Tenancy review for 1 Melrosegate in Layerthorpe, York rented via Northwood

Agency rating: 9

Northwood were the only agency I've had who made me feel like they realised that their 'product' was my home. They were respectful and conscientious about getting repairs done. I felt like they acted as my advocate to the landlord. When the landlord wanted us to pay for redecoration because of the damp damage, the letting agency realised we'd done everything that could be expected of us and more, and negotiated on our behalf.

Property rating: 1

It was uncontrollably damp. All winter we ran the heating with the windows open like crazy people. We ran a dehumidifier 24/7 for the entire time that we lived in the flat. Every morning, we wiped condensation off the windows. Walls and windows were still coated with black mould. We had to throw away hundreds of pounds worth of stuff because it was destroyed by mould. My girlfriend would wheeze and cough every time she visited. Also we often got blocked pipes. On one occasion when we had a plumber round he had a look and said the plumbing for the whole building used inappropriately small pipes. This became very clear when the flat above us had a massive leak which came through into our house and caused water damage to the ceiling and electrical light fittings.

Area rating: 7

Not the cushiest area in York but nice by the standards of anywhere else in the north. Good pubs.