Student Only Athena Hall

My partner nearly got hit when the top of the door came down, with the nails almost striking them. I’ve added pictures. Maintenance was awful in general: with only one maintenance man for more than 500 students, sometimes it took months to get a response. There was flooding across B block that permanently damaged many people's belongings, and Athena wouldn’t help. The furniture looked worn from years of use, with no upgrades. Walls and ceilings had chips and scratches, and poor window insulation led to cracks in the walls and occasional mould, especially when it rained. The windows barely open, so rooms get sauna-hot in summer. Hot water for showers was also a constant problem. Staff became unfriendly if you brought up moving out or finances, and were vague about information that might help. Don’t move here if you can’t deal with ongoing maintenance issues, unfriendly staff, and money problems.

My daughter has lived here for two years, and the university and accommodation are great. The parking has been a real problem, though. On more than four occasions while dropping her off or picking her up, I got a fine. Usually it was for leaving the car park five minutes after my ticket expired, even though I’d moved out of the space on time. Once I was fined for improper parking in a space six inches too short for my vehicle. I was already right against the wall and couldn’t get in any further. I challenged every ticket but still had to pay. Ipserve, the parking operator, feels like a money-making scam.

There’s a weed smell all around the property, and nobody seems to stop students using drugs. The landlord and company have also treated students unfairly by refusing to refund the full final rent instalment, even though it was decided nobody had to pay it. I wouldn’t recommend this place.

I’ve been here for three years, and it’s got worse year after year. The ensuite shower and toilet are the only reason I haven’t given it one star. Water pressure and hot water are a constant issue, so I often end up taking freezing showers or going to the gym to wash. For what this costs, the lack of hot water is shocking. There isn’t much nearby competition for housing, but otherwise this building would probably have gone out of business by now.