I loved my two-bedroom apartment at the Lansdowne which was modern, light, easy to clean and my sanctuary. I rented a furnished apartment, and was happy with the stylish, modern, yet comfortable furniture and appliances provided. When I moved in, everything was clean and ready for me to settle straight in. I was required to undertake an extensive inventory of the entire apartment at the outset, and anything with which I was not happy was recorded and as soon as possible attended to. Because of this well organised system, when I did move out 5 months later, there was no problem with the repayment of my deposit which I received almost immediately. The apartment was very comfortable and included a good washer/dryer, oven/stovetop/microwave, a large fridge/freezer, and a dishwasher. I also appreciated the extraction fans throughout the apartment which meant that damp was never an issue and even my laundry was able to dry just hanging over a clothes horse.
The reception area and other facilities at the Lansdowne were also excellent. Kept spotlessly clean, tastefully decorated and well maintained, it was always a pleasure to enter the building at the end of a long work day. Living alone, I also appreciated the good security of the building (fingerprint access and 24 hour concierge) which helped me to feel safe at all times.
I made almost daily use of the fitness studio, which was well equipped with high quality gym equipment, well maintained, and although fairly small, well laid out. I did not use the other communal areas, but as with the gym, I noticed they were clean, well maintained and welcoming.
My experience with management of the Lansdowne was top-class. Sam and his team, including the excellent concierges, were all exceptionally good at what they did. Always available, responsive, friendly, and helpful, I felt that their interest in the residents at the Lansdowne was genuine, and they worked together to create the best possible experience for each individual. This is not a common experience in today’s day and age!
Renting at the Lansdowne was not cheap, but I felt that what I received and my great standard of living made it more than worthwhile!
Please tell us what you like and dislike about this area:
The Lansdowne in Birmingham is situated in a good, upmarket area. Twenty minutes walk, or a few minutes tram ride from city centre, I found access to shops no problem despite not having a car while living there. Literally across the street from the Lansdowne is a convenient supermarket, Morrisons, where I did most of my grocery shopping on the way home from work.
Transport via tram, bus, and train is also within a few minutes walk from the building.
Parking at the Lansdowne is not ideal. Residents can rent parking space behind the building at a cost, while visitors parking is available for 20 minutes only. Arrangements can however be made with management or the concierge’s for longer periods.
Hagley Road is very busy and can get noisy, but I was impressed with the quality of sound-proofing of the building- when my windows were closed, I had very little disturbance from outside. This good feature also meant that there was little to no disturbance from neighbouring apartments as well.
I regularly enjoyed walks along the canals, Chamberlain Park and around Edgbaston Reservoir which are all lovely outdoor environments within easy walking distance from the Lansdowne. There are lots of trees in the area which make it feel less city and more green.
Not much of a night-life person myself, I did not personally make use of the many clubs, bars and restaurants along Broad Street and Brindley Place, but for those seeking such entertainment, it is close-by and appeared lively.
I always felt comfortable on the streets in the area and chose to walk the very pleasant route to and from my work which was in Edgbaston (about an half hour away) by foot. There were always many other pedestrians out on the streets which felt safe and generally clean.
The Lansdowne has a dedicated garbage and re-cycling room on the ground floor at the back of the building. It is regularly cleared and cleaned out. My only complaint was about the garbage collection site of the neighbouring apartment block: my apartment overlooked this site which is not ideally situated or well managed, and especially on windy days, their garbage would blow about, littering the parking area and outdoor space behind the buildings.
My overall experience of living in the local area of the Lansdowne was pleasant, convenient, and safe.
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
I came to work in Birmingham from South Africa and found it stressful having to choose where to live without ever having been to the area before. I read the excellent reviews of the Lansdowne online, and decided that this place would best meet my needs. Since I was going to be leaving my family behind to go across to the U.K. alone, I felt that my living conditions needed to be as comfortable and convenient as possible. Once I arrived and moved in, I knew that I had made the right choice and that the monthly rent, although higher than I ideally would have liked to have paid, was well worth every pound. Not only was I welcomed into a very nice, upmarket living environment, I was also supported by Sam and his friendly, competent staff to settle in to the new country and culture. Nad, André and Sam, you became my Birmingham family: thank you ever so much!
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
The tenants portal made it simple to report any issues: I had light bulbs which needed replacing, and a water leak in the kitchen. All problems reported were immediately acknowledged by email, and then usually on a Friday, when the handyman was onsite, I received notice that my problem would be addressed. It usually was within a week or so of reporting it.
