Ascot Road, Watford, WD18

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

Really close to the town centre but no bad traffic around the building. Parking is available really close for visitors.

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

Great! Our cupboard was broken and it was fixed within the week

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

Loads of activities are on to make friends and are usually free.

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

Surrounded by convenient amenities (shops etc) and lots of local restaurants and pubs. Very central location close to the centre of Manchester Right next door to green space / a park. All great!

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

Swiftly - they have been very helpful in sorting any minor issues we have encountered

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

Nothing - I felt like we were very well informed during the process of leasing the flat and during the move in

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

We've loved living at Colliers Yard. It's so handy being able to walk pretty much everywhere in the city, and there's loads of nice places to eat, grab a coffee or go for a drink nearby. Having a station and the tram on the doorstep is a massive bonus too. The building and street are generally quiet considering how central it is. Bin collections are dealt with for you and we've never had any issues with anti-social behaviour. We both always feel pretty safe. Underground parking is pretty affordable here and it's great knowing the car is safe. Overall, it's been a great place to live and we'd definitely recommend it.

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

We've had a few minor things that have needed fixing since moving in, and every time we've logged a job the building team has been quick to respond. Someone has always come out promptly, sorted the issue and been really friendly while doing it. It's reassuring knowing that if something goes wrong, we won't be left waiting for ages or chasing people. It's a big improvement compared to other places we've lived, and it's made a real difference to our experience here.

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

One thing I didn't realise before moving in was how many free events the building puts on for residents. It's a really nice touch and helps people get to know each other if they want to. It makes the building feel much more like a community rather than just somewhere you live, and that's something you don't really get a sense of from a viewing.

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

The area is a quiet corner, which can be good and bad. I had my phone snatched from my hand 1 minute after I left the building.

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

They drag out their replies as a constant tactic to tire out the tenants so that the tenants give up fighting for their rights.

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

Their sales team is nice enough because they now constantly have a lot of vacant units. But the living experience is what people should focus on.

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

The best aspect of living in the local area is its location. It is situated in the heart of the city centre, with excellent access to shops, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, public transport and other amenities. Everything is within walking distance, making it an extremely convenient place to live. The area is vibrant, diverse and lively, with plenty to do throughout the year. I do not have any significant concerns about the local area itself. The location offers a good balance of convenience, accessibility and entertainment, and I have generally found it to be an enjoyable place to live. My concerns relate more to the management and operation of the building rather than the surrounding neighbourhood.

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

Building management generally responds to reported issues, although resolution times can sometimes be slower than expected. My experience has been that problems are acknowledged, but the process of getting them fully resolved can be frustrating. I have also found that interactions with some members of staff can feel dismissive or lacking in professionalism. On one occasion, I felt uncomfortable during a visit from a maintenance contractor due to behaviour that I perceived as inappropriate, which left me feeling uneasy in my own home. Whilst issues are usually responded to eventually, I believe there is room for improvement in both the speed of response and the overall standard of customer service provided to residents.

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

I wish I had known that the reality of living here would be very different from the image presented during the viewing and marketing process. Whilst the location is excellent and the residents are generally friendly, the overall standard of management, maintenance and customer service has been disappointing. I was not expecting the frequency of maintenance access requests, the volume of emails sent to residents, the regular issues with lifts, or the limited availability of facilities such as the Sky Lounge. I also wish I had known that the apartments offered relatively poor sound insulation and that communal areas would not always be maintained to the standard expected of a luxury development. Most importantly, I wish I had known more about the day to day management experience. In my experience, some members of staff can be rude, dismissive and unhelpful when dealing with residents. A more professional, approachable and customer focused attitude would have made a significant difference to my overall experience. Had I known these things in advance, I would have made a more informed decision before choosing to live here.