A guide to living in Wales

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

My experience living at Woodstreet House for six months was great overall. The environment was calm, and the staff were very responsive, professional, and well-behaved. The only negative points were related to the outside area of the building, which can be noisy on weekends. The corridors were clean and well maintained, except for the first couple of days. Harita, who was responsible for my flat inspection, was very kind, helpful, and professional. She clearly guided me through the cleaning points and requirements during the move-out process, and her support was much appreciated. Overall, I truly enjoyed my stay at Woodstreet House and would consider it one of the best places for both short-term and long-term stays. The access to the train station, great events and community, wonderful neighbours, 12th-floor area, gym, and overall management were all excellent. Thanks to the entire team!

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

They’ve done it quickly and well. It was related to bath tube.

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

I’ve mentioned in development part

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

The location is very good, with easy access to the city centre, shops, restaurants, bars, and transport links, which makes day-to-day life convenient. The building itself is modern, and the on-site staff are generally friendly and helpful with smaller day-to-day issues, although responsiveness can vary. The gym and communal areas are relatively small for a building of this size. The main drawback is the high number of maintenance issues, many of which take a long time to be acknowledged and resolved, often requiring repeated follow-ups. In addition, the rent is very expensive, likely at the upper end of the Cardiff market, with parking charged separately on top of an already high rent.

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

Building management’s response has been polite in tone but slow and inconsistent in practice. For small, straightforward requests the on-site team can be helpful, but when issues are serious or affect day-to-day living, the process becomes drawn out and difficult to move forward. When we raised major maintenance problems, communication was poor and we often went long periods without meaningful updates. Progress felt reactive rather than proactive, and issues only seemed to move when we repeatedly chased and escalated. The eight-month bathroom odour issue is the clearest example, with multiple visits and attempted fixes but no clear plan, timeline, or ownership. A major problem is accountability. The on-site team routinely deflects responsibility to the maintenance contractor, and the contractor frequently appears reluctant to accept fault or commit to resolution. As tenants, we did not choose the contractor and have no influence over Grainger’s arrangements, yet we are left managing the impact and doing the follow-up work to keep the issue active. Overall, the management response feels process-driven rather than outcome-driven. You can report issues, but getting them resolved can require sustained effort, and the lack of clear ownership makes it frustrating and exhausting. It does not inspire confidence that problems will be handled promptly without persistent pressure from the tenant.

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

I wish I had known how difficult it can be to get maintenance issues resolved here. The building relies on a fixed contractor arrangement, and in practice that means problems can drag on for weeks or months with limited updates unless you repeatedly chase and escalate. This is not something you can easily gauge from a viewing, but it makes a big difference to day-to-day living. If I had understood how the maintenance process works and how much effort it can take to get basic issues fixed, I likely would not have moved in.

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

The location is right in the city centre with loads of great shops, restaurants and bars all within walking distance. Cardiff Central station is close by, so transport links are really convenient. The main downside is parking, as there’s no on-site option, so having a car can be tricky

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

Communication is clear, problems are dealt with, and the team are friendly and approachable.

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

I’d also say it’s important to plan ahead if you have a car, as there’s no on site parking. If you have a pet, you’ll fit right in

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

Living between Cardiff city centre and Cardiff Bay offers a great balance of convenience and lifestyle. The location is ideal, with easy walking access to shops, transport, cafés, cultural venues and the waterfront, making day-to-day life very easy. The area feels lively and well-connected, though it can be busy at times, particularly in the evenings and at weekends, and some parts feel more urban than residential. Overall, it’s a fantastic spot for anyone who enjoys being close to the action while still having the Bay’s open space and scenery nearby. Only downside is parking, can be expensive and hard to find street parking.

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

Building management have always responded to any problems or requests very quickly and efficiently. Communication is clear and professional, and they are consistently accommodating, doing their best to resolve issues as smoothly as possible. It’s reassuring to know that concerns are taken seriously and dealt with promptly, which really adds to the overall living experience.

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

Nothing! Everything was explained very well to me throughout the moving in process

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

Gramercy is conveniently close to all the local amenities. A short walk into town. Across the road from Cardiff central station. Considering we are so close to town the areas directly surrounding the building are reasonably quiet and peaceful .

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

Yes, any issues have been taken seriously and dealt with promptly.

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

No comment to add. I was given a full tour and asked all relevant questions before moving here.