The Hidden Dangers of Living at Legends at River Oaks in Sandy, Utah: A Cautionary Tale

 If you're considering moving into Legends at River Oaks in Sandy, Utah, I encourage you to read this in full. What follows is a comprehensive and detailed recounting of my firsthand experience as a tenant, as well as findings from other tenants across review sites, all in the hopes of helping you make an informed decision. This post is not speculation. Everything I share here stems from my personal experiences, opinions, and what I believe to be negligent behavior on the part of management.

Initial Impressions: A Masked Smell and Misleading First Impressions

When I first entered my unit at Legends at River Oaks, the strong scent of air fresheners and deodorizers was overwhelming. I could smell it on my clothes hours after moving in. This heavy masking raised suspicions. Within days, I started detecting the unmistakable odor of mold. The toilet tank in the front bathroom was ringed in black mold, and the garbage disposal emitted a thick, musty stench that no amount of cleaning could fix.

Despite these early warning signs, I did what many would do—I tried to clean it up and move on. But the problem ran much deeper than surface-level cleaning could solve.

Health Effects: Mold Exposure That Took a Toll

Four months into my 9-month lease, I began developing symptoms that I had never experienced before. Watery eyes, sinus congestion, persistent sneezing, blurry vision, and fatigue became daily struggles. It wasn’t until I left the apartment that my symptoms would subside. I knew something was wrong. I thought I had COVID but after several tests, they were all showing negative.

It all became clear one day while moving furniture. Behind a TV leaning against a wall that faced the water heater area, I found what looked like a plasma-like growth crawling up the inside of the bedroom wall. The wall was wet, the carpet below was blackened, and the paint was discolored. It was horrifying. I had never seen anything like that growth before and I was so confused, I pulled it all off with a paper towel, not even thinking it could be toxic mold.

I contacted the office immediately. The maintenance manager confirmed he’d only seen something like this one other time in his 30-YEAR CAREER. He also admitted that Unit #333 had a history of water heater leaks, which caused water to flow back into the apartment rather than out through a proper drainage system. This was literally a known construction defect and they let it happen continuously instead of fixing it.

Improper and Negligent Handling by Management

Instead of professional remediation, a staff member brought in a high-powered carpet blower to "dry" the area. When I questioned whether this would spread mold spores throughout the apartment, I was told to stay out of the room entirely. No proper cleanup. No HEPA filtration. No mold testing. Just a fan. I even knew better that this was a bad idea. Proper remediation entails covering and sealing everything. Not blowing mold spores all over the room, out into the hall, onto the walls, onto my belongings, onto the ceiling other rooms and into the ventilation system which I highly doubt was ever cleaned.

I raised these concerns with Natalie Edwards in the office. She repeatedly dismissed me. When I asked for mold testing and professional remediation, her little henchman Cody coldly mentioned to an addendum in my lease stating I’d have to pay for it myself—even though her own maintenance team admitted the issue was due to a known, unrepaired defect. Being 100% their fault.

The Mold Report That Management Ignored

Out of desperation, I paid for professional mold testing. The results showed dangerous levels of Aspergillus, Chaetomium, and Hyphal Fragments—all known to have toxic effects on human health. These were found in areas that had never been properly remediated.

Independent lab testing in my unit revealed the presence of Aspergillus, Chaetomium, and hyphal fragments—each of which carries serious health implications. 

Aspergillus is a common indoor mold that can cause everything from allergy-like symptoms to life-threatening lung infections in vulnerable individuals. Certain strains even produce aflatoxins, which are among the most dangerous known carcinogens. 

Chaetomium is often found in long-term water-damaged buildings and is known for producing neurotoxic mycotoxins that may contribute to memory loss, cognitive issues, skin infections, and chronic fatigue. 

The detection of hyphal fragments, which are broken pieces of mold filaments, is especially alarming—they’re small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and often contain concentrated toxins, making them potentially more hazardous than spores themselves.

