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UNITE Accomodation - money stealers
This is a warning to those planning on living in Unite accomodation. I'm sure I've just had a bad experience, but this is a letter I handed to our office this morning. Most of these items have since been fixed, but the majority of these problems were in place over the weekend and they said no one could fix them until monday.
I'm not saying you'll have this experience so don't panic, and the majority of student accomodation I've seen is fine. Just a warning that this company is a bit slow on the uptake sometimes!
1) HOB BROKEN: cannot turn hob on without electrics for the whole flat tripping. Twice had to call sub-warden late Thursday night to turn back on. Told not to use hob until it had been fixed. Sub-warden told us an engineer would come 8am Friday morning to fix it. No one came all day. Left with no hob all weekend.
2) MICROWAVE BROKEN: microwave stopped working Friday, leaving us without 2/3rds of our cooking facilities all weekend.
3) AWFUL EMERGENCY SERVICE: (warden) considered electrical faults and insufficient cooking facilities an emergency, so Unite emergency were contacted. Told no-one could fix our flat until Monday as everyone was off, so eat takeaways and keep receipts!! Disgraceful service considering we pay nearly £4,000 a year to Unite. This would not be acceptable from a landlord so why is it acceptable from a multi million pound company?!
4) NOTHING IN KITCHEN PAT TESTED: the PAT test on 2 fridges, freezer, microwave, kettle and toaster expired in August 2006. Given the numerous electrical faults with our flat, we do not feel very safe living here!
5) BIG SHELF FALLING OFF WALL: Saturday afternoon in Room, the big shelf above the desk fell off the wall for no apparent reason, narrowly missing (mate)’s head and a computer.
6) NO TV RECEPTION: maintenance form for no TV signal handed in Monday, but as of today still nothing has been done. This has been a problem each semester.
7) LIGHTBULB’S BLOWING UNREASONABLY: Saturday morning in Room, (mate)’s light bulb blew. He changed it for a new one, and Saturday afternoon that one blew as well. Maybe a deeper electrical fault?
8) ANOTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM: Saturday afternoon the electrics tripped when there was only one person in the flat, and all that was switched on was a light bulb and computer. This has been a problem sporadically throughout the year.
I'm not saying you'll have this experience so don't panic, and the majority of student accomodation I've seen is fine. Just a warning that this company is a bit slow on the uptake sometimes!
1) HOB BROKEN: cannot turn hob on without electrics for the whole flat tripping. Twice had to call sub-warden late Thursday night to turn back on. Told not to use hob until it had been fixed. Sub-warden told us an engineer would come 8am Friday morning to fix it. No one came all day. Left with no hob all weekend.
2) MICROWAVE BROKEN: microwave stopped working Friday, leaving us without 2/3rds of our cooking facilities all weekend.
3) AWFUL EMERGENCY SERVICE: (warden) considered electrical faults and insufficient cooking facilities an emergency, so Unite emergency were contacted. Told no-one could fix our flat until Monday as everyone was off, so eat takeaways and keep receipts!! Disgraceful service considering we pay nearly £4,000 a year to Unite. This would not be acceptable from a landlord so why is it acceptable from a multi million pound company?!
4) NOTHING IN KITCHEN PAT TESTED: the PAT test on 2 fridges, freezer, microwave, kettle and toaster expired in August 2006. Given the numerous electrical faults with our flat, we do not feel very safe living here!
5) BIG SHELF FALLING OFF WALL: Saturday afternoon in Room, the big shelf above the desk fell off the wall for no apparent reason, narrowly missing (mate)’s head and a computer.
6) NO TV RECEPTION: maintenance form for no TV signal handed in Monday, but as of today still nothing has been done. This has been a problem each semester.
7) LIGHTBULB’S BLOWING UNREASONABLY: Saturday morning in Room, (mate)’s light bulb blew. He changed it for a new one, and Saturday afternoon that one blew as well. Maybe a deeper electrical fault?
8) ANOTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM: Saturday afternoon the electrics tripped when there was only one person in the flat, and all that was switched on was a light bulb and computer. This has been a problem sporadically throughout the year.
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We haven't had any problems with them at James Baillie Park in Leeds,any maintenance issues have been sorted out quickly to be honest.
Isn't JBP run by the uni now?
Bella_trix
Isn't JBP run by the uni now?
Nope, not as far as I know...certainly not now anyway, maybe they're changing over after the Summer?
I got an info pack from Unite where they claim to have returned over 88% of last years deposits.
Not from what I've heard on here...
Not from what I've heard on here...
What does the Unite Company claim for not returning back the deposit? I think they cant claim damages when there are no damages in the room...
