Broadside, M4

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

Excellent overall, very close to city centre, transport links, shops and restaurants etc. Parking availability is an issue, but probably similar in most city centre rentals

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

I have had an issue with WiFi one time and it was fixed quickly (within 24 hours). I have had issues with water temperature and pressure in the shower, that was also fixed very quickly with a replacement shower head.

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

Rooftop closure time is 10pm each day. WiFi has 2.4ghz and 5ghz options and better to use the 5 for most things, but some of my devices only capable of connecting to the 2.4, which is sometimes a bit slower.

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

On the edge of the shopping centre of Manchester city, it is very convenient to navigate around town and buses are close by. Traffic can be busy and certain junctions don't leave pedestrians much time to cross in the immediate area but otherwise it is fine to get around. Occasionally on weekend nights yelling can be heard by people enjoying the nightlife nearby even with windows closed, however it is infrequent. Bin collection is good, and there are plenty of bin varieties to access. There is both public and private parking available on-site for an extra monthly fee which has been worth the cost. There has been continuous construction which has also caused noise previously on the main road and is currently causing some restricted access to the back parking area. There are many shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants all within walking distance. Buses, tram and train services are all easy to get to and use.

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

On day 1 we had some initial issues with one of the wardrobe doors being off its runner, the kickboard in the kitchen having fallen off, and the fridge smelling quite bad. The maintenance staff very promptly responded, fixing the door and kickboard, and cleaning the fridge and letting it air out. Later we also had some of the bathroom light bulbs die, which were quickly replaced, and we also had an issue with the washing machine's circuit board which was replaced with the staff already expecting that to be the issue and having the parts prepared which we were very impressed and grateful for the excellent service.

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

The bed is not particularly comfortable, and could have really benefitted from a style that was raised or had storage built in. Occasionally the main bathroom does have a bit of an off smell without personal use, this is presumably from the pipes/drainage. The juliet balcony is useful for ventilation but catches wind easily, and unfortunately the design of it is not ideal for a cat-owner as there are spaces where they could squeeze through which would be unsafe so access needs to be restricted meaning we can't have it open fully.

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

I LOVE the area. Convenient mini supermarkets with bigger one only approx 15 min walk away. Lots of bars and NQ on your doorstop. I don’t get public transport as everything is in walking distance for me. Don’t drive so can’t comment on parking. Unfortunately there are lots of works that start early so it’s normally quite noisy in the flat, especially if WFH.

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

Very poor. emails never get answered and issues never get sorted. We have raised multiple and it’s like pulling teeth having someone come out to look at it and actually solve the issue (not so much the contractors but the team dealing with the requests)

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

Poor responses from concierge team, bill provider automatic/expensive and you don’t get to choose.

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

I love where I live although it’s just very expensive and I can’t really afford to do a great deal outside of paying for parking and rent

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

Professionally and very effectively - honestly can’t fault th staff.

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

The leaking roof that spills water into our wardrobe which weve reported and the pipes that have burst

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

Living in Broadside is beneficial for those who value to the ease of being in the city centre without so much of the noise. Though you hear the sirens, it’s not nearly as bad as other blocks of flats. The area generally feels safe and there are usually people around during all times of the day. Piccadilly Gardens is only a 10 minute walk away, making getting around Manchester very convenient(whether by tram or bus!). Many bars and restaurants are up to 30 minutes walk away, making going out with friends and family very easy! Though most of the food shops are in the centre, there’s a very convenient Tesco Express opposite the flats and co-ops nearby. The underground parking appears very secure, though my parking spot costs £170 pcm. It’s not difficult to get onto the main roads however, with current construction, it’s been quite inconvenient to get in and out of the underground car park with fencing and construction vehicles right next to Cross Keys Car Park. The bin room is located underground, next to the car park- the smell is confined to this room and there is no garage smell in the car park/ lifts/ communal areas. Communal areas in Broadside include the Courtyard and the Terraces- this includes a party room in block A and a fitness suite in block B. The party room and fitness suite can be booked out, with the party room featuring a small kitchen, large tv and comfortable seating. The fitness suite has spin bikes, weights and yoga mats, with a tv and floor to ceiling mirrors. Residents have access to both blocks’ terraces. Everyone I have met here is very friendly and I feel safe living here.

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

The property is well maintained and issues are resolved in a timely manner.

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

I wish I knew how warm the flat can get! Even in winter, with no heating on, it can still be very warm (21 degrees Celsius) inside the flat.