Wilmslow Park - iQ Student Accommodation Manchester — Attraction in Manchester

Chose 1 star because that is the lowest option, I would have rated it negative if possible. The only advice I give you is don't bother with this place. I have lived in Wilmslow Park for two years now. First year with the old management and second with the new management. I loved it the first year, which is why I booked again for the second year. But i didn't realise that the new management would be so so bad. It couldn't be any worse. The new staff's attitude are disgusting, they don't care about the situation you are in, every staff say different things ( some of them said the refurbishment will be done in January then they say February, some say March, its actually April ) maintenance take forever, we had to put up with a stinking smell ( similar to vomits) outside our room for about three weeks. And in December they was doing some refurbishment so they had to close down the gym and relocate the reception area, I am not that bothered about the gym and the reception BUT because I lived in the floor right about where they are refurbishing, I get woken up every morning ( about 7am) by the drilling and hammering underneath me. When I went to reception to complain about this, they say they can't do anything, I just have to put up with it!! And they denied they fact that the builders start working at 7ish. They say the builders only work 9 -5pm ( or 6pm, can't remember) and even when my flat mate took a voice recording and prove to them that they DO start the work at 7ish, they still denied it. So every person in my flat had to put up with this for about five months, having to wake up early every single morning ( including Saturdays). And because they are refurbishing the whole place in the summer, they decide to relocate us to a different room. I was fine with that because I lived in a bronze and they relocate me to a gold. BUT the state of the kitchen is unbelievable. There are flies everywhere, there are packets of breads left on the table ( expiry date in May), utensils and food lying around, oven had some stale chips left in it, the cupboards are full of food that has gone off. Basically the whole place was a mess and the freezer was completely filled with ice, you can't put anything in it. So I went down to reception with my flatmate and explained the problem. The two girls at reception said they will get cleaners to clean our kitchen tomorrow morning ( which is today) and she said we can use our old kitchen until our kitchen is cleaned. BUT I went to my old kitchen this morning to make some breakfast and guess what, the oven has been taken out, the hob doesn't work. How am I going to cook ? And they promised they will get the cleaners up to clean our kitchen, but guess what ? They just shrugged their shoulders and said the cleaners are busy !! One of guys in reception actually said it is none of business !! Then who's business is it ? ! Another one said I had to move my stuff into my new kitchen today, but the state of the new kitchen is unbearable, how can I move my things in there when the fridge is even working ! Their attitude is disgusting, can't say anymore than that, they don't care about they mess they put you in, they don't care about the fact you had to waste your time and energy, they don't care how you feel, they don't take responsibility for their words, they just say whatever that feel like saying (or just say whatever to stop you complaining). I can't believe I had to put up with this, I pay about 130 pounds a week and is this the standard ? I am sure there are so many much much better places in Manchester than this one, at least with better people and better attitude(Their attitude is just unbelievable, I have never never come across any group of people with attitude worse than theirs in my whole life). You can tell that they don't want to talk to you, they don't want to help you, they just want you to tolerate with this and live with it !! Honestly, don't live here unless your other option is living on...

In honesty I can’t quite put into words how much of a poor choice it was staying at this accommodation it was, and in truth a rating of one star is generous.

I am currently in a position where I have left the accommodation (as of the 7th of July), and I am still yet to receive my deposit back. My room was in such bad condition when I arrived to the point where I couldn’t fully unpack my belongings for about two weeks after my initial arrival date, I also had to sleep in my friend’s vehicle the first couple of nights in the underground car park due to the uninhabitable state of the room and being a considerable distance away from home (This was addressed by whom I assume was the manager at the time who genuinely did seem very nice and promised me compensation but ofcourse that never happened).