Montrose
marks on the wall, scuff marks on floor boards, any cleaning they have to do, the floor being dirty etc.
Maybe they can say that. But at the other hand, arent they obliged to inspect the room at the end of the letting?? How can they claim damages, when you will be there during the inspection ensuring that there are no damages????
The_Pharma_Alchemist
Maybe they can say that. But at the other hand, arent they obliged to inspect the room at the end of the letting?? How can they claim damages, when you will be there during the inspection ensuring that there are no damages????
They do that if you ask them to. Many people can't be bothered to arrange it and just leave.
Montrose
They do that if you ask them to. Many people can't be bothered to arrange it and just leave.
So the key point is to ask them to inspect the room. If someone does that and simultaneously they will find the room in a good condition (unless they are liars) you have a huge possibility to get the deposit back.
I'm with UNITE (not run by the university, but the university places us there rather than us applying directly through the company itself) and they've been great. I mean the service you get is going to vary because it really is about the people that work there. Ours is run really well and the people are friendly, and all problems get sorted straight away.
So don't everyone be put off!
So don't everyone be put off!
As you can probably guess from my username(!)... I HATE UNITE!!!!
I live at the Plaza in Leeds and it is run by a load of complete and utter idiots! We have had soooo many problems which take them weeks, if not months to sort out. For example....
Internet (never works)
Microwave (broken)
Kettle (broken)
Windows (At least 3 in our flat are broken or have been broken)
Door (been locked out so many times because key does not work)
... and the list goes on and on!!!
The manager is an absolute idiot - never here and when he is he does nothing. Some of the other staff are damn rude and unwillining to help.
It is ridiculously overpriced and there is no element of customer service. If I were you, I'd say do not waste your money by staying with UNITE!!!
I live at the Plaza in Leeds and it is run by a load of complete and utter idiots! We have had soooo many problems which take them weeks, if not months to sort out. For example....
Internet (never works)
Microwave (broken)
Kettle (broken)
Windows (At least 3 in our flat are broken or have been broken)
Door (been locked out so many times because key does not work)
... and the list goes on and on!!!
The manager is an absolute idiot - never here and when he is he does nothing. Some of the other staff are damn rude and unwillining to help.
It is ridiculously overpriced and there is no element of customer service. If I were you, I'd say do not waste your money by staying with UNITE!!!
i-hate-unite
As you can probably guess from my username(!)... I HATE UNITE!!!!
I live at the Plaza in Leeds and it is run by a load of complete and utter idiots! We have had soooo many problems which take them weeks, if not months to sort out. For example....
Internet (never works)
Microwave (broken)
Kettle (broken)
Windows (At least 3 in our flat are broken or have been broken)
Door (been locked out so many times because key does not work)
... and the list goes on and on!!!
The manager is an absolute idiot - never here and when he is he does nothing. Some of the other staff are damn rude and unwillining to help.
It is ridiculously overpriced and there is no element of customer service. If I were you, I'd say do not waste your money by staying with UNITE!!!
I live at the Plaza in Leeds and it is run by a load of complete and utter idiots! We have had soooo many problems which take them weeks, if not months to sort out. For example....
Internet (never works)
Microwave (broken)
Kettle (broken)
Windows (At least 3 in our flat are broken or have been broken)
Door (been locked out so many times because key does not work)
... and the list goes on and on!!!
The manager is an absolute idiot - never here and when he is he does nothing. Some of the other staff are damn rude and unwillining to help.
It is ridiculously overpriced and there is no element of customer service. If I were you, I'd say do not waste your money by staying with UNITE!!!
I think that you are right. Especially regarding the outrageously slow internet connection.
However, from my point of view everything depends heavily on the property manager. Most probably your property manager is an idiot but others can be more responsible.
Hehe, I've applied to Unite. Cooperage Place in Glasgow. I can't see anything wrong with it, all the times I've visited the staff have been pleasant. It's way cheaper than halls, plus it's my only option having been rejected for halls.
Time will tell though. If there's problems I supposed they'll arise after I've moved in.
Time will tell though. If there's problems I supposed they'll arise after I've moved in.
I'll agree with everyone else and say Unite are money stealing bastards. They scam you out of money anyway they bloody can. Any tiny bit of damage which isn't even your fault. And I've had a similar situation to Montrose where stuff's broken at the beginning of the weekend, we've gone to complain for it to be fixed, it doesn't get fixed so it's broken all weekend. Main one where it happened so with the hot water, cold water from Thursday to Sunday. I had to use my mates shower in another flat in my accom.
