Welsh Streets, L8

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

I have lived in the area for nearly 20 years now, moved to the Welsh streets over 2 years ago when a property become available. We do get some issues with kids in the area, but this is a wider social issue rather than a PlaceFirst issue - however PlaceFirst provide a secure property to keep you and your belongings safe, we had an issue with the back door and PlaceFirst came right out and fixed it.

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

Pretty much right away, all of our issues have been resolved without a problem - Sue our Services Manager is always helpful if we need anything, glad to have her back!

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

Nothing really, not had any issues and we enjoy our home. understandably the rent increases due to current climate can have a pinch but we are not paying over the top excessive for the house we have. Like for like we would probably be paying more, especially living this close to commutes/parks/shops etc

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

The location is quiet and away from the city centre. There is a big Tesco nearby, but restaurants and cafes on Lark Lane or the city centre are far unless you drive there. There is an ongoing problem with google maps incorrectly showing nearby bus routes. There is no assigned parking, it's just street parking that the landlord takes no responsibility for. There is a moderate amount of traffic noise, not as bad as in the city centre but definitely not quiet.

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

I typically get contacted about seeing to any repairs works within a couple of weeks. Other than that, management response to problems and issues is vague and unsatisfactory.

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

I wish I had known that they would raise the rent by amounts far exceeding inflation, and force us to sign a new fixed term contract in order to stay. I wish I had known that there are huge inconsistencies across the different properties in the policies they apply to tenants, rents and fees tenants pay, and the information they tell tenants.

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

Living in the Welsh streets for 4 years has been nothing short of hell. I don’t say this lightly- you only have to look at the Welsh streets resident group on Facebook to see just how unhappy the majority of residents are. We are constantly plagued with rodent issues, both inside and outside in the communal areas. When we have contacted them we are greeted with a less than helpful ‘call the city council’. Exposed wires, communal gardens with lights that don’t work, holes left from builders where works haven’t been finished, large rat holes in the garden where our children play.

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

Until recently, issues were left unaddressed for lengthy periods of time. They have since started acting quicker (I assume for the general dissatisfaction). For example- the communal lights in our garden have been inactive for over 3 months now.

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

How bad it really is. Promises of being a family development only to receive email from them to say any unclaimed toy would be taken to the tip without notice.

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

Although Placefirst seems to have a marmite effect on the tenants I've personally had a very positive experience with them. Our resident services manager, Sue, has been great, really engaging and we are planning to continue to rent and move to a bigger property as we love the area. Any maintenance issues we've had have been sorted very quickly.

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

Yes they've responded to any issues well but put a high burden of proof on proving wear and tear.

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

That long leases are not a thing and they put the rent up every 12 months

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

Local amenities are good. There is a high turnover ofneighbours, so not a good community feel. Problem with fly tipping and placefirst not maintaining communal areas.

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

Yes but they took 2 years to satisfactorily fix a leak and over a year to replace a broken hob

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

That the vermin problem would be ignored. That construction build would be so disruptive