The Helm is located near town, in the middle of the university housing, near a small Tesco and a large Asda. It is also just down the road from the drug rehabilitation housing and a couple of doors down from a pharmacy that is a methadone clinic. There is loud shouting outside every side of the building about 50% of the nights. The streets are populated with undesirables throughout the day. The building next door has also recently had planning permission to become a 20+ story high rise so I’m also waiting for the noise from the demolition to start
Please review your development:
The apartments themselves are typically very nice (assuming the previous tenant looked after it).
The private roof top garden on floor 14 is nice although the panels have been ripped off the building, there is a burnt patch of plastic grass and we will soon loose our view/sun light to the building being developed next door.
The communal lounge has seen better days. Although it has a very nice view, everything is in the lounge is worn and battered. The doors from the lounge to the garden are literally screwed shut and have been broken for 2+ years. The floor is warped from the consistent leaks/flooding.
The Gym is small but typically clean and well kept by the residents. Ideal for light work outs.
Events at the helm are very hit and miss. When done properly, they cannot be faulted however, they’re inconsistent and poorly advertised.
Parking at the Helm is not included in the rent and has more than doubled over the past 12-18 months. The car park is always flooded. The shutters to the carpark are typically broke every other month and bikes are not safe as some members of the community decide to make the carpark their new home/help themselves.
The energy supplier for the Helm make up the figures as they go and charge what ever they feel is right. When issues are raised with the energy supplier, they advise to speak with the building manager who of course, sends you back to the supplier.
Any issue reported in this building is “noted” and “passed on”. Items required for repairs are always “on order, will be here in 2 weeks” – this has been the case for months.
Maintenance is not existent in the Helm, if you want something fixed you’re better off doing it yourself. You’ll find out maintenance guy sat outside the front of the building next door, with a coffee and a cigarette.
Our night security typically shut the office door and catch some sleep. They do not answer the phone when required.
As tenants, we are consistently told by building management that repairs are coming, improvements will be made, consistent events happening, refurbishments in the works. We are yet to see any of this happen.
Management occasionally write their own positive reviews on Google to increase the bonuses they receive from their employers.
Rent prices increase while the standards of this building are just about maintained. Once an alternative high end apartment building becomes available, the Helm will be left in the dust
Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:
I wish I knew how poorly this building is being managed as it has potential. I also wish I knew about the fixed energy supplier charging double the average house hold
How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:
Responses received are – this has been noted, I’ll look into this, it’s on order and will be here in 2 weeks. Nothing is done, despite the consistent issues raised