In summary, Aspergillus poses mild to life-threatening risks, Chaetomium carries moderate to severe health effects, and hyphal fragments are considered moderate to severe due to their ability to spread unseen and deeply affect respiratory function. The presence of all three in a living space—especially without proper remediation—represents a major environmental health hazard that no tenant should be exposed to. A Google search confirmed that Chaetomium is DEADLY.

Despite presenting this to at least seven staff members, I received zero action or follow-up. Natalie Edwards refused to acknowledge the mold in any emails, the health risks or even clean the walls. When I pressed the issue further, she snapped, saying, “We’re done here!” So mean, so unprofessional, so rude. Just a cold hearted person enabled by Weidner Property Management and her manager.

Safety Concerns Beyond Mold

My friend, who often visited and cared for my cat while I was away, noted how dark and unsafe the complex felt. The parking situation was terrible unless you paid extra. Stairways were crumbling, lights were burnt out, and I noticed broken fire doors. At one point, bird nests were built atop fire sprinkler heads—an obvious fire code violation.

Wasps routinely got into my apartment despite all doors and windows being shut. I believe the building's old structure allowed pests in through cracks and ventilation gaps. Other residents on Yelp and Google have reported similar issues—mold, pests, and structural decay.

The Final Straw and Moving Out

Even at move-out, the management refused to take responsibility. Natalie brought two additional staff members, likely as a shield. Some may say cowardice. One of them was the same maintenance worker who previously had been in the apartment before when they dried the carpet in the area which never fully dried. When I pointed out the carpet pad underneath was still wet months later, his response was a clueless, “Guess I should figure out where the leak is coming from.” Derp, derp, derp...

Instead of apologizing or offering resolution, they charged me for broken blinds that were falling apart the day I moved in AND the carpet cleaning which they should obviously at the very least have picked up the bill for. No mold resolution. No concern for tenant safety.

Pattern of Negligence: Weidner Property Management

Legends at River Oaks is managed by Weidner Property Management, a company with over 150 BBB complaints, 44 of which occurred in just the past year. A simple search for "Legends at River Oaks reviews" or "Legends at River Oaks complaints" yields dozens of results on sites like Apartments.com, ApartmentRatings.com, and Yelp, often citing similar mold issues, rude staff, and lack of maintenance response. 

Reddit Complaint:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SaltLakeCity/comments/1kx3ruv/i_got_sick_from_mold_at_legends_at_river_oaks_in/

Here are just a few examples:

• “There’s mold in the unit, and they just painted over it.” — Yelp review

• “This place gave me asthma. They won’t do anything about the mold.” — Google review

• “The fire doors are broken and the lights are out. I don’t feel safe here.” — ApartmentRatings.com

When tenants complain, they are either ignored, gaslit, or threatened with lease addendums to protect the company—not the residents.

Utah Tenant Laws They May Have Violated

According to Utah Code § 57-22-4(1), landlords must maintain a residential rental unit in a condition fit for human habitation, including keeping the premises free from hazards and ensuring safe and sanitary living conditions. I believe Legends at River Oaks violated this statute by failing to:

• Provide a mold-free, healthy living environment

• Remediate known structural defects that led to water intrusion

• Ensure common areas met basic safety and fire code requirements

Final Thoughts: A Warning to Future Tenants

If you value your health, safety, and well-being, do not rent at Legends at River Oaks in Sandy, Utah. From ignored mold complaints to unsafe living conditions and dismissive management, my experience—like many others—was nightmarish.

They may have a golf course nearby and pretty landscaping, but that’s where the appeal ends. The apartments are old, the systems are flawed, and the management shows no regard for tenant safety.

There are other options in the area, like the Wasatch Group’s Parc View and St. Tropez Apartments, that offer much better living conditions and actually care about tenants. Don’t be fooled by the marketing. They CONSTANTLY have landscapers there to make the outside look nice. Look deeper. Talk to people who’ve lived there. I wish I had.