A Guide to Living in Warwickshire

Please review your development:

From the outside the development is good, however when you go inside and start living in the development then there are some bits that I wish were different.
– I love the bathroom having two doors but I dislike the automated light (I see no need for that).
– I love the full-length Window even if it can not be fully opened but it’s lovely.
– The management unit tries their best to be nice, but stop complaining about anything because the last feedback was that everyone else loves this apartment.
– I am surprised the gym does not have a toilet next to it for quick clean-up or hand washing while using the gym or after. This shows less care about hygiene, owing to the fact we just survived COVID-19.
– I wonder what the interior design company was thinking. How did they come up with such abstraction of colours, blue couch, yellow sofa, and black centre table… in fact interior design is an eye and this feels so purposeful. Was this a deliberate act to make people dislike the apartments?
– There is no way this apartment is in a Band B electricity banding, I have lived in a Band B apartment and it is nothing like this. This apartment is too cold for a band B. I got an affordable apartment but ended up paying more on bills. Electricity in a month is over £150, the most I paid in my previous apartment was £89 and that was deep in the winter with the snow last year. There is something wrong with this banding.
– Water company is more expensive than other water companies. I paid way less in my previous apartment as a single person.
– The idea of having hot and cold water control is so old school. It just wastes water and increases the bill.
– Now I can tell for a fact that built for renters and built for sale aren’t the same. I was running away from more rent and ended up paying less rent and more bills and a cold apartment which requires 24/7 heating and it is not yet winter.
– No intercome, I have to go downstairs every time.
– Even with the permanent guest on the list, the concierge still asks the guest to call and I have to go down every time. Not fair! Security do not have access to guest and this means weekends and evenings I always have to go down.
– No proper directives on how to use the systems in the apartment. I am really concerned as to how cold this apartment is especially because it is a Band B, I thought that meant it is properly insulated.

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

– I had no idea the bathroom light was automated. I doubt this would have stopped me from taking the property.
– Overall this property is good regardless of my complaints. It is ideal and liveable.

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

When I recently moved in, they did respond to my concerns in a timely manner and were helpful.

Please review your development:

House design is good, property management is appalling. Insufficient work has been done to address issues with the heavy clay soil and the impacts of months of heavy machinery causing further compression. Builder now refuses to do anything to address the issues

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

How bad they would treat us once everything was signed and sealed. Can only say to perspective buyers – go and look somewhere else!!!

What is the best feature of your home:

Very hard to say anything positive when you have received such appalling after care, knocks any positives into the ether. They don’t treat you with any respect whatsoever and I am utterly appalled at their behaviour

2

Facilities

3

Design

3

Location

2

Value

1

Management

Please review your development:

Overall, we are very happy with the property.
The house is brand new, well located, very well structured and in a very quiet street.
There are a few details to adjust as the house is new and Joe has helped a lot with these items.
The house fulfils our expectations very well. Highly recommended.

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

All our questions were answered during the process, except for the Concil tax, which we’re still waiting to hear back about. The process seems to take a long time.

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

We were attended to promptly, Joe helped us well with the relevant items and the app helped a lot too.

Please review your development:

The flats are very functional with a lot of thought having being put into their design. Perhaps the garden area could be better managed. The sound proofing is good.

However there are no facilities for the disposal/composting of food or plant waste.

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

The full requirements for obtaining a flat should have been made plain at the outset. The further into the processes the more requirements became apparent. The requirement to see 3 months bank statements felt intrusive.

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

The company should make move effort to enable people to be in when flat access is needed. A recent e-mail was sent out to all tenants only giving 2 days notice of an inspection of all the flats. This is not an acceptable way to treat tenants. ( The inspection in question was rescheduled to 07 Nov. 23).

The tenants should also get more support on how to use equipment in the flats. There only appears to be a sticker on the interior of the washing machine cupboard which states ‘ Please scan this code to access your home user guide’. This is not sufficient support.