Austin Apartment Reviews Guide
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The Lantern

Updated 2026-07-17 · 2,441 reviewed · 401 listed · Scored from 253 Google reviews · How we rank ›

3.4(253) 59 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Google-verified
Affordable & Section 8 HousingLuxury ApartmentsPet-Friendly Apartments
The Lantern
Services
Affordable & Section 8 Housing, Luxury Apartments, Pet-Friendly Apartments
Reviews
253

The honest read

New management has shifted resident experience significantly: recent arrivals praise responsive communication, staff by name, and quick maintenance turnaround. Long-term residents and those arriving under prior leadership describe unreachable management, pest-infested units, and weeks-long repair delays. The complex sits at a turning point, with active landscaping and weekly cleanups now visible, but complaints about AC, pest control, and lock repairs persist in older reviews. Staff like Zina and Xena are individually named for going off-shift to help residents, yet the same residents report the broader organization still leaves work orders unfollowed.

Praised for
  • responsive new management team
  • friendly and welcoming office staff (Zina, Maili, Xena, Jennifer)
  • timely maintenance when requests reach staff
  • clean and well-maintained common areas
  • improved communication and weekly landscaping
Watch-outs
  • unresponsive management and poor communication
  • pest infestations and dirty move-in units
  • maintenance issues left unresolved (AC, locks, lights)
  • security breaches and squatting
  • valet trash service not working
responsive-managementpoor-communicationwell-maintainedunresponsive-maintenancefriendly-staffslow-maintenancepest-problemsclean-common-areas
Best for: Residents seeking newer management team responsiveness; those who can visit the office in person to build rapport.
Think twice if: Expect unpredictable maintenance if your issue predates the management change; pest control and unit cleanliness were serious problems under prior staff.

What this place gets right

  • named office staff (Zina, Maili, Xena, Jennifer) praised for extra effort
  • new management actively improving landscaping and communication
  • move-in specials and welcoming atmosphere
  • dog park and dog spa

Worth knowing

  • Named staff praised repeatedly: Zina, Maili, Xena, Jennifer, Leon
  • Xena worked off-shift on Saturday to hand-deliver keys
  • One resident cited 12 years of occupancy and visible recent improvements
  • Valet trash service charged at $35 monthly but not consistently provided in earlier reviews
  • Weekly landscaping and mowing now active under new management

Reviews by category

Affordable & Section 8 Housing
Mix: new staff attentive; older complaints of unresponsive prior management, pest infestations, and repair delays remain.
Pet-Friendly Apartments
Dog park and dog spa offered; no specific review mentions of pet policy or experience.
Luxury Apartments
Amenities listed (pool, fire pit, clubhouse, lounge, business center); reviews focus on management responsiveness rather than luxury finishes.

How it stacks up

  • Rated 3.4 against a 3.92 average across the 197 affordable & section 8 housing businesses listed here.
  • Has more Google reviews than 77% of the businesses in this directory.

How we scored this

How We Score
Star rating 0
Review volume 100
Review recency 100
Review sentiment 48
Profile completeness 100
Verification 30

Rating breakdown

5
132
4
17
3
6
2
8
1
90

Quick answers

Is the management responsive to maintenance requests?
New management (Zina, Maili, Xena, Jennifer) is praised for timely repairs and answering phones/texts. Older reviews from 5+ months ago report requests ignored for weeks. Changes appear recent and ongoing.
What is the pet policy?
The property has a dog park and dog spa on-site. No specific restrictions or fees mentioned in reviews.
What does the $35 valet trash service include?
Service is offered but was inconsistently delivered in earlier reviews; current consistency not stated.

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Last updated 2026-07-17