Simple Life Homes

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

Living in this neighborhood has its ups and downs. On the positive side, there’s a nice, clean park nearby where you can relax and escape the noise of the city. Unfortunately, that’s where the good things mostly end. Recently, a bike was stolen from a supposedly “secured” parking area, proving that safety here is questionable. There are also frequent break-ins, with thieves stealing packages right from the building. Even at night, peace is hard to find — fireworks often go off after 11 p.m., disturbing everyone. It’s a shame, because the area has potential, but the lack of security and order really affects the quality of life.

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

The building management ignored the problem for almost a month, doing absolutely nothing. Now they finally sent a company to fix the roof leak, but after two days of “work,” the only thing they managed to do was create a huge mess on my balcony and my neighbor’s. Nothing has been repaired, and the situation is just getting worse.

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

I really wish I had known before moving in how unprofessional this agency is and how unreliable they become when problems arise. If I had known this earlier, I would have thought twice — or even several times — before renting this apartment from them.

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

Public transport in the area is mainly limited to buses, though the city centre and Blackfriars Road are only about a 15-minute walk away. There’s no nearby Metrolink access — the closest stop is at Exchange Square, around a 30-minute walk. Local shops and restaurants can feel a bit rundown, but there are two convenient LIDL supermarkets nearby — one on Cromwell Road near Castle Irwell and another on Lower Broughton Road. The neighbourhood isn’t the best in terms of safety and atmosphere, with occasional issues such as antisocial behaviour, including incidents like the “Salford mayhem” in June 2025.

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

The building management was generally responsive to residents, though the level of service provided was fairly minimal. Rather than arranging direct repairs, they often offered guidance on how tenants can resolve issues themselves, such as replacing ceiling downlights or clearing blocked drains. Routine maintenance tasks such as corridor carpet vacuuming, window cleaning, and car park cleaning were carried out regularly.

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

I wish I’d known that the flat was right next to a meter room. It gives off a constant low-frequency vibration, almost like living beside a server room. I became more aware of it during my last month due to the recent change to the meter room (I reckon), and it became quite annoying and mentally draining. Definitely a reminder of how important it is to view the flat in person before moving in.

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

Hilton park is in a pretty good location with supermarkets and a retail park in walking distance. The development itself is nice but the roads to get into the development aren’t the best.

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

You will be told that everything is wear and tear. That it’s cosmetic and doesn’t require any fixing. If they agree to fix anything they will drag heels and take a long time to assign a contractor.

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

I wish I had known maintenance and customer service would be poor. We had no issues in our previous simple life home but that was because we didn’t need the maintenance team.

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

Lovely area and very accessible to shops, restaurants and bars in the local area. Not much traffic noise or anything like that.

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

With my flat, any issues raised have been responded to with in a few days and repaired. Only thing I have found difficult is getting familiar to the systems used to communicate.

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

I wish I’d asked more questions upon viewing or getting keys just make sure I knew where things such as internet requirements & meter readings where located and also how some things worked in the flat

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

The area is perfectly positioned as a gateway into Birmingham and the Black Country. It has a tramstop nearby that can take you either way, as well as the M5.

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

They’re quick to respond via the portal, sometimes it takes a while to find a contractor but that’s the market.

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

Don’t be afraid to speak to Simple Life if anything goes wrong.