Kelby Farms Apartments

Reviews

• DP

  Debra Page

  3 days ago
  5.0
  Kelby Farms has a sense of community with events hosted every month. It’s also a beautiful community, easily accessible to highway and in the middle of two medical giants, UNC and DUKE.
• LR

  Local Reviewer

  Aug 14, 2026
  1.0
  I lived at KF for 3 years and had generally been happy with my experience, which makes my move-out experience especially disappointing. After moving out, I was charged $40.18 for a cracked freezer drawer. I distinctly remember the drawer already being loose when I moved into my unit. The drawer remained functional throughout my entire residency, and the crack is relatively small. In my opinion, this is the type of wear and tear that can naturally occur over three years of regular use, particularly when the drawer was already loose when I moved in. It also does not affect the functionality or pose a safety concern. I contacted management to explain that I remembered the drawer being loose when I moved in, but they declined to remove the charge because it was not documented on my move-in inspection or reported during my residency. Unfortunately, I did not have a photo from move-in to prove its condition, so I understand that they had to rely on their documentation. However, I was disappointed that there was no consideration given to the possibility that this was pre-existing or simply normal wear and tear. What made this especially frustrating was that I had lived at KF for three years, went through multiple management teams, consistently took great care of my apartments, and had never received a move-out damage charge before. After the management change, my move-out experience unfortunately felt very different, and it left me feeling as though they were looking for something to charge for rather than considering the overall history of my tenancy. I also dealt with significant maintenance issues during my residency, including periods without heat during the winter and ongoing issues with my ice maker functioning. Given those experiences, it was particularly disappointing to then be charged for a small, non-safety-related issue with an appliance that I genuinely believe was either pre-existing or the result of normal wear and tear. The $40 itself is not really the issue for me. It's the principle of charging a long-term resident for a minor issue that I believe should reasonably fall under normal wear and tear, especially after three years of being a responsible tenant. I really enjoyed living at KF for most of my three years there, which is why it is disappointing that this is how my experience ended. I would recommend anyone moving in to thoroughly photograph and document the condition of every appliance and fixture, even if something seems minor, because apparently that documentation can make a significant difference at move-out.
• SM

  Sunhee Moon

  Aug 14, 2026
  1.0
  I almost never take the time to write reviews, but my experience at Kelby Farms was bad enough that I feel I should share it. I moved here from another state, so I was extremely careful when choosing an apartment. I was willing to pay more to live somewhere clean, comfortable, and well managed. Kelby Farms was more expensive than some of the other options I considered, but it looked beautiful and seemed like a higher-quality community. Unfortunately, living here was a completely different experience. First, the soundproofing is TERRIBLE. I could hear the upstairs neighbors walking around so clearly that I could literally tell where they were moving inside their apartment. I could hear them doing laundry and going about their normal daily activities. Several times I woke up in the middle of the night because the noise was so loud that for a moment I thought someone had actually entered my apartment. The buildings look nice from the outside, but based on my experience, the construction feels extremely cheap. The bug problem was another nightmare. We constantly had worm-like bugs coming inside the apartment. We tried blocking possible entry points and using pest control products, but they kept coming back. I became completely exhausted dealing with them. Package security was also a major issue. I had packages stolen multiple times. At one point, I tried to explain to a former staff member, Karen, that there was a problem with the package room door, but instead of listening to my concern, she repeatedly insisted that I was wrong. Her attitude was consistently rude and dismissive. I eventually tried to go to the office only when she was not working because dealing with her was so unpleasant. When packages are stolen, you are basically left to file the police report and deal with the situation yourself. There were also multiple incidents involving broken car windows and theft in the parking area during the time I lived there. I never felt that adequate security measures or cameras were put in place afterward. After seeing these incidents and dealing with package theft, I did not feel secure living there. And finally, BE VERY CAREFUL when you move out. I took extremely good care of my apartment. We did not even wear outdoor shoes inside and usually walked barefoot. Because I have allergies, I cleaned constantly and ran a robot vacuum almost every day. I treated the apartment like it was my own home. Despite that, after moving out I was charged for additional carpet cleaning due to supposed traffic areas/staining and for an allegedly cracked refrigerator shelf. I strongly dispute both of these charges. I do not recall leaving any cracked refrigerator shelf, and after taking such good care of the carpet throughout my entire tenancy, the carpet charge was extremely frustrating. It honestly made me regret taking such good care of the apartment. If I had known I would still be charged for things like this at move-out, I would not have spent so much time trying to keep the place spotless. Kelby Farms photographs very well and looks beautiful when you tour it. That is exactly why I chose it. But after actually living there, my experience was completely different.
• HR

