A guide to living in Hampshire

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

Vantage Tower sits in an enviable location, right by the water across from Ocean Village Marina. Beautiful. Access to the city is by a short journey just across Itchin Bridge (£1.20 toll each way for cars), and Woolston train station has great connections into and beyond Southampton and Portsmouth. Woolston itself is not a great place. A lot of antisocial behaviour and thefts. That’s definitely a negative.

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

Yes. An issue was reported and resolved the very same day. Consistently great service.

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

I hadn’t appreciated the absence of adequate ventilation before I moved in, nor the thefts from the local area. I would say that the car park management company are the worst I’ve experienced, but this is clearly out of the control of Compass Rock/Vantage Tower.

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

Living in this area has its ups and downs. Being situated in the city centre means there is a good range of local shops and amenities nearby, making everyday shopping convenient. However, one of the main downsides is the amount of anti-social behaviour around the building, particularly during the late hours. While the central location is convenient, the noise and disturbances at night can sometimes affect the overall living experience.

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

The front-of-house team has been excellent, helpful, and professional whenever I have needed assistance. Unfortunately, my experience with the central team has been very disappointing, as I have found them dismissive and rude when raising issues.

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

I wish I had known how stressful the move-in process with the central team could be. The experience was disappointing and did not meet my expectations, particularly given the premium rent I am paying. In hindsight, I would have prepared myself for a more difficult process and managed my expectations accordingly. My advice to future residents would be to prepare for potential stress during the move-in process and not assume that the level of service will be consistent across all teams. Thankfully, the front-of-house team has been excellent, which has helped balance some of the negative experiences.

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

Bargate Quarter is in a very convenient location in Southampton city centre. There are plenty of shops, supermarkets, cafes and restaurants nearby, making everyday life easy. Westquay Shopping Centre is also within walking distance. Public transport is easily accessible, and it is convenient to travel around the city. The area is lively and has everything I need for daily life.

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

The building management team has been helpful and professional. Communication is generally clear, and they are approachable when residents have questions or need assistance. Overall, I am satisfied with the management service so far.

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

I would recommend checking all the apartment facilities and understanding how the heating, hot water and electricity systems work before moving in. It is also useful to ask about utility bills and building services in advance. The location is very convenient, especially for shopping and everyday activities.

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

The location is fantastic, situated right next to The Bargate, with a bus stop downstairs for easy commuting. Westquay shopping centre is just a short walk away, which is perfect for grocery shopping, dining out and casual city walks. There are also lots of lovely cafes nearby to visit in spare time.

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

Overall, the management responds well to reported faults. Communication is clear and friendly.

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

I wish I fully realised how incredibly convenient the location is before moving in. It takes only a short walk to Westquay shopping centre and multiple bus stops, which makes daily errands and trips to university far easier than I expected.

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

Quite a quiet neighborhood and the building is extremely secure. Very close to shops and restaurants as well which is quite convenient.

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

I haven’t experienced any major issues so far, but the management team has been approachable and helpful whenever I’ve needed assistance.

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

I wish i had known the apartment didn’t come with a microwave.