The Colony at the Lakes Apartments - West Covina, California

GINA W.

I've been living in this community since it first opened - one of the OG residents - and after so many years, I can honestly say it still feels like home.

The location is incredibly convenient, the 10 Freeway is right there, with the post office, shopping malls, Starbucks, fast food and groceries all nearby - everything you need is just minutes away.

Inside the complex, the grounds are always clean and well maintained. The amenities are full package , a fully equipped gym, swimming pool, and a comfortable and big lounge room for socializing or relaxing.

What truly makes this place special is the management team, it's a group of warm, caring people who genuinely put their hearts into this community. They decorate the lobby for every holiday and host themed events throughout the year, bringing good vibes all year round.

Special thanks to our property manager Stephanie - she is absolutely wonderful , kind , responsible, attentive, and experienced. She leads the team in handling everything that comes up with professionalism and care.

No apartment is perfect, but the consistently high occupancy rate here says a lot. THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, and I'm proud to call it home.

Felicia R.

I had a great experience at Colony at the Lakes. It was incredibly welcoming, professional, and knowledgeable throughout the process. Their friendly demeanor and attention to detail made the visit smooth and enjoyable. Highly recommend working if you're considering this community!

David S.

Fire alarm constantly going off is a major issue (see prior reviews from others), especially as the owner of a noise-sensitive dog. I also just learned that annual alarm testing occurs over a 3-day period this week where the alarms went off INCESSANTLY in 15 second intervals for MULTIPLE HOURS A DAY as they test every single individual unit. Not only has this impacted my dog and caused him anxiety (when he previously had none), but as someone who works from home, this is unbearable. There will also be an emergency power generator test later this same week where power will be out for 1-1.5hrs. It makes zero sense to me why there are not better ways to conduct both of these tests - I have never had these issues in any prior apartment I have lived in. I have also been reprimanded when my dog peed in the mulch in front of the complex as if it were carpet or something. A manager complained about them having to clean it, to which my response is first of all that it was mulch and second of all that is why I pay luxury apartment rent prices. For building management, do not advertise as a pet-friendly community if you are not.

To make for a fair review, facilities/amenities are generally nice, especially the wine garden and central pool. No major issues with the unit itself. Bedrooms in the two-bedroom unit are slightly too small to fit a king/queen size bed comfortably. First floor retail is good, could be better. Location is good as well and close to the theater and other restaurants. Easy access to the 10 is a plus.

Pavel T.

By far the worst place I’ve lived, currently counting days until lease is over 🙁

Starting with area, it’s not as nice as what it seems, multiple shootings all around is a constant occasion, one was not long ago just across the street at Tina’s Tavern, helicopters and police presence on the daily.

Now back to apartment it self, constant fire alarms multiple times a month, they latley been running some fire inspection for a week( my dogs can’t stand high pitch sound and absolutely terrified, I have to take them outside for the time being) all during work hours.

Owners don’t clean after their pets, constant poop around, pee on the carpet in corridors.

EV Charging situation is out of hand, people, will be tossing their cars around in order to preserve a very few available ev parking sports, also it is a split system once two cars are charging at the same time current drops to 15amp(basically a wall outlet speed)

On the top of things they are citing good folks who move cars on time even though there is no charge limit and signs that specify charging rules, total nightmare

Management is very controversial and doesn’t know how to work with ppl

Don’t like this place one bit, see you never!

Not even 24hrs later another alarm went off in the morning, see video

Jessica R.

My husband and I lived at the Colony at the Lakes for three wonderful years, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. The community is incredibly quiet and peaceful, which made it feel like a true retreat every time we came home. Whether you’re relaxing on your balcony or taking a stroll around the property, it’s clear that the management values maintaining a serene environment.

Safety was also a big priority for us, and we always felt secure living here. The complex is well-lit, the grounds are well-maintained, and we never had any issues with noise or disturbances. It’s a great place for small families or anyone looking for a calm, safe neighborhood to call home.

A huge shout-out to the staff! Stephanie especially was always professional, responsive, and quick to address any concerns. The maintenance team was always on top of it and addressed requests quick, making our time at the Colony at the Lakes hassle-free.

After three years of living there, we can honestly say that this is one of the best apartment communities we’ve ever had the pleasure of calling home. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quiet, safe, and well-managed place to live!

Alex R.

Well, I understand that everyone has a different experience but my experience has been really good. I have been living at the colony since 2017, so going on 7 years now. I have gone through several management changes some great some just ok but the over all communication with the leasing office has always been positive. I guess one has to understand that we do live in a large building with a lot of different types of people, some clean and some not so clean. That’s just life, it is not a reflection on the leasing office. They always try to do their best to keep the property well kept. The few times that I have needed maintenance in my apartment, it has been taking case of rather quickly so there’s no complain there and I appreciate that. The colony overall is relatively safe, obviously it wont be 100% safe but what place is? Like I said before, my experience has been positive and I hope that it continues to be that way. I just hope people understand that Home is whatever you make of it.

Candice H.

David Sanchez the maintenance tech was amazing! Very nice, professional & got the job done promptly. He even cleaned after. Thank you for being so kind David. This review is only for David, not the actual property itself. We have a lot of issues within this community and for the amount of rent paid monthly this issues should’ve been addressed. Homeless vagrants walking the halls, stealing, breaking windows & checking door. We have issues with valet trash leaving trash on the floor in the hallways. I’ll save my review for another day. David Sanchez is awesome!

William T.

I have been living here since 2017 and considered one of the first residents as this place was finished towards end of 2016. There have been several management/personnel changes over the years, due to acquisitions and what not and I must say, the current team today in 2025 is doing a stellar job.

A lot of the problems that people have stated such as fire alarms is indeed true and a problem, but like with all apartment living, there are many nuances and issues that single family residents don't encounter. To me, what's more important is how management addresses these issues and tenant concerns. Stephanie Ngo and her team has (and still is) doing an excellent job in making sure tenants are heard and acknowledged.

Problems like the fire alarm is still ongoing from time to time, but at least there are steps being taken to try to mitigate the issue. When these issues do occur, management will make sure all tenants are informed of the situation and what caused it, whereas in the past, we would all be left in the dark. They've also called out 3rd party vendors to review the alarms, but it's an ongoing project.

All in all, every apartment is going to have their own problems. Here, at least you have the peace of mind to know that apartment management recognizes the problems and is actively seeking solutions.