  Honest Reviews

  Aug 12, 2026
  3.0
  Good apartment sizes and layouts. Nice clubhouse and work/workout area. Nice bike storage and has storage unit options. Small but clean pool. Overall nice, modern look, fixtures, etc. Responsive maintenance. Elevator breaks down intermittently despite being new and sometimes can't be repaired for multiple days. Repeat gun violence in the area. Lots of weed odor around the complex. Frequent car break-ins. Quite poor sound proofing. Trash compactor will malfunction and trash will pile up all down the walkway. Cheap / poor paint job in the units. Loud traffic on Mt. Moriah and the highway. Expensive. Summary: Pretty on the surface but with big safety concerns. Not worth the price.
• CD

  Chass Dixon

  Aug 9, 2026
  1.0
  **UPDATE** This review was written **before the resolution of my dispute** and reflects what had occurred at that time. Since posting it, management agreed to obtain a second opinion on the carpet after I continued to dispute that my ESA caused the alleged damage. The second carpet company determined that the carpet could be cleaned rather than replaced, and management has now confirmed that the $223.91 carpet replacement charge will be REMOVED and that the remaining portion of my security deposit will be refunded. I appreciate management ultimately obtaining a second opinion and correcting the charge. However, I stand by my original concerns and experience that led to this review. The original assessment attributed alleged pet urine damage to my three-month-old ESA, who was only present for a very limited period and never entered the bedroom where management later confirmed the alleged stain was located. This is why I disputed the charge so strongly and requested an independent second evaluation. I also retrieved the item left behind after management offered to remove that charge. I believe it is important to update reviews when circumstances change, so I am adding this for transparency. I appreciate that the disputed charges were ultimately reconsidered and resolved, while my original review reflects my experience with how the situation was initially handled. Original Post: ⭐ 1 STAR — LOOK ELSEWHERE BEFORE RENTING HERE. My experience with the CURRENT management at Kelby Farms has been extremely disappointing. After I moved out, management asked for my forwarding address with the understanding that my security deposit was being mailed back to me. Instead, I later received deductions, including $223.91 for alleged “pet damage” to the carpet, pad, and subfloor , charge I STRONGLY dispute. I disclosed my ESA puppy because I was being honest and transparent. He was only THREE MONTHS OLD at the time, was only present toward the very end of my tenancy a few times(not even month) and when he was there, his designated area and pet pad were on the WOOD FLOORING, not the carpet. Management and maintenance had been inside my apartment multiple times throughout my tenancy, and I was never previously told there was pet damage. I have formally disputed the charge and requested documentation showing the alleged damage, who inspected the apartment, and how they determined my ESA caused it. The timing and circumstances of this charge are extremely concerning to me. I also had a very troubling experience with the younger maintenance employee who wore his hair in a ponytail. During my move-out, I found his behavior toward me and my family confrontational, unprofessional, and harassing. I have specifically asked management whether this same individual had any involvement in my move-out inspection or the determination of these alleged damages. To be fair, the older maintenance gentleman was always kind, respectful, and professional. It is also worth mentioning that the PREVIOUS management was significantly better. There was better communication, professionalism, community events, resident engagement, and an overall better atmosphere. The difference under the current management has been disappointing. If you are considering renting here, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING, emails, maintenance visits, move-in photos, and especially move-out photos/videos. Based on my experience with the current management and how my move-out has been handled, I WOULD NOT RENT HERE AGAIN. I recommend looking elsewhere.

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