A guide to living in Birmingham

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The location is excellent, with a great range of high-quality shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, and open spaces nearby. Transport links are very convenient, making it easy to access surrounding areas. The street feels peaceful, well maintained, and welcoming, with a clean environment and a pleasant atmosphere. Overall, it is a fantastic place to live with everything needed close by.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The building management team has always been professional, approachable, and responsive whenever any questions or concerns have been raised. They handle matters with care, efficiency, and genuine attention, ensuring residents feel supported and valued. The team’s communication and commitment to maintaining a high standard of living truly reflect the quality and service that Octagon provides.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Beyond the beautiful design and facilities, what stands out most is the genuine care, welcoming atmosphere, and sense of community. My tip for new neighbours would be to enjoy all the amenities and get to know the wonderful team, as they truly make Octagon feel like home.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Living here at the Octagon, you're at the heart of the city! From my sşde of the building you have the view of the Birmingham Art Gallery, which is quite nice especially in the evenings.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They have always been very kind. You can tell they're willing to help.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

They organise some great events at the lounge area.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Great area and very convenient. Transport links within a 10 minute walk (maximum), plenty of nearby shops. It’s a lively area without the anti-social behaviours. Only issue is parking, only option is on street parking (mostly paid) or to pay for a space in the car park- but it’s expected being within the city centre.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

As well as they could’ve. I was very unlucky and had a few things happen that were not necessarily in my control (nor at the fault of management). But issues tended to be resolved quickly and Ben in maintenance was always so friendly and reliable. A great guy.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I knew the extent of how much work and how long the work to the building would take (for noise purposes, especially working from home) . I’m pretty sure it’s over now so shouldn’t be a problem for any future residents. But besides that, everything was great and got what I expected.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

It’s in a great location and there are many great amenities within the development and shops / restaurants surrounding the development. JQ train literally right next to it and the buses are frequent. Bin collection is swift and parking plentiful within and outside.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They have given clear and honest advice. In the advent where they can help us e.g repairs and maintenance, they’ve been very quick. In the advent they can’t e.g, they’ve given good advice and alternatives.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

How to effectively manage the plumbing situations within the apartment.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The only good thing is the range of local shops around and also being able to walk 20 minutes to the city center and the bull ring market.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

With zero empathy, not so quick and mostly very dismissive. It would take a toll on you mentally.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I had known that the building’s appearance does not reflect the overall living experience. It looks modern and well-designed, but the quality of some facilities and the way issues are handled by management have been disappointing. poor communication and a lack of empathy from the property management team can really affect how comfortable and supported you feel as a resident.