Oxney House & Gardens

“The main thing I’d change about the place I’m staying is the cost. I feel like I was charged way too much, and honestly it just doesn’t feel worth the price. It’s especially frustrating because my flatmates are paying several thousand pounds less for the whole year, and I’m not sure why, other than the fact that I signed up later. Other than that, our rooms are basically identical. I’d also want the washing machine replaced. I do really like having a washing machine so I don’t have to keep paying for laundry, but the machine itself isn’t great. It ends up ruining my clothes, which is a bit annoying.”

“The communication could be a lot better. There just do not seem to be enough staff or managers on site, so they end up cutting the opening hours back to periods I cannot get to the office. That is really frustrating, because it means I sometimes have to wait days, and other times more than a week, just to collect my post. I’ve also been told that what’s shown or advertised on their website is not accurate, and that it is basically misinformation. I’ve reported issues that need fixing using both the app and email, and I have even submitted the same concerns multiple times. In return, I either get ignored or I am given a specific day and time and then nobody turns up. Some of the things I flagged are now over six months old and still have not been sorted. On top of that, there is no communication about fire alarm drills. Maintenance is also poorly communicated, with very little warning when they need access to rooms. Even when we are told in advance, they often arrive on different days or at different times than we were told.”

“It would be better if someone could come and clean the shared kitchen and hallways instead of leaving it to us. If we are not really close with our flatmates, it is hard to take the initiative and find the time to tidy up. It also feels like, if you are the only one doing most of the cleaning, some people will not bother unless you tell them. And when you are the person who has to keep asking, it can take a while before you actually see the results you want.”

“I want my bedroom to feel roomier, and I’d like to upgrade to higher-quality furniture.”

“If I could change one thing about where I’m living right now, it would be how responsive and professional the property management team is. The slow follow-through and the rude way they’ve handled things have really taken a toll on my day to day experience. I truly think things would be much better if they communicated more clearly and dealt with problems quickly and with respect, which would improve life for everyone in the building and make the whole place feel more positive.”

“Security and the parcel collection area”

“Everything felt cleaner when we arrived. They had things sorted out right away. The new windows are easy to look out through. The fridge is bigger. And the sofas aren’t stuck right up against the wall.”

“Get someone in to clean up the kitchen area. Add some shelves inside the cupboard.”