Commons On Oak Tree

Will only take check/money order for 1st payment. Wouldn't take credit card or even cash due to "policy". Receptionist became defensive when I pointed out that it wasn't spelled out very well that this would be the case. Had to make extra trip to 7-eleven to get cash and then buy a money order. Charges a 3% "convenience fee" for using a credit card. This was also not disclosed by the receptionist when I asked about making a payment with a credit card for the term of the lease. Apartment has cheap flooring and counter tops. Needs a coat of paint. Yes the place is affordable for a college student but that doesn't excuse the poor customer service in the office - the unprofessional way the receptionist handled the payment issues, and the fact that we had to clean her room as we moved her in - cobwebs and sticky stuff on the dresser which obviously hadn't been moved in a while. Surely there are better apartments with more customer oriented staff for college students near OU.

In response to all the negative comments, I can't help but wonder what they were expecting. The Commons claims to be a simple and affordable apartment complex that specializes in accommodating college students who attend the University of Oklahoma, but I can vouch for the fact that they are so much more than that.



Housing ~ A Clean Slate! What more does a college student need besides a (really) comfy bed, a desk, and adequate storage for his Ramen?? Sure, the refrigerator here might not be the newest Whirlpool model, but who cares? I love cooking and find no trouble whipping up delicious meals! In fact, I frequently host friends on Friday nights and prepare elegant feasts with ease. As for the rest of the apartment, the carpet is like new, the bathroom is sanitary, the walls are clean, and the critters are nowhere to be seen.



Facility ~ Well Kept! I lift weights regularly at the gym, and although this is no Gold's Gym, all the fundamental tools for building a better body are at your disposal. The business center is very convenient for printing assignments before class, and the media room that boasts a 60" HDTV is a great for getting all the friends together for a fun-filled movie night! As for the hot tub, it is open all year around and feels great to soak in even when it is 16 degrees outside.



Amenities ~ Make Life Easier! The free shuttle to and from campus is a must for any student who doesn't have a car in Norman. I ride the shuttle five days a week and always look forward to chatting with the super safe and friendly drivers. The maintenance is very prompt and friendly. Every request I have placed was taken care of within 24 hours. The internet isn't Google Fiber, but I have never had problems getting my work done, even during high traffic hours. Parking is a breeze. The lots are well lit at night and contain more than enough spots. As for safety, I wouldn't leave my car unlocked overnight, but at the same time, I don't feel as if the security of my property is threatened here.



Staff ~ Outstanding! I have saved this section for last because I feel it is the icing on the cake. Every employee, from the maintenance man to the manager, treats me like a valued guest and does everything he can to ensure I am well taken care of. The "desk-dwellers" are always looking for opportunities to throw community parties, host social events, give away neat prizes, and serve yummy free food. I can't stress enough how much their wholehearted willingness to serve has positively impacted my stay here and made me feel welcome.



In conclusion, I would like to warn prospective tenants from being swayed by the ominous reviews. I almost passed up The Commons after reading the appalling feedback online, but after living here for more than six months, I realize that the outspoken criticism came from the disgruntled minority and that missing out on living here would have been an awful shame! Furthermore, it is with great pride that I call The Commons on Oak Tree my home away from home!

There are a lot of bad reviews for the Commons, but personally, I had a decent experience here. The apartment I moved into was very nice. It had a new coat of nice, light brown paint on the walls in the living room, comfy furniture that didn't look bad, and everything worked pretty well (there were a few things, like our quirky shower head, missing screens for the windows, and a broken porch light, but nothing big). We never had any problems with bugs, but there was a pidgeon who made its home outside our apt. I was only ever charged for overages once, and that was right after the lease of two of my roomates ended, so we had the electricity of four people being charged to the two of us who remained, but a simple walk over to the office fixed that problem and they waived the charge. My experience with the management, while brief, was always good. They are friendly and quick to fix any complaints. The ammenities for the apartments however, aren't all that great. The pool is very shallow (so good for the parties they host, but not swimming), the hot-tub is usually pretty grimy, and the gym isn't worth going to. The few times I went to the tennis courts the outside light wasn't working. Another negative for this apartment is that the walls are pretty thin. Not enough that you can hear coversations going on in the other room, but enough that you don't want a sexually active roommate, or someone who constantly blares their music.

Safety and Security have never been a problem for me here. Just be smart and don't leave the appartment unlocked when no one is home, and don't leave valuable things in plain site.

Overall I'd say this was a good place to live. And more importantly, it is cheap.



P.S. I'd recomend that you know the people you're going to live with before you move in. Potluck didn't work out the best for me.



A word for Management: I would suggest hosting fewer parties, and not wasting so much money for renewal give-aways.There are better ways to spend your time and money. Also, something should be done about the burnt buildings, whether you fix them or tear them down and re-build.

Don't live here. Don't even CONSIDER it. The management is unhelpful, rude, and unclear. They lose packages regularly or claim they don't have it when they do.



Our washer leaked, and molded in the back, maintenance never came by to fix it. The apartment had a severe roach problem. They did a bug bomb after I filed requests daily. It didn't help. We did not have hot water our first day. Management would file maintenance reports but never submit them. Workers would come but never leave a worksheet.



My roommates had their cars broken into! Between the 3 of them, a garmin, a stereo, sunglasses and CDs were stolen. NOT A SAFE PLACE!



I regret ever living here. And I hope you take my advice

This is the worst place I have ever stayed. The buildings are not maintained, they will not do maintenance, and the management is horrible. They have messed our bill up multiple times and charged $35 late fees for an under five dollar underpayment because of their accounting error. This means everyone in the apartment gets a $35 fine, so our apartment was fined $140 on a few dollars that we had actually paid. The manager has lied to us multiple times. There is even an alarm that goes off next to our bedroom that has been broken since we moved in and goes off random times throughout the night; not only keeping us awake but we do not have a functioning alarm. They claim that the multiple broken and damaged areas of our apartment were caused by us even though they were there when we moved in. The air conditioners are so cheap half the apartment gets practically no air unless the other half is turned into an ice box. I am surprised it is legal to allow some of the damage to the buildings to go unrepaired. I cannot describe in words how rude their manager is. He treats the tenants as if he is a dictator, leveling fines without allowing any say by anyone else. I have even complained to the region management and have had no better luck with him. It is amazing that a business can function being run this poorly. I have never been more disappointed in living conditions anywhere.

At the beginning they are very friendly, but once you move in they take no intiative of anything and provide horrible customer service. When i signed my lease, they made it sound like the shuttles were big enough to transport lots of students to OU. That is not the case, there is only one shuttle and it only seats about 10 people. It is always running late or early, regardless it never comes the time that is posted. I had my package sent to my apt and i never recieve it. Even though my tracking number said that it was delivered, they kept telling me that it would be here soon. I called and complained and they told me that I had to call the post office, not them. Even though they signed for it, making them responsible for it. They are lazy and want you to do all the work. I shouldnt have had to call and check on my package. The staff is unprofessional and are too concerned with non-important issues. The manager isnt any better, When asked to talk to him, he took no responsibility and basically told me i was on my own. The apartments are nice, but "service" they provide sucks. Computers in computer lab are slow and there are never enough parking spots.