leasing consultant

maintenance technician

service technician

community manager

refuse collector

Cortland

Was offered the position of Senior Maintenance Tech (I.E Assistant Maintenance), took them almost 3 months to hire me on. Was given the previous nights notice of first day of work. The first day of work no one even knew i was supposed to start and didn't know what to do. They only offer a 20% discount on living and the apartments are too expensive (even unrenovated ones) for people who don't have more than one source of income with family, you pay for trash, water, and pets and its all due every 1st instead of split from each paycheck. Residents complain constantly about the simplest and often ridiculous things. Every complaint is a work order, instead of putting all the work orders from one apartment on one job they use multiple jobs and print multiple pages for the jobs. Meaning lots and lots of trees used for one apartment with 1-5 or more issues (1 page per issue). Lots of bugs and critters infest the complex, to include a massive infestation of Wasps, Hornets and Yellow Jackets. Apartments are made of cheap material and constantly need maintenance, especially the A/C units, both inside and out. Meaning at least 2 outside units a week and a fur down every other week. There are also a lot of people who steal things on the complex, especially the teens that come from the High School directly behind the complex. The Lead maintenance doesn't like or often acknowledge change, even if it's easier or more efficient. The golf carts only work when they want to and have major issues, to include not starting, and dying in the middle of the road. The shop also has issues with lack of space, clutter everywhere, especially with old used parts that are considered recoverable. None of the contractors that get hired seem to fix anything or know what they are doing since everything stays half fixed. Yet that doesn't stop them from getting payed unnecessary amounts of money for not doing their jobs. Overtime is extremely frowned on and is tracked every week. If you are over at all you are forced to stay home without getting paid. It was nice to have more time off but in order to pay the bills the extra money was needed. Also there are only 2 people on call so you can't go out and get another job or get time for school. For example: You work all week plus overtime and it amounts to 48 or even 50 hrs. Instead of getting paid for all that time you have to take time off during the week because they only pay up to 2 hrs of overtime, meaning you get a long weekend or a break during the week. However, you get behind easily due to the high volume of work and they complain and question why your so behind. I had a situation where the lead maintenance was unhappy with the amount of work orders i had done because i wasn't as fast as he was and i was taking to long. Even though it was only before lunch and not the end of the day, meaning i still had 5 hrs left to get caught up, but because i was doing difficult work orders that were time consuming i had to take extra time getting those done, like unclogging a tub or sink or fixing a leak, instead of changing bulbs and filters which only take 5 minutes. Also if the work order is 3 days old they complain about it not getting done, even if you have a constant work load of leaks, a/cs, fridges not working, etc vs a closet shelf needing install or a door requiring paint, if a job is 3 days or more old and it in all reality should be postponed due to the circumstance, you still have to stop doing everything and take care of it. Lastly they expect you to do online training, but you can't do it at home you have to do it during work hours. Which if you do so you will take a lot of time away from your work load since they are 3 to 4 hour webinars and you can't skip through them.

To make a long story short I would not recommend working for this company. They don't really take well to outsiders and are set in their ways of doing things. They also have a hard time listening to important details. Like when someone mentions (and yes it was mentioned) that they can work on a/c units but have never installed one before both inside and out. They treat you like your an idiot for mentioning it to them and that it's an inconvenience on their part to have to train you. Thanks but no thanks, keep your attitude and your expensive property.

There is never a typical day at work, and that goes for all of property management. No two days are ever the same.  If multi-tasking is not a strong skill for you, this is not the job for you. At Cortland, a lot is required out of everyone in their roles and to the utmost highest standard. I did learn a lot throughout my 5 years in Cortland and managed to move up in my career. However, the burn out is real and the company really went downhill fast in those 5 years. So much changed, quantity over quality and that means cheap everything. There was a cut in resources and budgets and now everything is cheap and management is biased. If they don't like you, you will know. You know the workplace is toxic if they describe it as a family. Cortland has high standards and values when it comes to the residents but when it comes to employees, it doesn't exist. For example, if you work at Cortland and live at one of their communities, they show no compassion if you are ever late on your rent. Meanwhile there are residents who can get away with not paying there rent for MONTHS. But if the employee is ever late, you'll be reprimanded. There is also a major issue if the income requirements for ANYONE to be approved to be 3xs the base rent, if your employees cannot get paid enough to meet those income qualifications. If you think about it, you're just recycling your money to them.. You get your paycheck from them only for it to go back to them when you rent. Oh and if you're an employee,  that lives at Cortland, and you get let go, you have to move out in SEVEN DAYS. They fired one of my old co-workers DURING THE PANDEMIC, a single mother and she had 7 days to move out. During one of the most horrific times in our history and this is the type of compassion this corporation lacks.  There is also a lack of diversity in upper management. The hardest part of the job is the residents and the people you work with. The most enjoyable part, clocking out and never looking back but I had to write a review to warn others.

