Elms at the Refuge

Reviews

• PM

  Paul Mendez

  Jul 12, 2026
  5.0
  Great place to live and very friendly community. Very short drive to Fort Meade and NSA. Haven’t had any issues so far living here.
• LW

  Lonell Williams

  Jul 12, 2026
  2.0
  I transferred to The Elms at Refuge in 2025 from their sister property. The transfer process itself was mostly smooth, and I want to shout out Kandice, who was consistently helpful and worked with me during a difficult season. The location is convenient to stores, the neighborhood feels generally friendly, the property has decent privacy, and the community events and food trucks are a nice touch. However, the day‑to‑day living conditions and the way my hardship was handled by management, especially Meredith, were major concerns. The building is extremely noisy—you can hear neighbors talking, their TVs, toilets flushing, laundry, and people in the hallways. Not all residents follow the rules, so you will likely smell weed and hear loud music. I often dealt with a neighbor’s drunk guest banging and kicking the door between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., which made it very hard to sleep and feel safe in my own home. During my time here, I went through a government shutdown as a federal contractor and then a car accident that injured my back. These events put me behind on multiple bills, including rent. I communicated this clearly to the leasing office, kept them updated, and worked side hustles and was selling plates to catch up. I am not neglectful with rent—I was doing everything I could to stay afloat and keep a roof over my head. Despite that, the way the situation was handled often felt careless and insensitive. Notices were repeatedly left on my door, sometimes blowing down the hallway where anyone could see them, instead of someone reaching out to me directly. Sometimes it would be days until I left my house and I wouldn’t even know they were there. On two separate occasions, I received eviction notices posted on my door that were actually meant for another tenant. 🙄 Even when I was caught up, court documents will always be if payment came after the 15th, which now affects my record and added stress in an already difficult season. Sucks for those on military pay schedules. Near the end of my lease, I received a confusing notice on my door that made it sound like I had to leave immediately. When I called for clarification, Meredith initially spoke to me very bluntly, saying I would not be allowed to extend my lease because I had been late on rent, with little acknowledgement of the hardship I had already explained and the communication I’d maintained. Only after I pushed back and reminded her of my situation did her tone change; she apologized and said she would call me back. I never received that call. Instead, later that same day I got a different letter offering me a lease extension. That kind of mixed messaging and lack of internal communication, especially from someone in a leadership role, was frustrating and unsettling. I always caught up on my rent, but the combination of noisy living conditions, poorly maintained shared spaces (dirty gym, broken equipment, grills rarely cleaned), and the way my situation was handled by management during a difficult time makes it hard for me to recommend this property. In short, this is not the place I would want to be in if you fall on hard times or need truly compassionate, consistent communication, and it is not ideal if you value quiet and well‑maintained amenities. If you choose to live here, document everything, don’t rely on verbal promises, and be very proactive. Based on my experience, I would not live here again. Do not take anyone’s word nor do I recommend you leave a review prematurely! Experience the place for a little while and see for yourself.
• WJ

  Walter Jordan

  Jun 13, 2026
  5.0
  Family lives there great.
• CR

  Curtis Ross

  May 27, 2026
  5.0
  Great place good people
• CM

  Cayenne Monnaie

  May 16, 2026
  5.0
  I love everything about this community. The staff, maintenance team, my home, community upkeep, communication, monthly newsletters and gatherings, and more. 20/10 I recommend calling here HOME. I've lived here since they opened a few years ago, and it is hands down the best community I've ever lived in. Always quiet at all times of the day, and my neighbors are very friendly and helpful.