Apo at The Holloway, B1

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

My apartment was clean, modern, and well-furnished with sturdy furniture. (The mattresses were on the firm side, which worked for me.) The soundproofing is excellent - despite being next to a busy roundabout, it was quiet with the windows closed. Air ventilation was also very good, which made the space comfortable. The location is outstanding being just a short walk from New Street Station, the Bullring, the Mailbox, and the Chinese Quarter. It's easy to get groceries or find a restaurant nearby. Parking is quite limited, especially for loading and unloading if you do not have a spot in the building, and the bin collections area sometimes gets backed up (although I believe this is an issue with the external contractor rather than the property management).

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

Apo's staff were great - very responsive and helpful. If you have any problems, they respond quickly and fix the issue quickly.

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

I did not expect the electricity costs to be as high as they were during the winter months. For a two-bedroom apartment, I spent on average £300–350 per month to keep the apartment at around 21°C. However, this apartment was completely electric, with no natural gas or alternative energy sources, which explains the higher running costs in colder months.

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

Excellent location for access to the city centre and very close to New Street station. Good convenience shops and pubs/bars nearby. Main downside is the extremely busy Holloway Head road right next to the site, regularly congested and regular antisocial driving late at night. Illegal parking and pavement parking is also common around the site.

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

Maintenance has generally been speedy, although some things have taken a bit longer to get sorted. No major issues.

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

Convenient and well run place to live. Great location and building management are good. Not the cheapest or the most homely, but very convenient.

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

The location is based very close to Chinatown. A few minutes walk from Mailbox and the Grand Central Station which makes it very convenient for commuters like myself. Only thing is there’s no on-site parking and if you were to park on the street, some spaces close to the premise are not allowed and can cost you a fine. However, bin collections are frequent but bin rooms can smell sometimes, especially with large build ups of trash. Traffic noise isn’t too bad and behaviour around the building is good, mostly working class residents, so no need to worry about students making noise.

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

Yes, many issues have been resolved but the recent issues I’ve raised on the app have been ignored and not rectified. Tap water pressure is minimal and answer from guy fixing it was it’s like that, even though the tap in the other bathroom has much better pressure. Also the lights in bathroom still haven’t been fixed.

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

The flat deposit has to be disclaimed that you have to pay each cycle. I wan’t made aware of this when I signed up and now I’ve paid more in these fees than paying the normal deposit route.

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

The apartment is block is really close to the city centre, in walking distance of most amenities in Birmingham.

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

Quickly and easily through the dedicated app. Responses are addressed quickly when concerns or queries are raised.

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

BCC Council Tax are a nightmare to deal with, for a council that has declared bankruptcy they do not make it easy for you to pay them, even when you are actively trying.

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

Living in this part of Birmingham has been a great experience overall. The apartment is just around a 10 minutes walk from New Street Station, making it extremely convenient for commuting and travel. It's also right near Chinatown, where there’s an excellent range of Chinese restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets, perfect for grabbing authentic food or groceries. There are many express and convenience stores nearby, although the nearest large supermarket like Tesco is a bit further away, which might be less convenient for big grocery trips. The area feels safe, with relatively low noise despite its central location. Bin collection is reliable. The presence of students, professionals, and families gives the street a balanced and friendly vibe.

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

Last time, I lost a trolley near the lift during my move-in, I reported it to reception, and they said they would take note and record the incident. While they were polite and acknowledged the issue, unfortunately no further action was taken to help locate it. Overall, building management is responsive in communication, but the follow-up on this particular issue could have been better.

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

One thing I wish I had known is that having a car can be quite helpful when living here. While the location is central and there are convenience stores nearby, larger supermarkets and some essential shops are not within easy walking distance. A car makes grocery shopping and errands much easier.