On first arrival to Wilmslow Park House (on the first day of my tenancy), I was given the key to my room which amongst many issues was; A room literally laden with literal dirty women’s underwear (assumably from the last tenant). A fecal stained mattress (which was never replaced, I was just given a mattress topper). A carpet which wasn’t fitted correctly (to the point where I could pinch the carpet at any point and pull it a good three/ four feet from the ground). This was later replaced after three weeks when two men came into my room as I was sleeping and told me I needed to move all of my stuff back out of my room again. Screws laid on the carpet. A moulded en suite paired nicely with a moulded shower curtain. A broken shower room shaver plug socket. A light which fixture couldn’t hold the bulb for more than 3 days which meant constantly having to put the bulb back in. Scabby walls (which again I was told would be painted but ofcourse they never were). And these are just some of the initial issues of my room.

The kitchen was also mouldy (particuarly in the cupboards and around the light fixture above the oven), and both the kettle and microwave didn’t work (but to their “merit”, these were replaced after about a month of being reported). Also the cupboard at the end of the hall way was full of rubbish bags and more dirty clothing which had left a pungent smell throughout the hall. Later on during the tenancy our flat also got mice (7th floor), which had made a hole in our sofas, although this INitially started as a small issue, it was a good here weeks before anything was even “done” about it by the staff, this later led to both our sofas being taken away but only one of them being replaced in our five person flat. Also throughout the year the power and water went off in other blocks consistently, although I was lucky enough to be in a block which wasn’t affected, the noise from the industrial size generator in the courtyard was still somewhat of a nuisance.

With this being said I do believe the staff were approachable and friendly, particuarly the gentleman whom I believe was the head of the cleaning team, but in terms of initial performance and maintenance performance throughout the year the only term which would fairly describe it is useless. Also the internet (when working), was very very good offering speeds up to 100mbs, but with a room priced at £140 a week off campus I should hope that they did something right so I can’t alter my rating.

In summary if you’re coming to Manchester for university I implore you to take tenancy at another residence so your first year experience isn’t tainted by such a poor “home”.

EDIT: After further contact today Wilmslow Park House, they are denying that the money I paid for a deposit was for an actual deposit, despite this being what the initial transaction was called by themselves and a third party, and it being referred to as a “deposit” on numerous emails throughout the academic year. So basically they will rob you throughout the year for accommodation and then rob you at the end of the year of...

It is the best student accommodation I have stayed in, but it is a little more expensive. I am a third year student at UoM, so not only is the location fantastic for how close to the uni it is (with Tesco, Morrisons, Lidl and poundland underneath the building), but they also separate freshers from third years and UoM students from MMU (so you have been term time matches with your neighbours). I am in a 3 person flat on the top floor of C block in a classic plus room (en suit, 4ft double bed, basic tv, leather look sofas and all required kitchen appliances), with two other more mature students, and it's fantastic! Really quiet and clean (I guess that does depend on who you are put with, flats are as clean and loud as the people in them).

As far as maintenance goes, I don't think the waiting times are unreasonable. You must upload your complaint onto their online system otherwise it will be forgotten about because they get so many, but anything the in house staff are capable of gets done within 2 days or quicker but there are jobs which and external person needs to be hired to fix and so it is expected that that will take 1-2 weeks for things like a new hob (which my flat had to have).

There is a gym beneath the building, however it is tiny so unless you're really confident you might not want to go there, and it is more expensive than other gyms in the area. Saying that, the pool is great!

The car park if you need to use it is really expensive, but most students that bring cars tend to be able to afford that too. However, for parents visiting it's £5 a day, but there are side roads in 5 minutes walking distance that are free and on move in days they will let you park for a certain amount of time for free.

The laundry room is pretty much in the main reception which is great, and a fine location if you're living in the main building. But, I know it is quite out of the way if you're in the separate few block around the back.

As far as post goes I have never had a problem, small parcels and letters get put into flat post boxes and larger post and things which need signing for go to reception. If it is particularly large they will contact you as they don't have much storage space, however most post they will keep for about 2 weeks before needing the space and sending it back.

I haven't been to any other flat in the building so I may have just got lucky. But I know they do take your preferences into count when they are assigning your rooms, so ask for exactly what you want on the application and there's a good chance you'll get it.

One more thing, deposits. I know there was a big Facebook thing about a guy trying to sue Wilmslow because his son didn't get his deposit back. You actually don't pay a deposit here. The £250 you pay upfront to secure your booking gets deducted from your...