Charolais Gardens, CV21

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

A routine inspection carried out with no areas of concern conveyed to me. 2 weeks later when the flat had not been occupied for some weeks, all personal items removed and thoroughly cleaned the final report when tenancy ceased listed problems related to items in the flat which were not new when I moved in and one would assume normal wear with usage. They have listed a small area of unpainted skirting board, however I think unlikely a tenant would remove the paint to expose bare wood. They itemised areas of dust which one would assume does collect as the cleaning had been undertaken a week before and the air system would generate a small amount of dust. They mentioned marks on a chair, however my photographs do not endorse their report and I personally checked all furniture for any stains. I will be pursuing these issues as it would appear that this company generally uses this tactic when residents finish their tenancy to generate additional income. Disappointing a company uses such methods. They did not mention the loose top over the toilet system which was reported to them when the toilet system did not work weeks prior to my departure, therefore demonstrating the selective nature of their report.

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

Slow to respond to repairs and not completed to a reasonable standard.

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

Take detailed photographs of everything and list every minor imperfection and ensure they sign that they have been noted as your final report will not be an accurate account.

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

Great for being close to the train station, with very small noise traffic from the station. Parking is unsafe. People park all around the street as there’s not enough spaces and they cost nearly £100 a month! People drive in the barriers behind others, block spaces which isn’t helpful. All roads are permit, so impossible to have visitors without them having to pay for parking. Bins are always left out and rubbish is everywhere. For a place that’s pet friendly, it’s a hazard…

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

Responded quickly, never had any issues. I only needed the filters changing on the air system so can’t comment on any major issues

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

The hassle, the lack of cleanliness around the apartments and broken stairs/lift constantly. I wouldn’t recommend if you have a dog, especially if they tend to pick things up. Could end up being an expensive vet bill on top of a high rent

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

Fantastic location, perfectly located for shops, transport links by train and bus, and a short walk into the town centre. This does mean parking and traffic around the estate can be difficult. Generally a quiet area but it is the main throughfare from the station to town so can get a couple of rowdy people walking by on a weekend night.

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

Repairs always dealt with swiftly; there is a good process for raising issues

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

The walls chip/mark very easily Nothing else i can think of

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

Lots of facilities and close to station. It is convenient to travel as it is less than 5 mins from station

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

Yes they have responded to requests promptly and efficiently

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

The parking situation outside the allocated parking zone makes it difficult to drive in

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

The location is great for people that need to commute to London or Manchester. It takes 3 min to get to the station. There are also grocery shops nearby so it is quite convenient

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

There is an app so it is easy to raise issues. They respond fast and profesiinally

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

I wish I had known the area around better. It took me a while to discover that there was a nice plan to run just 5 min away.