The Mercian, B15

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

We paid for a professional clean before check-out. The report marked everything as "Good" or "Excellent." However, the building still took £220 from us with no clear reason. They only said it did not meet the move-in standard. We checked the move-in report and strongly disagree. I will post all photos here for you to judge. A neighbor left their flat full of trash and did not clean at all. They were also charged £220. This is highly unfair. We emailed them to discuss this, but they just rejected us and gave no details. We enjoyed our year here, but the check-out process ruined the whole experience.

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

Our check-out shows management does not know the cleaning rules. They charge £220 for both clean and dirty rooms. This makes their job easy, but it is very unfair. They give no reason and do not tell us what is still dirty.

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

We did not know the mattress and sofa were dirty before we moved in. We viewed a clean show room, but the actual flat they gave us was very dirty.

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

It’s a very convenient area with good transport links and plenty of shops, restaurants and other places nearby. The central location means it can sometimes be busy, but having so much within walking distance is a big advantage.

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

When I moved into my apartment, I noticed a small stain on the mattress and there was also an unusual smell coming from the drainage. I reported the issues and the drainage problem was taken care of. I appreciated the team responding and helping to address the concerns.

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

I would recommend checking everything in the apartment when you first move in and reporting any small issues straight away. The team are approachable and willing to help.

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

The location is very convenient, with shops, restaurants and transport links nearby. It’s easy to get into the city centre and everything I regularly need is within easy reach. It can get busy at times, but overall it’s a great location.

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

I haven’t had any major problems so far, but whenever I’ve had a question or needed assistance, the team have been responsive and helpful.

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

I wish I had known how many facilities were available. There are lots of useful communal spaces, so it’s worth exploring the building when you first move in.

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

The area is very convenient and there are plenty of shops, restaurants and other useful places nearby. Transport links are also good, making it easy to get around Birmingham and into the city centre. It can sometimes get busy because of the central location, but overall it is a very convenient and enjoyable area to live in.

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

When I first moved in, there was an issue with the cold water not working properly. I raised it with the team and they responded quickly and arranged for it to be looked into. It is already being taken care of, and I appreciate that they took the issue seriously and kept things moving.

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

I wish I had known more about all the amenities available before moving in because there is much more to the building than just the apartment. The gym and communal spaces are particularly useful. Jerry showed me around and explained how to use some of the facilities, which made it much easier to settle in and start making use of everything.

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

The location is very convenient, with plenty of shops, restaurants and other services nearby. Transport links are good, making it easy to get around Birmingham and access the city centre. The area can get busy at certain times, but overall I’ve found it convenient and enjoyable to live here.

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

The management team has always been approachable and responsive whenever I have had a question or needed help. They communicate well and make an effort to resolve issues as quickly as possible.

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

I wish I had known just how useful all the amenities would be before moving in. There are several facilities and spaces available to residents, so I would recommend that new residents take some time to explore the building and learn how to make the most of everything available.