. I have never had an issue with management in the 2 years I have been here. I deal with management companies all the time with work and none are very awesome. You have to have your shit together and make things happen yourself, this is true for most things in life.