Axis at Shady Grove Apartamentos

From the outside, this apartment building looks beautiful and well-maintained, but once you live here, the problems quickly become clear. The garage entrance and hallways are often filled with an overwhelming stench that management has failed to resolve. The smell seems to come from a rodent problem, and at times it’s clear that animals have died inside the walls, leaving behind an odor that lingers for days and makes coming and going extremely unpleasant.

Beyond the smell, the overall living... conditions don’t match the rising cost of rent. Each year, the prices increase, yet the quality of life continues to decline. Instead of investing in solving these serious problems, management seems more focused on raising fees. What was once tolerable has become frustrating and stressful, to the point where the hassle far outweighs any benefit of living here.

If you are considering this building, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere. The exterior might be appealing, but the reality inside is very different — unpleasant smells, unresolved rodent issues, and ever-increasing rent make this one of the most disappointing places I’ve lived. Lee mas

Once a five-star residential complex, the current state of this apartment building is nothing short of disappointing. Though the exterior and leasing office may seem inviting, don't let appearances deceive you. The quality has steeply declined, along with attentive management.

Rent, parking fees, and service charges have all been raised, but these increases are not reflected in any improvements around the property. The cleanliness and maintenance are severely lacking, including the presence of... rodents and pests. Furthermore, unpleasant odors and unhygienic conditions, such as dog urine in the elevators and carpets, significantly degrade the living experience.

The garages present their own set of issues, including leaks and dirty water puddles. If you think a covered garage implies a clean car, you are mistaken. Leaks from the upper levels will quickly dispel that notion.

The new management appears to be indifferent to these deteriorating conditions. While the previous management team actively engaged with residents through the resident portal, addressing concerns and complaints, the current team seems to have abandoned this proactive approach.

To sum up, if I could rate this place lower than one star, I would. The contrast between its previous quality and its current state is like night and day. If you're considering moving here, I strongly urge you to reconsider. Lee mas

Would not recommend this apartment to anyone and I don’t even live here. Called to make an appointment to view the studio & one bedroom. The apartment overall is really dirty, floors are uneven, & walls are very thin. I talked to a couple people who live there & they said residents here complain all the time about noises (walls and floors being way too thin). It was very difficult finding the parking garage & when we went to go park I found a ton of broken glass (maybe from a break in). My nail... artists boyfriend has had his car broken into twice here. I’ve read reviews about how water gets in through the balcony door making me think certain things are not installed properly. We also toured on our own which I did not find very professional. $5 for a guest to stay overnight & $2 a month for pest control is just weird. If you have pests you should take on the responsibility to pay that yourself. Lee mas

I have lived here since 2018 when it was Hanover Shady Grove it was great. Now that Axis Shady Grove took over it’s been horrible it the hallways looks disgusting the walls are filthy & the carpet has stains and dog poop every where you can tell that they don’t keep up with it. You can hear your neighbors inside and outside you can always hear dogs barking

The Equity Residential conglomerate owns Axis at Shady Grove. This public company is extremely profit driven, as evidenced by its obscene 14% rate hike this year. (Note that the city of Rockville set its voluntary rent rate hike for 2022 at a maximum of 0.4%.) The leasing staff at Axis do not manage renewals so tenants will receive an auto-generated renewal notice by email from a generic Equity email address and possibly an equally cold follow-up call from Equity's toll-free number from an... employee who will only divulge his or her first name. Equity offers no explanation to account for the shocking rent increase and dismisses tenants to speak with the city of Rockville if they have complaints. Oddly its excessive rent rate does not include such ongoing extra expenses as the ineffective pest maintenance fee charged to all renters every month. Residents routinely post photos of the various rodents found in apartment hallways and trash rooms. (Equity also charges monthly fees to process your water and sewage bills through a third party rather than allow you to make direct utility payments without such added costs.) The building's cheap, paper-thin wall construction must have benefitted Equity investors but ensures you get an earful anytime your neighbors watch TV, listen to music, or naively think they're having a "private" phone conversation in what should be the privacy of their very pricey rental unit. Lee mas