Oxbow, M5

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

The Area is well served with Trams and Bus and good walking distance to Manchester City Center. There are a cycle lane just nearby that allowed to reach work places nearby very easily in a environmental friendly way.

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

The issues reported, except one that is structure related, has been so far, solved in a very fair reasonable timescale according to the priority ranked.

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

I have just wished that I knew this place before!

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

There's a great couple of restaurants nearby, and of course an even greater range a slight further walk into Manchester. There are a number of takeaways and shops that are conveniently located nearby, too, such as Co-Op and a local shop with very friendly staff. The parking is decent if you can find a spot for free on the roadside, however there is a very cheap carpark on the same road for £4 or so a day. Transport links include a bus stop frequented by a lot of busses headed into Manchester, and Salford/Bolton lines out, 10-15 mins walk for the 98 and others that direction. Trams are abysmal in this area, however, due to the lack of expansion in this direction. ASB is rare but has occurred on Hulme street by a car or two frequenting the area - police have been seen a handful of times in order to deal with this and it seems to have stopped. This was not a concern though. Noise is dependant on which side you live on; Inside - I'd imagine you could hear the rest of the development being built but I can't attest to that. Hulme street - fairly quiet except a hum from something the building works is currently using (work hours only) but is not a big deal imo. Also worth noting that if you live on this side, you get 0 sun. If you live on 7th floor upwards though, you get a view of the park. Back Hulme St (Stephenson house) - during work hours you can hear the concrete mixing plant works, a train that regularly delivers concrete mix (which is fairly loud as the driver leaves the engine on) and occasional beeping from a car delivery / workshop / sales place where everyone who goes in and leaves beeps to ask someone to push a remote button in order to open the barrier. As for the other side (Harriet House), I can imagine they experience similar to the above, but would less likely hear the occasional horn. Regarding bars: Deansgate is 15 or so mins walk from here and Spinningfields is 10. Very convenient location for Salford University too.

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

Maintenance is okay, have been prompt with things I've brought up but sometimes have done a shoddy job of things. I once asked for the wall to be painted over where they'd moved the loo roll holder and he painted the wall fine... He also unfortunately managed to paint everywhere else too. There were huge drops of paint on the floor, paint on every door handle to get to the bathroom (including the hallway and lift buttons too!!), on my clothes as I'd had a clothes rack out, my coats... I was furious. It also then got brought up in my inventory report as a reason why I was being recharged, despite my mentioning it.

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

(Prior to moving in in 2023) What apartment exactly I was going to be moving into - i.e. mine had no sun and a terrible view in comparison). What start date they were giving me instead of the one I had asked for. That the podium garden wasn't available. Some apartments' HVAC systems (the air circulation system) had failing fans and made loud noises when turned on - Mine was eventually replaced but unsure if everyone's has now. There was a backlog of them on order. That there was building works going on on the other side to extend the building and that I'd be able to hear it and the machinery in the apartment I was moving into. That the events were barely running (if any at all). That management was falling apart and everyone was leaving (this has happened now and replaced with a much better team overall). (Prior to moving apartment in 2024) Nothing, most things are great now apart from things outside of the management's control.

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

Very near a large supermarket and multiple small shops. A couple of nice cafes and pubs nearby as well. Good transport links by bus and rail but not near the tram. Lots of parking near the building and very little traffic noise.

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

Very quickly, there is an app and there is a building manager on-site during working hours.

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

The neighbours are very nice and the dogs in the dog park are so cute!

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

No bad really. Easy access to local bars/restaurants also right across the road from a lime scooter point so travel into the city centre makes travel really cheap and easy!

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

They have always been quick to respond and been open to come whenever suits best to solve issues

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

I didn’t know the parcel room situation which I massively benefit from! Having a safe place your packages go to when ordered makes life easy when you’re not home

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

There is a big retail park nearby Oxbow with just 5-10 minutes walk. We can buy all the essential things there. And also it is near the peel park and Salford University. It provides a good chance to walk and exercise with fresh air. However, it is not near any metro link station, can only rely on the bus for going to city center

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

Management response quick, and they will bring corresponding equipment for checking and fixing the issues that I raised.

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

Oxbow management team will provide a wide range of activities to the renter.