Tenancy review for The Point 40 in Didsbury West, Manchester rented via Julian Wadden And Co

Agency rating: 1

Initially frustrating and slow to issue contract, but responded quickly and helpfully when one urgent issue arose during my tenancy.

Rather disorganised, often forwarding emails from the management company re: important issues like changes to the building access codes (!) days late.

They failed to organise a meter reading upon checkout despite my requesting it when I gave notice; at this point a new management company had recently taken over and the online portal used by the previous company was no longer in use. The new meter reading process was to write the reading request on a sheet of paper and it would be taken on the next communal area cleaning day, then put into your mailbox. I requested it the day I moved out, knowing it would be taken the following day and left in the mailbox. It seems it never turned up in the mailbox (I hadn't had any issues before so I highly doubt this), and they incompetently requested the meter reading through the old company's online portal! They simply stopped responding to my requests for the move-out meter reading, so they clearly were unable to provide it since they failed to do so as they should have upon checkout.

My advice is to request your own meter readings as close as possible to move-out date but before you move out, so your estimated final bill should be as accurate as possible.

They didn't send a copy of the check-in inventory automatically, I had to request it before check-out. The inventory excluded many cleanliness issues (black mould on fridge seal, thick layer of grease/dust on cabinets and even bedroom blinds, fair to poor condition carpet). It did fairly note some issues like burned-on rings on the hob, which I cleaned myself. Inspect carefully yourself and add photos etc before agreeing to the check-in inventory.

I steam-cleaned the carpets near the start of my tenancy (great choice as the water was a horrific colour!), and during tenancy and before before check-out, cleaned much more thoroughly.

The lease provided for 10 business days for landlord to propose deductions, then 10 further days to return the balance of the deposit. Since my deposit was held by MyDeposits, I waited until the initial 10 days passed with no contact before requesting it through the portal--which they seemed to think gave them ANOTHER 14 calendar days, despite the lease wording.

On the last day of the further 10 days the lease provided them to return the money, I contacted them. They said there was a proposed (unknown amount) deduction for replacement of two lightbulbs (no mention of the terrible lightbulbs left in the place which burned out shortly after I moved in, and which I replaced with good-quality LED bulbs), and a £30 deduction as a "contribution to" an oven cleaning. The oven had a slightly larger stain upon move-out than it when I moved in. They were clearly searching for some reason to make a deduction.

They mentioned that if I went through the MyDeposits process, it would take significantly longer to get the remainder of my deposit back and they would consider each issue separately--ie leaving the rest of the flat significantly cleaner than move-in, including the hob.

At this point I wanted the rest of my deposit back, so I offered to compromise and give them the £30 they were clearly desperate to have, so long as they released my deposit that day. They agreed and did so.

I've always left properties in better condition than I found them; in ~10 years of renting 8 different homes, never had any other landlord propose any deduction or hold onto my deposit for so long--especially against the terms of the lease.

Overall: Decent service during tenancy, but extremely incompetent and unethical afterward, perhaps a different department?

Beware.

Property rating: 7

Average-sized new build flat, decently large living room/kitchen/dining room combo. Bedrooms both rather small, and oddly large bathroom but appreciate the separate tub and shower. Not very bright as it faced north, so I had trouble keeping houseplants alive.

Lots of poor maintenance, but nothing major (heating, plumbing etc). Signs of past mould
problems but it didn't grow worse in my time there.

Poorly outfitted re: finishing touches: broken LED-lit bathroom mirror, broken spotlights on kitchen counters, wonky electrical sockets, no lampshades at all on the hanging fixtures, living room blinds too heavy for windowframe and were rather unstable, and also didn't turn properly; painted cheaply and thin, so wiping walls clean wiped away paint.

Building maintenance issues also: parcel theft was rampant, and the car park gate was broken so left tied open for my entire tenancy, which meant visitors to nearby businesses sometimes used building parking spots. Spots not painted with numbers, so can't tell if you're taking someone else's spot!

Area rating: 8

Great location near the tram stop, walking distance to the Co-op and lots of great restaurants, a post office, and more. I always felt safe there. Feels like a fairly standard new build neighbourhood, but relatively well-integrated into the surroundings.

School across the street a minor nuisance since cars flood the roundabout at 3ish, parking around the roundabout and on double yellows with smelly petrol/diesel engines running!