Confluence Companies - Golden, Colorado

Andrew K.

Update: In the days following my negative experience the employees I communicated with were very polite and helpful. Although they did not change anything about the lease terms, I do believe them when they told me it was beyond their abilities to correct and I no longer feel like I am being deceived. While it is not possible to be an ethical business in an industry whose very existence is unethical, I am now of the opinion that Confluence Companies are at least earnestly trying to make the experience of renting an apartment as pleasant as legally possible.

My original review is below.

The search for a place to live is a frustrating and expensive process, filled with scams, misleading advertising, and unethical behavior by those with money and therefore power. During my most recent search, I had hoped to avoid the worst of it by applying to places that were up front with how expensive their apartments are. Unfortunately I was to find this is not the case.
The apartment I applied to under Confluence's ownership does get some points for having the least amount of unadvertised add-on costs to the rent among those I applied to. I leave this review on the management company not the property as the problems are not the fault of the leasing agent I spoke with, nor are they specific to any one property, but are endemic in the landlord industry.

The issue that caused me to cancel my application regards the lease I was given to sign. It was a pretty standard leasing contract; intentionally difficult to understand and written to ensure all the rights and power remain with the wealthier party. There was a very clear section that stated in the result of a conflict between the terms of the lease and the terms of an additional document, the terms of the lease took priority. This became particularly important as the security deposit listed on the lease differed from the deposit listed on an additional document.
I went back and forth with the leasing agent about this issue who appeared to initially be trying to feign ignorance of the issue. After meeting in person I was able to get them to admit that they made an error in not putting the correct deposit amount on the lease, an issue they were happy to correct to my detriment.
The amount of the security deposit, though substantial to me, is not the issue that caused me to cancel my application. Rather, it was the ready willingness to change the lease when it benefited them at my expense, when I know they would not do so if it were to my benefit.

Once again none of this behavior, though abhorrent, is illegal or at all unusual in the landlord industry. I don't expect anything to come from leaving this review, but I do hope others may read it and recognize the pervasiveness of this unethical behavior in an industry that should be treated as the human right it is. When our options are letting ourselves be exploited this way or be homeless, it can feel like a hopeless situation. Perhaps if enough of us refuse to tolerate the exploitation, we may yet be able to change things for the better.

Tiera S.

Don’t move here, they don’t care about their lease holders at all.

Garret R.

Worst experience at steel ranch north main

SBow3111

The best.

sean O.

Not too bad

Jeff M.

Amazing

Travis P.

Lienna O.