A guide to living in Birmingham

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

Overall, I have had a good experience living here. The location is excellent, the reception team is very responsive, and the facilities are well maintained. In general, the apartment offers a comfortable and convenient living experience. The main downside is the amount of renovation work over the past two years. I understand that these works are intended to improve the building and provide a better experience for residents, but the progress has been very slow. For example, work on one side of the building seemed to take almost a year to complete, while the other side may take another year. The overall renovation period is simply too long, and the ongoing works have repeatedly affected residents’ rest and daily life. The same applies to the car park. I understand that these issues take time to resolve, but I would simply suggest improving the efficiency of the renovation works and shortening the overall project timeline where possible. That would make a significant difference to residents’ experience.

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

The building management has generally responded quickly whenever I have raised an issue. The reception team is helpful and easy to contact, and most day-to-day problems are handled promptly.

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

I wish I had known more about the scale and duration of the ongoing renovation works before moving in. The building itself is very convenient and well equipped, but some of the works have taken quite a long time and can occasionally affect daily life. It is worth checking the latest renovation and car park arrangements before moving in.

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

The location is very convenient, with an Aldi supermarket less than 100 metres away. It takes around 30 minutes to walk to the University of Birmingham, and the walk is peaceful and scenic. The area around the building is also relatively quiet, making it a pleasant place to live. Although I have only recently moved here, my first impressions have been very positive.

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

The management team has been very approachable and helpful. Matthew has been particularly attentive and proactive. He helped me replace the battery in my front door lock and has always been happy to help with everyday questions and practical matters. I really appreciate how friendly and willing to help he has been, especially as I have only recently moved in.

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

I'd recommend getting to know the on-site team when you first move in, as they're very approachable and happy to help. There are quite a few practical things to familiarise yourself with, such as where the bin room is. Having someone like Matthew to help with these little things has made settling in much easier than I expected.

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

The area is in a great location for University of Birmingham students, conveniently situated between the university and the city centre, with good access to both. It is a peaceful, quiet and green neighbourhood, making it a pleasant place to live. There is also a cricket ground directly opposite, where you can watch matches for free, which is a lovely bonus! However, the only disadvantage is the limited choice of local shops, with Aldi being the main nearby option. Having more shops, cafés and restaurants within walking distance would make the area even more convenient.

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

The building management has been responsive and helpful when I have raised any problems or concerns. They have communicated clearly and made an effort to address issues in a timely and professional manner.

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

As I moved in without viewing the property beforehand, I was pleasantly surprised by the development overall. One thing I wish I had known earlier was more about the building facilities and property management process, as this would have helped me better prepare for the move.

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

I looked at many different buildings around Birmingham, however non of them had the same level of quality and feel to the place. The location is great as you are an 8 min walk from the centre but far enough out so the noise and chaos doesn’t affect you. There is also food shops a few minutes walk away. Broad street also has plenty of options for bars and restaurants too.

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

This has always been dealt with swiftly. I’ve on,y had a couple of problems in the last 14 months of living here and they have been fixed quickly.

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

The community of people here is great. You can be as involved in it, or if it’s not your thing, you can stay out of it. The staff team are dead friendly. The area is a lot quieter than I thought it would be considering it’s on broad street.

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

Hairpin is well located near the city centre with plenty of pubs, clubs and local shops - only a short walk to grab your milk!

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

The Manager Megan has been amazing from day one, making sure I had everything I needed and making day to day life as easy as possible for me during my time with hairpin. Megan and the team have been a pleasure to deal with and given speedy responses to any and all of my many queries!

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

The cars can get a bit dusty from the lorries on Warwick street so it's well worth getting a parking space within hairpin!