Plus another annoying thing is if you're not already paying enough for the accomodation itself, plus your own TV license if you want a TV. But they OVERCHARGE you for internet aswell. It's something like £100 for ****ty internet where you can't stream or download anything. Or £300 for good internet. Which is good I admit it and worth the money, but still an absolute con.
I've heard rumours about them doing all they can to not give you your deposits back. Well I will be getting mine back coz any damage that is in my flat is either not my fault or so minimal it can be fixed without needing to take my full £250 deposit off me. I need that money to pay for the deposit of my next accom...which by the way isn't with unite.
Oh yeah I should probably add they are nice halls for how much you're paying. Well mine are atleast, apollo court in liverpool. Nice quality, modern enough, spacious etc. Everything you actually could want. But they're everything you wouldn't want in money terms.
Plus another annoying thing is if you're not already paying enough for the accomodation itself, plus your own TV license if you want a TV. But they OVERCHARGE you for internet aswell. It's something like £100 for ****ty internet where you can't stream or download anything. Or £300 for good internet. Which is good I admit it and worth the money, but still an absolute con.
I've heard rumours about them doing all they can to not give you your deposits back. Well I will be getting mine back coz any damage that is in my flat is either not my fault or so minimal it can be fixed without needing to take my full £250 deposit off me. I need that money to pay for the deposit of my next accom...which by the way isn't with unite.
Oh yeah I should probably add they are nice halls for how much you're paying. Well mine are atleast, apollo court in liverpool. Nice quality, modern enough, spacious etc. Everything you actually could want. But they're everything you wouldn't want in money terms.
Zo
I'll agree with everyone else and say Unite are money stealing bastards. They scam you out of money anyway they bloody can. Any tiny bit of damage which isn't even your fault. And I've had a similar situation to Montrose where stuff's broken at the beginning of the weekend, we've gone to complain for it to be fixed, it doesn't get fixed so it's broken all weekend. Main one where it happened so with the hot water, cold water from Thursday to Sunday. I had to use my mates shower in another flat in my accom.
Plus another annoying thing is if you're not already paying enough for the accomodation itself, plus your own TV license if you want a TV. But they OVERCHARGE you for internet aswell. It's something like £100 for ****ty internet where you can't stream or download anything. Or £300 for good internet. Which is good I admit it and worth the money, but still an absolute con.
I've heard rumours about them doing all they can to not give you your deposits back. Well I will be getting mine back coz any damage that is in my flat is either not my fault or so minimal it can be fixed without needing to take my full £250 deposit off me. I need that money to pay for the deposit of my next accom...which by the way isn't with unite.
Oh yeah I should probably add they are nice halls for how much you're paying. Well mine are atleast, apollo court in liverpool. Nice quality, modern enough, spacious etc. Everything you actually could want. But they're everything you wouldn't want in money terms.
Plus another annoying thing is if you're not already paying enough for the accomodation itself, plus your own TV license if you want a TV. But they OVERCHARGE you for internet aswell. It's something like £100 for ****ty internet where you can't stream or download anything. Or £300 for good internet. Which is good I admit it and worth the money, but still an absolute con.
I've heard rumours about them doing all they can to not give you your deposits back. Well I will be getting mine back coz any damage that is in my flat is either not my fault or so minimal it can be fixed without needing to take my full £250 deposit off me. I need that money to pay for the deposit of my next accom...which by the way isn't with unite.
Oh yeah I should probably add they are nice halls for how much you're paying. Well mine are atleast, apollo court in liverpool. Nice quality, modern enough, spacious etc. Everything you actually could want. But they're everything you wouldn't want in money terms.
AGREED!!!
Sammi22
Uh oh, I'm looking into Unite, and all I seem to see are bad things. 
If you have the option not to live with them...just don't!! Even look into private sector accommodation or specialist student lettings agents. Unite are OVER-PRICED, and will not fix anything that costs more than £10..seriously I have had a faulty Microwave since the beginning of my let they simply won't replace it!! And I pay over £120 per week to live hear!! Also we have rats, which alegedly chew through our internet wires, and one more than one occasion my mail has been opened before receiving it and we're talking about the stuff that has to be signed for so wouldn't be the postman!!!
Just don't do it, it has the potential of ruining your university experience!
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- Cancelling Student Accommodation
- St Peters Court
- Sheffield accomodation
- Manchester Summer Stay (Students Only)
- Maintenance loan isn't enough- how do / can i afford uni?
- Manchester summer stay room takeover / Rent out
- 2nd year accomodation problems
- Looking for Summer stay in manchester?
- Summer room Manchester contract takeover (June 11th onwards)
- uni of sheffield catered accomodation
- should i live on campus or in the city?
- Is it worth it to open a Santander current account just for my student finance?
- Aston University all girls accomodation replacement
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