After I received the job to manage a property in Florida I relocated from Tennessee. I was told that training would consist of 2 weeks of training from 2 managers within the company. Training was not really training it consisted of me sitting around watching the managers work which is great but I'm not that type of learner. I am more of a hands-on type of person. This translated to them that I was not interested in the position because I just sat there. (I'm still not really sure what else they wanted). After a week of training I was told that the property that they originally hired me for was 95% Spanish speaking and I'm not bilingual so they switched my property to a property that was over 30 miles away. If you live in Central Florida you know that 30 miles can turn into a 2-hour commute easily on I4. Because of this I had to essentially relocate again, so I had to beg my rental company to accommodate my move to a different house in their portfolio closer to the property that I was reassigned to. After getting to my assigned property and training (sitting) with the current manager for 1 day I was told that "this isn't going to work out because we don't feel like you are a good fit for this company."  How can you tell within 2 weeks if someone is a good fit for the company and I wasn't even given a chance to actually WORK for the company? I was left high and dry after relocating for this company with my 5-year-old son. I was left unemployed for the first time in my adult life with a 5-year-old. The guy that let me go said 'oh you'll find something else. Overall heartless, shady behavior from the Regional Manager or whatever his title was. I would never work for, recommend, or even live on a Cortland Property after my experience.

Something else that the Manager said that stuck with me...he said here at Cortland we hire quickly and we fire even quicker. To me this translates to you have to be perfect in order to work there or to have job security, and this didn't sit well with me. I guess if you need a job you need a job but do proceed with caution, and have a back up plan.

I am absolutely appalled at what this company has become. I used to take pride in working for Cortland when team awesome overseen Ohio. After team heroes took over, I slowly watched the Ohio portfolio plummet. Promoting people with no experience. Those that deserved recognition were taken for granted and ignored. If you are anything less than a manager, you ARE replaceable and you will absolutely feel that way. When your concerns are voiced, you then become a target. There is no structure within the Ohio portfolio anymore. Everything is Property specific - meaning when Community Managers shift, everything shifts based on what THEY want. The Community Managers abuse their power because they know they’re protected. This causes toxic environments causing animosity & personal vendettas! How can you create value for a better life when your associates aren’t valued? Also, kiss your personal life and family goodbye as you will work off the clock and extended hours just to stay afloat of their overflowing expectations! It is very well known that the Ohio associate retention is awful. Do something about it. Give praise to those that truly deserve it before you lose more of your long standing good associates. Pay more attention to the opinions of your Resident Experience Managers & leasing staff rather than JUST the Business Managers & Community Managers. Hold your Director of Operations & Area Operations Manager to the same standards as your other associates. (Do the right thing for the right reason. Grow together and play as a team. Listen with your heart and your mind. Have the courage to be better.)

What is the best part of working at the company?
The guarantee 24 hour service and you’re able to actually do it because they always keep supplies up-to-date. It’s quite easy  to do a repair when you have supplies to do it with they have high standards and I appreciate that I worked for them for eight years and I got so used to it that anywhere else is just not the same. I miss them dearly.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
I can’t think of any I never had a problem whatsoever the entire time I worked for them think think highly of their employees I think extremely high of their property and that’s appreciated bonus system is always helped me as long as you do your job and do it right they show the appreciation the property that I worked on everybody that lived there loved them and that makes a big difference as well

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Everything is kept clean and proper. The shops always looking immaculate, and everything that I did to my property was totally awesome. Brought the appearance up completely brought the interiors up to par. I can’t think of anything that Cortland did not do right I’m telling you.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I was always there early and stayed as late as they needed me for however, often they needed me and whatever day they needed me so every day was a great day

