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Barcelo Apartments

Updated 2026-07-23 · 1,280 reviewed · 348 listed · Scored from 260 Google reviews · How we rank ›

1.9(260) 46 composite score See reviews on Google ✓ Google-verified
Affordable & Section 8 Housing
Barcelo Apartments
Service
Affordable & Section 8 Housing
Reviews
260

What Residents Say

Living at Barcelo is widely reported as unsafe and uninhabitable. Residents endure months without hot water or working air conditioning, pervasive roaches and rodents, ignored work orders, and unchecked safety threats from squatters and drug dealers. The property is visibly abandoned, with most units vacant and common areas littered.

Management is unresponsive to calls and threats aggressive entry. New ownership (since mid-2023) has inspected units without warning but failed to fix critical systems. One tenant's child required hospital admission due to mold exposure. Renters report wrongful towing, inflated water bills, eviction filings over contested charges, and ruined credit. Multiple residents cite city code violations and fears of condemnation.

Recent shift: Yes. Significant deterioration and then attempted recovery mid-2023: original ownership left complex in severe disrepair with no maintenance, homeless squatting, rampant pest infestation, and utilities offline. New management (Tarantino) took over and initiated inspections and cleanups, but failed to restore critical systems, communicate with residents, or complete repairs. Residency has collapsed, with most units now abandoned. City Code Compliance oversight began but has not reversed conditions.

Praised for
  • affordable pricing in some cases
Watch-outs
  • no hot water for months
  • roaches and rodent infestation
  • AC broken long-term
  • maintenance work orders ignored
  • safety concerns from homeless and drug activity
  • aggressive new management tactics
  • overcharged utilities without reimbursement
  • water damage and leaks unrepaired
  • poor office communication and responsiveness
  • widespread abandonment and deterioration
unresponsive-officeslow-maintenance-responsepest-problemspoor-communicationsafe-community
Think twice if: Do not rent here. The complex has been uninhabitable for over a year with no hot water, severe pest infestation, failed maintenance, and safety risks from trespassing and drug activity.

What This Community Gets Right

  • low rent pricing (starting around $740)
  • city oversight through Code Compliance program

Before You Tour

  • new ownership and management (Tarantino) assumed control mid-2023
  • enrolled in City of San Antonio Code Compliance Apartment Proactive Program
  • unit inspections conducted without prior notice
  • widespread absence of hot water reported for 4+ months across multiple buildings
  • water leak in parking lot near hot water system causing thousands of gallons daily waste
  • residents report broken showers left unrepaired for 2+ years
  • wrongful vehicle towing reported multiple times
  • water bills charged at $280-490 monthly with no reimbursement

Maintenance, Management & More

Affordable & Section 8 Housing
Low entry rent masks uninhabitable conditions: months without hot water, untreated pest infestation, broken AC, ignored repairs, and safety hazards make units unsuitable for families.

Compared to Nearby Communities

  • Rated 1.9 against a 3.55 average across the 135 affordable & section 8 housing businesses listed here.
  • Has more Google reviews than 77% of the businesses in this directory.

How This Score Was Calculated

How We Score
Star rating 0
Review volume 100
Review recency 64
Review sentiment 17
Profile completeness 100
Verification 30

Scores by Category

5
47
4
12
3
6
2
9
1
186

Common Renter Questions

What is the rent price?
Starting around $740 for a two-bedroom under new management, though pre-2023 pricing was $1500. Water bills are often charged separately and have been disputed at $280-490 monthly.
Is there hot water?
No. Multiple residents report being without hot water for four or more months with no repair timeline from management.
Can I reach the office?
Residents report the office is often closed or unresponsive to calls. Contact details are not reliably answered.

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Last updated 2026-07-23