These are the early comments about Royal Oak prior to the change in management in 2012.
2006-06-04 17:22:07 I'm looking at living there—is it really this bad? Any more detailed comments on Royal Oaks would be much appreciated... —BobReinhardt
2006-08-25 08:30:37 Bob, if you really want to know go there on a Saturday afternoon and drive around. You will see a burnt out trailer that has never been replaced by the pool area (atleast it was still there as of end of July). The people are friendly but there doesn't seem to be alot of pride of ownership as a whole. The pool has been redone though. —MyaBrn
2006-10-22 14:50:33 Does anybody know what the space rental is here? Even roughly? —AmyGoogenspa
2007-12-17 19:58:43 The space rent is still $750 as far as I know. The burned out husk by the pool is now gone, I don't recall exactly when it went, somewhere between 2 and 6 months ago probably? The neighbors are really friendly, and other than kids playing it's pretty quiet. I've been really happy here the past year, but recently (since they repaved the streets and numbered the parking spots a couple months ago) they've become really bad about towing cars like mad. The worst part is they are doing so illegally.
For my neighbors: Their signs do not meet the California Vehicle Code Division 11, Chapter 10, Article 1 >> Section 22658 requirements, therefore they must give 96 hours written notice. See: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22658.htm
If they do not give 96 hours written notice the management/park owners must pay twice what the vehicle owner was charged to get their car back. Also, if you catch the tow truck before it reaches Research Park Drive, if you ask, the tow operator has to release your vehicle for half the normal fee (which should end up being between $90-110). If your car is damaged by while being towed, the tow truck company has to pay for repairs. If enough people start taking the management to small claims court, maybe they'll start following the laws.
I don't know if it's the management that's the problem or the owners or a combination of both. But they're really driving people away with their policies. There are many places abandoned, empty spots and places for sale, even though the rent is reasonable (and they have some deal with getting a home for $1000 a month which I think includes the $750 rent) and the location is awesome (near the freeway, shopping, downtown, the Putah Creek Bike Path and from there the Arboretum and campus). So basically it can be a great place to live if you are very careful about where you park, and you warn your visitors not to park inside unless they can get a visitor labeled parking spot (and aren't going to be there more than one day). But then I rank good neighbors and peace and quiet really highly after living in South Sacramento for five years. —JenniferKucich
2008-04-05 15:27:58 While they keep the common areas clean and well maintained and the park is reasonably quiet and the rent is reasonable for Davis, at this point I would not recommend living here to anybody (and I do know I'm screwing myself by saying that since we will want to sell eventually). I don't blame the individual park managers (I think they're on the fourth one in the 18 months I've lived here, which should tell you something). It's the company that owns it and the "regional" managers that will get to you. They take forever to act on anything - if you need a place to live fast, this isn't gonna be it; we had to wait an extra two days after being "approved" for somebody at the main office to return from vacation and sign a piece of paper before we could move in.
And like Jennifer said, they do illegal things and they get away with it because most residents don't seem to know or have time to stand up for their rights. —LisaBriggs
2008-12-19 22:29:13 A recent article in Eureka points to a very unruly couple who have taken up management at this park and Davis Mobile Estates read here: http://www.northcoastjournal.com/081904/news0819.html under Park managers' controversial past. I am surprised none of this was posted here. —CarrieBishop
2009-07-19 13:19:59 I've lived here about 2 years. If you regularly ride your bicycle to the university, then this location is superb. It is quiet and safe — apparently that's a great improvement from years ago. They've really cleaned the place up in the last few years.
The newly hired manager (named Rhonda) is great; I'm not sure how long she'll last however since the regional manager she reports to is really mean-spirited (this is the third manager since I've been here). I currently pay $780 in rent, which I think is a bit high. Also, the management company seems to play fast and loose with the law. In practice this might not affect you if you live here. I think high rents is a major reason the park has around 50% vacancy. Unlike an apartment, you have to pay trash, sewer, and water.
In total, it might compare favorably to an apartment, assuming you get a good deal on the purchase of the home. Of course, you would never want to buy a brand new one. —livegreen
2011-02-28 19:56:43 Does anyone know what the pet policies are for this place? —tcobra8
2011-08-26 09:08:42 Just talked to management on the phone. They said the pet policy is: up to 2 pets, dogs up to 18" tall OK but on leash at all times (no vicious breeds.) Cats must be inside only. —Eve
2012-02-06 13:23:11 I have lived at the Royal Oak since Jan of 2005. I have watched the Managers and Regional Managers shuffle many times.. All in all - the place is a thousand times better since The Heapes left as Regional Managers..(they stalked, harassed and lied to residents); but I think the current Manager is getting too relaxed and trying to brush a lot of responsibilities onto the Police and residents.. We pay rent in this community to have the Manager enforce the rules and regulations...if the Management is afraid to confront an unruly resident or confront them about illegal acts done by their children; how then can that unruly resident be removed from further causing complaints from other residents if no 'tab' is kept against them? If I've learned one thing in this park it's this: Have the Mobile Home Ombudsman's phone number handy, if you have to talk to the Management do it with a certified letter only, and if you want something done right - do it yourself.. To those considering living here: Make sure you know if your rent is going up 5% or 3% a year, ask if the home you are considering purchasing is up to park standards/regulations -if not- ask them to bring it up prior to sale, pay cash, get a lot space where you have a little room between you and neighbors, the parking in front of your home assigned to you, check Megans Law offender registry to see who potential bad neighbors are, check to see if your neighbors maintain their yards (as the park is VERY relaxed about letting people let their yards go all to heck). FYI: I never had a flea, tick or cockroach problem until I had new filthy neighbors move in all around me... Trash piled in backyards, new neighbors' cats and dogs let to pee in my yard who run lose... (just had a pit bull walk up to me at the Park mail boxes - I thought they didn't allow aggressive breeds???).. I've had enough of the Royal Oak life... One cool thing though: I have 3 awesome neighbors who have been here as long as me. I hope they're able to get out soon too.. The rest of my neighbors act like criminals and I've even watched 6 homes get raided by police SWAT teams last year (all for METH - even in the family houses). That was so frightening. I was on the ground thinking a bullet would come through my house when I heard 15 men in black masks and guns next door shouting and slamming the door in... Also it's not good when you have to worry about your neighbors stealing from you constantly... you cannot leave ANYTHING of value outside. Not even a spray nozzle for your hose... OK so now you all have heard from a long time Royal Oak resident. Won't you be, won't you be, please won't you be my neighbor? hehe —skilwhit