Flat 55, Radcliffe Building

I would strongly advise anyone considering renting a property from Andrew Hai to think carefully before doing so. My personal experience as his tenant was extremely stressful, unpleasant and disappointing, particularly regarding the bathroom renovations, lack of privacy and the handling of my concerns.

During my tenancy, Andrew arranged for bathroom renovations to take place while we were still occupying the property. He initially informed me that the works would take approximately 10 days. However, the renovations continued beyond that timeframe, lasting almost a month. My ensuite bathroom was affected for a prolonged period, despite my continuing to pay rent for accommodation that included private bathroom facilities.

Throughout the renovations, my bedroom was exposed to considerable dust, dirt and disruption. Dust entered my wardrobe and affected my clothes and personal belongings. I found this particularly distressing as I was preparing for important examinations at the time. I also experienced eye irritation during this period, for which I sought medical attention.

One of my greatest concerns was the loss of privacy. I had rented a private ensuite bedroom, yet during the renovations, my flatmates needed to access the bathroom through my bedroom. Builders also regularly entered and left my room to carry out the works. I found this arrangement extremely intrusive and uncomfortable, as I felt unable to enjoy the privacy I reasonably expected in my own accommodation.

I was also dissatisfied with the arrangements concerning electricity and other utilities during the renovation period. Contractors used electricity at the property while tenants remained responsible for utility bills. The washing machine was also used for items associated with the renovation works. I additionally had concerns about heating usage when Andrew attended the property. In my opinion, the arrangements surrounding these expenses should have been handled more transparently and fairly.

Another concern I had during my tenancy was the lack of advance notice on occasions when Andrew attended the property. I personally found these visits uncomfortable and felt that clearer communication would have helped protect tenants’ privacy.

What made the experience particularly disappointing was the communication that followed when I raised concerns about the renovations and requested a rent reduction.

The correspondence I received included accusations of dishonesty, bullying and harassment, as well as references to possible eviction and legal proceedings. I found the tone of these exchanges confrontational and intimidating, particularly as I was attempting to resolve concerns about the disruption and facilities I was paying for.

I believe tenants should feel comfortable raising genuine concerns about their living conditions and should be able to discuss disagreements with their landlord in a constructive and respectful manner.

Overall, I felt that my concerns about the prolonged renovations, disruption, privacy and utility arrangements were not addressed to my satisfaction. I would have appreciated greater consideration of the impact these circumstances had on my day-to-day life.

I am sharing my experience so that prospective tenants can make an informed decision before renting from him.

Based on my personal experience, I would not recommend Andrew Hai as a landlord.

I would strongly advise anyone considering renting this property to think carefully before doing so. My experience living here was extremely unpleasant, stressful and disappointing. From the cleanliness upon arrival to the condition of the furniture and the disruption to my privacy, this was one of the worst renting experiences I have personally had.

When I moved in, I was disappointed by the overall condition of the accommodation. Much of the furniture and fittings appeared to be DIY or poorly finished, in my opinion. My bed was broken when I arrived, and I had to raise the issue with the landlord before it was repaired. I also experienced problems with my table, which I had to report. I found it frustrating to have to request attention to basic furniture that I expected to be in suitable condition when moving in.

The cleanliness upon arrival was particularly disappointing. I found my bedroom dirty, and there was urine on the toilet, which I had to clean myself. I was equally dissatisfied with the condition of the communal kitchen. I found it so unclean that I did not feel comfortable preparing meals there and resorted to ordering takeaway food. I contacted the landlord to request that the kitchen be cleaned. In my opinion, these were not acceptable conditions in which to begin a tenancy.

One of the most difficult aspects of living at the property was the bathroom renovation work carried out during my tenancy.

I had specifically rented an ensuite bedroom, meaning that my bathroom was located within my private bedroom. I was initially informed that the renovation works would take approximately 10 days. However, they continued beyond that timeframe, lasting almost a month.

During this period, my flatmates needed to access the ensuite bathroom through my bedroom. Builders also regularly entered and left my room to carry out renovation work.

I found this arrangement extremely intrusive and uncomfortable. My bedroom was frequently accessed by other people, and I felt that I had very little privacy in a space I was paying to occupy privately.

Rather than being able to relax in my own bedroom, I felt as though it had become a shared passageway and an area for building works. This significantly affected my comfort and enjoyment of the accommodation.

The renovations also generated considerable dust, dirt and disruption, affecting my clothes and personal belongings. I found this especially stressful because I was preparing for important examinations at the time.

I was also dissatisfied with the arrangements surrounding electricity consumption during the renovations. Contractors used electricity at the property while tenants remained responsible for utility bills. I had similar concerns about heating usage during this period. In my opinion, the arrangements concerning utility costs associated with the works should have been communicated and managed more fairly.

Overall, I found the property’s cleanliness, maintenance and living arrangements disappointing. I felt that the disruption during the renovations significantly affected my privacy and ability to enjoy the accommodation I was paying for.

I had expected a clean, properly maintained and private ensuite bedroom. Unfortunately, my experience fell considerably short of those expectations.

Based on my personal experience, I would not recommend this property. I would encourage prospective tenants to inspect the accommodation carefully, ask questions about maintenance and privacy arrangements, and ensure they are comfortable with the property’s condition before renting.