Woodnook, BB5

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

The location is fantastic as we are super close to local shops and have a lovely park nearby, which is perfect for going out for a walk. The neighbors are absolutely amazing and very friendly. The only real downside here is the parking finding a space for the car can be quite difficult and frustrating at times.

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

The management team responds quickly and efficiently to any issues. Whenever something needed fixing, they handled it without delay and with a very friendly attitude

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

I wish I had known that parking on this street can be very difficult. Also, although there are outdoor security cameras installed, none of them actually work. They are desperately needed because we sometimes have issues with vandalism for example, someone recently scratched my car. Having active cameras would make a huge difference

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

Honestly the alleyways are an utter disgrace. There is rubbish absolutely everywhere in every alleyway and now we have rodents. They have been found on the front of the street and in the alleys. Some people in these houses fling and dump their waste absolutely anywhere. I daren’t go outside because I am scared of letting in a rat. The overall area isn’t too bad, but the lack of repercussions for certain tenants flytipping is really disheartening. We have had an increase in rent of over £200 in the last 4 years and it has seriously gone down hill. There are police cars speeding to around the corner with their lights on almost every evening, there are some tenants who will scream out of their windows if you deign to bring in your bin rather than leaving it on the alley. There are some tenants who will literally hoard everyone else's bins and then still dump their rubbish all over the alleys! The parking situation is dire. Having to fight for a space every evening because I have mobility problems is a joke. Some people take up 2 spaces without a care for anyone else.

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

Yes, we had a leak from the isolation valve on the downstairs toilet. It took them a while to come out, but I had isolated the leak myself, the issue wasn’t urgent. The repairs team are courteous and undertake repairs on site quickly. We did have an issue with the boiler. I did advise it was likely the expansion vessel but was told it couldn’t possibly be that as the tap on the casing was the correct sound (no visual check done of the membrane). A number of people attended and eventually we ended up with a new boiler. I had to keep emptying the condensate trap myself in the meantime and keep re-pressurising the expansion vessel.

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

I wish I had known just how awful the alleyways are and the laissez faire attitude of the fellow tenants in the area towards the state of them. I wish I had known just how much the rent was to increase (although that was a general unforeseen boom in the housing market and dip in the overall economy). I wish I had known just how cheaply the houses are done up. The carpet lifts with the suction of the vacuum, the paint comes off of the walls easily, the sealant does not hold and the vinyl marks very easily and doesn’t clean very well either due to the material.

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

The property is close enough to Accrington Town Centre to walk down, the bus station and railway stations are a 10 minute walk away, there is a large supermarket and a Tesco express, all within a 5 minute drive/10 minute walk. I live on Royds Street, and it has become an absolute nightmare over the last few months. Parking has always been an issue as there is only one side of the road to park on, but this is made worse by tenants parking like idiots with no consideration to others, and either leaving a gap not big enough to park a car, or that close that you cant physically get in. Also tenants not respecting and looking after their property is not acceptable, and the street is starting to look untidy. We dont have the same alley issues on our side as the other blocks in the development and no issues with bin collections or bins being taken. Traffic noise has got ridiculous as its the main road up to the school and parks, and at night time it becomes a circuit for the boy racers in the town. With the exception of a few, the neighbours are friendly, and polite, and there is no noise from either side.

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

I have had a couple of major issues in the property, one which eventually resulted in a new boiler. This was after a lot of backwards and forwards and incompetent people attending to assess the issue, mainly from the out of hours provider who were appalling.

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

Parking is the main issue, but also there are a lot of people who live on the street at the bottom of Royds Street who are not Placefirst residents. They cause a lot of problems, in fact the police were there again last night. Barking dogs are a major issue as kept out through the night and dont come up for breath

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

There are some dubious residents across the road from me, not seen anything illegal but raises issues sometimes with their behaviour. There seems to be some dubious cars parked around, one with no number plates which I reported to a police officer on this street some time ago but nothing has happened. Some boy recers at time with very loud cars and speeding . There is a local convenience shop on Nuttall St but the staff are rude, don't speak to you. They are a parcel collection service for Evri but you have to search for your parcel yourself with no communication from the owners/staff

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

Yes, as above for a socket repair, also their was some rubbish left in the yard by builders, this was removed after a couple of reports sent to you.

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

I wish I had looked at the back alley, it is generally a disgrace with people just leaving rubbish anywhere, sofas, garden waste, building repair waste etc. Recently a fridge freezer just dumped

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

Very close to local park for dog walks, shops etc. Close to all transports. Living on the street has been no issues other than barking dogs 24/7 that live outside, reported and got nowhere. No issues with parking or neighbours. Couple of times bin has been stolen but no other issues.

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

No issues- a leak I had was sorted quickly. I was promised a new bath panel and shower screen when I moved in, this was sorted quickly. Boiler was playing up once- resolved quickly. Never had any issues.

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

I wish I would have known how much the rent would increase. I went from £695 to £740 and only been here just over a year. Having to move as I live alone and I know the rent will just keep increasing :( If you are a couple or a family and have more income then I would say they are definitely worth it. Also, how cold the downstairs of the property is.