The "dynamic tension" between departments makes it impossible to achieve project objectives as you are constantly trying to appease the property manager and service manager who complain and add scope to your project without adding additional time for the added scope to be completed. The "work life balance" is non-existent as you are expected to work 12-14 hours a day, 7 days per week, I averaged 1-2 days off per month. Most of the construction team had no construction experience and were expected to learn on the job without a training program (the training program was about to be rolled out the whole time I worked there). The subs are not qualified to do the work in their scope, they move contractors that do not perform up to quality standards to other regions to be another PM's problem. The materials used in the renovations are sub-standard and you are expected to make them luxury level finishes. When the Chief Investment Officer flies in every month it would be helpful if they actually listened to the employees on site instead of the upper management, and when they say there are unlimited resources available to help the project succeed it would be nice if that were the reality.

The best thing Cortland has going is the culture. During my time there, I have connected with amazing people corporate and community side. They do hire great people, and always host company events which is a huge plus. I never been with a company with the culture you'll find at Cortland. Benefits are mediocre. No maternity leave which sucks and they need to add that in. 401k match is a joke. NO BONUSES OR COMMISSIONS although we have leases signed under OUR name. (leasing hub only; leasing consultants get paid commissions just to clarify)
Nice pay for a relatively easy job. Unfortunately, you will have to pick up the slack for your inefficient coworkers which could be very annoying. Not much room for advancement opportunities, but the rare times it does come available it is clearly shown that it is not about work ethic and merit, but who's their favorite and least problematic. Leadership could be better. As stated in other reviews, the people they choose to promote honestly should have never been considered in the first place. But what's a corporation without nepotism, right?
Overall, great job, good pay, phenomenal culture, okay benefits. Great job, but not for someone truly looking to advance their career in property management.

Cortland stands out as the most fair and well-structured company I’ve worked for. Compensation and bonus structures were transparent, competitive, and actually aligned with performance, which is rare in this industry. A typical day was fast-paced but manageable because expectations were clear and leadership trusted the team to execute without unnecessary oversight.

Management was consistent, supportive, and approachable. They gave you the tools, resources, and autonomy to do your job right, instead of micromanaging. That level of trust made a big difference in both productivity and morale. The culture was professional but not rigid—people were held accountable, but also respected.

The hardest part of the job was keeping up during peak periods, but even then, leadership backed the team and didn’t leave you hanging. The most enjoyable part was knowing your work was valued and being part of a company that actually follows through on what they say.

If you’re looking for a company that operates with integrity and treats employees like professionals, Cortland delivers.

Cortland is a great place to build a career. With so many departments and positions available you are bound to find something you love and can grow in. I have received several promotions since being here and a college degree doesn’t hold you back in many positions. They don’t just say their core values, but focus on them. They are talked about daily in huddles and team meetings. What they are trying to create is beautiful, but need to do a better job at being in-tuned with their onsite teams. They try anonymous surveys to get true feedback which is appreciated, but even my DO is far removed from what is happening in the communities with the teams. They  can work better on diversity in the workplace. This is something they have begun to work on, but have a far way to go. They didn’t handle Covid very well. But who knew what to do with Covid. The beginning was rocky for most companies and teams were very upset, but they eventually got their footing. 

Overall I would say Cortland is a great place to work with competitive pay. They have work to do, but their isn’t any perfect workplace. What I love the most is that, that is recognized and acted upon. #havethecouragetobebetter

It’s nice to work for a company that sets you up for success without micromanaging you to death. Cortland is so proactive in their hiring process that they make the best hiring decisions upfront so there is less turnover. During new projects they understand the support that is needed and work to ensure you are properly staffed with the right tools.  The culture is amazing and they really go the distance to provide a work/life balance all while creating a fun and friendly work environment. Most everyone at the CSC has worked on site and understands how challenging it can be to work where people live. They encourage, inspire and back their their employees up.  Their commitment to excellence directly relates to your success as an employee and they understand this is how properties achieve their goals.  Cortland Partners are all about the people;, residents ,employees  and ownership and that is why they are among the best Management companies in the country.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Leasing consultant 2 salaries reported	$20.50 per hour
Maintenance technician 17 salaries reported	$21.97 per hour
Service technician 1 salary reported	$19.50 per hour
Community manager 11 salaries reported	$23.11 per hour
Refuse collector 27 salaries reported	$18.48 per hour

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