Morleigh Inc.

Midtown Apartments was hell and this was by far the worst living experience I’ve ever had. I moved in through a sublease, originally thinking I would only have to pay the first month’s rent. However, at the last minute, the original tenant decided to break their lease, and I was suddenly required to pay both the first month’s rent and an unexpected security deposit—totaling $1,200. Neither the tenant nor the rental company informed me of this beforehand. They simply sent me a bill, and I had to ask about it. At that point, I had no choice but to pay it, as I wouldn’t have had anywhere else to live. That should have been my first red flag. If you work third shift, don’t mind scalding hot water year-round, enjoy overheated rooms in the winter AND summer, are okay with paying $60 a month for parking, and can tolerate occasional giant roaches, constant plumbing issues, and strangers looking into your windows—then this place might be for you. Noise was a major issue. Our upstairs neighbors blasted their TV 24/7, hammered and vacuumed in the middle of the night, and I could hear them using the bathroom—yes, even that. Our own bathroom had no ventilation, leading to rusted ceiling supports and tiles falling into our bathtub. On one occasion, I found two massive cockroaches on the toilet. Plumbing was an ongoing nightmare. Our kitchen sink leaked from the day we moved in, and despite multiple repairs, it never got fixed. When the plumbing backed up, a maintenance worker lectured me about not flushing tampons or wipes—neither of which I use. The heating system was another major issue. The radiators are extremely loud, but the rental company does not disclose this until you are already in the application process. In the winter, our bedroom got so unbearably hot that even a window A/C unit at full blast made no difference. We eventually had to move our bed into the living room just to sleep. Parking is another headache. It’s not managed by the property but by the City of Lansing, which is a hassle to deal with. Even after paying $60 per month, I was charged an extra $5 to park during Silver Bells. The building itself is in terrible condition. The “first-floor” apartments are actually in the basement, so people regularly look in or even try to talk to you. One drunk person even urinated on our window, claiming they didn’t know anyone lived there. Dead cockroaches litter the hallways, hot water pipes are exposed in the laundry room, and the entire building looks like it hasn’t been properly cleaned since it was built in the 1920s. There was a major water leak at the property, and the water was shut off without any prior notice. When we called the emergency maintenance line to ask what was going on, the person on the line chuckled and said, “Yeah, I couldn’t tell you.” I also texted the landlord but didn’t receive a response until the following day—after my wife and I had already missed work due to having no running water. During the winter, the sidewalk snow plows would pass by our windows and fill the apartment with carbon monoxide due to the windows being poorly sealed and improperly installed. The drafts were severe, letting in cold air and making it extremely difficult to keep the apartment warm. What’s even more telling is that after looking at reviews for this rental company, I noticed that nearly all of the negative ones are specifically about Midtown Apartments—the building I lived in. That alone should say everything. This place should not be considered livable. The rental company should be ashamed to show this property with any confidence. I would strongly advise looking elsewhere.

I’ve been living in the same apartment unit for nearly five years and truly enjoy it—both for the location and the price. The maintenance team has always been great, and I especially appreciated the cleaning assistance and accommodations after the pipe burst that occurred. I really appreciate the neighbors in this complex, as well as the sense of security—it makes me feel safe and comfortable living here. And once again, the location and price are unbeatable.

I've lived in the Lansing area my whole life, and I've rented a Morleigh property in downtown Lansing for the last four years. The experience has been miles better than previous landlords I've rented from in the area. While their buildings aren't the newest or flashiest apartments, if you find the right building, the units are functional in a simple way, and the prices are very reasonable. They are one of the few landlords that did not take advantage of the post-pandemic price spike and kept their pricing fair. Better yet for a long term renter, the annual rent increases are very small and stable when you renew your lease year after year, which is also becoming uncommon with other landlords. The few times I did need a maintenance request it was usually handled the same day or the next day, but honestly, not a lot went wrong with my apartment because you can tell they maintain things over time much better than other landlords of low-priced apartments. Cliff the property manager is a very friendly and transparent person, his response time is excellent any time I have a question or problem and he always gives detailed answers. I like that you can reach him directly by text anytime rather than having a long email chain with a huge faceless corporation. Recently when I decided to move to another neighborhood, Cliff was very helpful and communicative and offered to let me tour other vacant units and provided options at reasonable prices. If you're a good respectful tenant and pay your rent, they will take care of you here and pay it forward. My only caution to other renters is that some of their buildings in Lansing are not in the nicest neighborhoods, which isn't the landlord's fault obviously, but just be careful to know the area you're moving to. Morleigh also has options in quieter areas of Lansing, but still keeps the pricing reasonable, so just research the area well before you sign a lease for a property. The experience is also very dependent on the building - sometimes Morleigh will buy a building from a previous management company and inherit problems, but most of the properties they've owned long term are in good shape. I've had friends in the area who've rented from Morleigh over the years and generally most people have a positive experience. In summary, if you want the newest and most luxurious apartments, Morleigh is probably not for you. If you want a reasonable price, a functional building where you can stay multiple years, and a trustworthy landlord with good communication, there's hardly a better option in the Lansing area.